Smoke generator

mistertom · Oct 31, 2012

Q Junkie said:
I also think you may want to delete the 90 deg elbow and direct your air flow straight through the tee into the smoker causing a venturi effect.
Or perhaps I am looking at this wrong.

I was not planning on using the elbow at all. I needed to get another nipple after the T, but all I had on-hand for my test was the 90. The venturi still worked. There was a noticeable difference with the air pump off, however the elbow would certainly present resistance to flow.

Sorry it looks misleading. I just needed something to pass the the blowpipe to make the venturi work.

mistertom · Nov 1, 2012

I tried with pellets and it seemed to smoke for a couple of hours without any trouble before I closed the air vent. Thanks!

Dr_KY · Nov 2, 2012

Sweet! I have had great runs (gravity fed and air through the top) with pellets and chips but found that mixing in dust causes it to need a tap every now and then.

mistertom · Nov 4, 2012

I think that I will move the venturi/ smoke outlet to the top for sure. It still seems to get a cemented mass of char just above above the outlet. In all of my previous hot smokers my wood (maple) has burned completely to a white ash. I was hoping to use this for cold smoke only. Without an external source of heat/combustion it seems that the pellets only char and do not burn completely.

Dr KY, was that your experience? Or do your pellets combust completely?

Mo-Dave · Nov 4, 2012

For a better pellet burn I suggest raising the flame above the intake with some kind of screen, and make sure you have room for ash to fall below that level. I also like the air being blown from the top into the cooker with the air pump. 86 the wood chips, just to ruff for what you are doing. In order to keep ash from blocking airflow you may need to give the side a rap or two now and then, to let ash drop away. Also suggest not filling it to much and adding if need be.
Dave

woodpelletsmoker · Nov 4, 2012

easy job

mistertom said:
Thank you for your input. Could you elaborate on the method please?

Find a small tube, say 2" in diameter, drill holes in the tube.
Insert the perforated tube inside the center of chips.
Positive blow from bottom.
light chips on top.

mistertom · Nov 4, 2012

woodpelletsmoker said:
Find a small tube, say 2" in diameter, drill holes in the tube.
Insert the perforated tube inside the center of chips.
Positive blow from bottom.
light chips on top.

That is a very interesting idea. With this method do you place your outlet at the top or bottom of the hopper?

woodpelletsmoker · Nov 4, 2012

outlet on top

mistertom said:
That is a very interesting idea. With this method do you place your outlet at the top or bottom of the hopper?

Blow from bottom. Outlet must be on top

Dr_KY · Nov 5, 2012

mistertom said:
I think that I will move the venturi/ smoke outlet to the top for sure. It still seems to get a cemented mass of char just above above the outlet. In all of my previous hot smokers my wood (maple) has burned completely to a white ash. I was hoping to use this for cold smoke only. Without an external source of heat/combustion it seems that the pellets only char and do not burn completely.

Dr KY, was that your experience? Or do your pellets combust completely?

I agree with Mo-Dave and do much the same. I ran a mixture of pellets and chips and do tend to get a bit of resin inside only if the air is at too high a pressure. Haven't had any problems with bridging or masses though. I truly believe that blowing from the top works out best and keeps the design simple. In the past I did the bottom thing but had more issues.

mistertom · Nov 7, 2012

Thanks to all for the input. I now have some proven ideas to work with. I appreciate it!

Smoke generator

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