Smoke generator
 

Hello all, I recently completed a smoke generator made from 4" square tube. It is a low outlet style. It seems to work very well, but the gravity feed is not working very well.
I am using maple which I have run through my chipper/ shredder. I am thinking that perhaps the chips are too stringy and light and are binding together.

Has anyone else experienced this and found a simple solution?

I really would like to continue to make my own chips.

The consistency of the chips I am using.http://members.shaw.ca/mistertom/IMG245.jpg

The prototype model.
http://members.shaw.ca/mistertom/IMG253.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/mistertom/IMG246.jpg

The bottom of the firebox slants downward to the air inlet to allow ash to fall out (hopefully)! The bottom is made from steel angle inclined at 30 degrees.
http://members.shaw.ca/mistertom/IMG252.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/mistertom/IMG248.jpg

Fill port:
http://members.shaw.ca/mistertom/IMG250.jpghttp://members.shaw.ca/mistertom/IMG251.jpg

Although you cannot see it, the smoke outlet pipe protrudes very little into the box and is cut away on the bottom side. The chips in the photo are still wet, but I did oven dry some to test it. It lights with a match in seconds, smokes very well, however it only smokes for a few minutes before the fuel at the bottom is exhausted and the fire stops.
I will try a weight on top of the chips, but think that might cause them to jam up more.
Any suggestions?

I'm thinking pellets would be your best bet in that device.

I would reverse it and blow the air through the top with a venturi effect this will also help to draft the burning up the fuel load.

You are probably right. I have always cut my own smoking wood, so that is a hard step for me!

You are suggesting putting the smoke pipe/ venturi at the top of the hopper? Essentially the smoke would travel through the chips as well as the burn being able to move towards the top as well. correct?

When looking at others I noticed both styles. I can always build another to try it out.

Exactly.

I built several a year or two back, pellets work the best in mine;

http://imageshack.us/a/img19/4809/smokepak2.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img406/9586/smokepakinside.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img8/6263/smoke2m.jpg

That is nice looking! I will have to get some pellets to try.

i'm a bit confused by yer design. but the chips you are using are to long thus allowing them to jam against the sidewall of the smoker. just make the chips or shredded pices not as long and it should be ok.
here is some basic designs,
http://www.wedlinydomowe.com/smokeho...moke-generator

I am doing smoke/grill by gravity feed burner.
I know what I am saying
COLD smoker can not use gravity feed.
Only if you burn fuel in flame, you burn fuel to ash and ash drops down through grate.
But if fuel burns in flame, it is not COLD smoking.
Also your fuel will form Bridge Blocking, gravity feed does not work on your chips.
There is a very simple method to make your smoke generator workable