Wood chip analysis

[californiadan]

Hello all, so today I'm smoking a pork butt, ribs and several other items. I smoke with a master forge vertical smoker that's been converted to natural gas. So far I've gone through four foil packets of chips with roughly 2 cups of chips in each packet. After a lot of trial and error this method along with moving the chip box up about an inch keeps the wood from catching fire. Two packets at a time will give me about 45 minutes of TBS and that's about it.
So my question is am I going through too much wood? I maintain very good TBS and It very rarely ever gets thick or white. Below is a picture of the chips after they stop smoking.

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• californiadan
• Feb 3, 2013

I think I may be over thinking it but I do tend to be my own worst critic. I've been dropping hints to the wife about a AMPS for a possible valentines day gift but haven't pulled the trigger yet cause I'm still deciding which wood to get. Any help is appreciated. Enjoy the Super Bowl!

 

[daveomak]

that's been converted to natural gas.   AMNPS won't burn well in a gas unit... the flame will consume all the oxygen...

I could be off base here...  but that seems to be what's happening...   Dave

 

[californiadan]

Hi Dave, the reason I started the foil packet method was because I could not get TBS it was always thick and white and would eventually catch fire after about 30 min. I exaggerated a bit with the 2 cups of chips and after measuring one of my handfuls I'm closer to the 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 range. Still a lot more than you 1/4 usage.
As for the AMPS I am aware of a possible problem in the gas smoker. I've read where the tube variety has been know to work better in a gasser, and if it doesn't function at all ill hang a mailbox off the side of it and burn it in there.
So I think next time ill try the foil method with the side vents open some, and a run with no foil and some venting.
Thanks for the respondse