So I finally got around to trying out my tube and I have a few questions:
1) Are you supposed to lightly fill this OR tamp it down and pack it well? I filled it until just below the opening, jiggling it slightly every couple of handfuls, and lit it up according to instructions, but the pellets sort of "settled", leaving almost 1/2" of open space along the length of the tube.
2) I lit it at 1:30PM, placed it on the chip pan bracket against the lower door in my MB propane smoker (ThermoTemp XL) as a member suggested, and it had burned completely up by 4:30PM, ...3 hours. I thought these 12" tubes were supposed to go for 5 or 6 hours (hence, my question above and filling).
3) This tube produced COPIOUS amount of smoke...there was never, at ANY point, TBS. Is this inherent in the tubes? I found the thread about the U-bolt mod...perhaps I should try that?
4) Finally, does the brand of the pellets matter? The ones I have were purchased at Academy a couple of years ago and have been kept sealed in 5 gal buckets. I don't recall the exact brand, but I do remember they were what I assumed was their "store" brand (read as "the cheapest ones they had"). I went this evening and got a bag of Traeger Apple pellets at HD, only to learn after I got home they're not exactly what they claim to be (not 100% flavor wood, but with flavor added)...oh well, they're mine NOW!
I know I'm a pain in the butt with all my questions, so thanks for your patience as I learn.
1) Are you supposed to lightly fill this OR tamp it down and pack it well? I filled it until just below the opening, jiggling it slightly every couple of handfuls, and lit it up according to instructions, but the pellets sort of "settled", leaving almost 1/2" of open space along the length of the tube.
2) I lit it at 1:30PM, placed it on the chip pan bracket against the lower door in my MB propane smoker (ThermoTemp XL) as a member suggested, and it had burned completely up by 4:30PM, ...3 hours. I thought these 12" tubes were supposed to go for 5 or 6 hours (hence, my question above and filling).
3) This tube produced COPIOUS amount of smoke...there was never, at ANY point, TBS. Is this inherent in the tubes? I found the thread about the U-bolt mod...perhaps I should try that?
4) Finally, does the brand of the pellets matter? The ones I have were purchased at Academy a couple of years ago and have been kept sealed in 5 gal buckets. I don't recall the exact brand, but I do remember they were what I assumed was their "store" brand (read as "the cheapest ones they had"). I went this evening and got a bag of Traeger Apple pellets at HD, only to learn after I got home they're not exactly what they claim to be (not 100% flavor wood, but with flavor added)...oh well, they're mine NOW!
I know I'm a pain in the butt with all my questions, so thanks for your patience as I learn.