Where to add a vent on my smoker?

[meatstick]

I have a smokey mountain smoker. The only vent that I have is on top. I have a hard time getting good smoke. I bought a A-maze tube thinking this would help and so far it has not. It seems like burns out. My guess is that I do not have good air flow. I thought about buying a stove pipe with damper and cutting a hole of the side towards the bottom. This way I could allow air to flow from the bottom to the top. Would the bottom side be the right location or would it matter side vs back? Is a 5in hole to big?

 

[smokinadam]

I have a gas smoking hollow and my amazen does not burn in it unless I Crack the door open to allow air flow but lose some smoke. I had to do this to cold smoke (as I only use it for that and the gas burner to start my charcoal chimneys). I never thought to add a damper on the bottom side but that would definitely at airflow to keep it going.

 

[meatstick]

Do you still get the smokey flavor if the door is left cracked? I thought about that but I figured a lot of the smoke will just be lost. It definitely a easier way to go if it works. 

 

[daveomak]

Some folks have drilled several holes around the top of the side walls to get uniform smoke distribution...  It also helps greatly with air flow...

I'd start with 2 1" holes on each side and see how that works for you...  drill more if needed...   A step drill works great for drilling in sheet metal...  Harbor Freight usually has them on sale....

GAS FIRED smoker.jpg

• daveomak
• Dec 20, 2016

 

[meatstick]

DaveOmak, I never thought about drilling holes at the top of the smoker. I wonder if it makes a different if they are at the top or bottom. In my mind I just assumed it made more sense on the bottom. I hate to drill a bunch of holes not to work. 

 

[meatstick]

smokinadam, I found this website. This might be a good way to add a vent to our smokers.

http://bbqsmokersupply.com/dampers.html

 

[daveomak]

$12.99 with the coupon....

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piec...zIjoiMTIuOTkiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk IjoiMzQ0NiJ9

Those dampers are pretty nice....  but....   one exhaust point will cause the smoke / heat flow to go to one area...   multiple small holes will force equal smoke / heat distribution....   refer magnets will work for plugging the holes if it is windy.....

 

[smokinadam]

Do you still get the smokey flavor if the door is left cracked? I thought about that but I figured a lot of the smoke will just be lost. It definitely a easier way to go if it works. 

my cold smoked hard boiled eggs had lots of smoke flavor with door cracked.

 

[meatstick]

Thanks guys

 

[jokensmoken]

I've done exactly that with mine. A cool thing to know is flat refrigerator magnets (the business card sized ones) work GREAT for adjusting the air flow...Just cover or uncover holes as needed.

 

[red farr]

I cut a 6" hole for mine , there are different stove pipe fittings available i.e.  6" necks down to 5" or even smaller 6" to 4" , and then stove pipe for chimney length , when it's cold I use 4" pipe for the draw , in summer a 6" pipe works best , I wrapped paper towels around it for insulation and painted it black , use a 6" starting collar for the 6" cut opening.

I made the exhaust adjustable and light in weight so it's easy to work with. It's very efficient , in fact it works so well I'm using the 6" down to 4" seven inches tall this time of year for the draw , It'll burn wood or briquets or lump or any combination of them. I drilled it out making a shelf or a water pan/baffle and 2 cooking grates

Red