Smoke generator

mistertom · 10-30-2012, 12:46 PM

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.

mistertom · 10-30-2012, 01:05 PM

The consistency of the chips I am using.

mistertom · 10-30-2012, 01:08 PM

The prototype model.

mistertom · 10-30-2012, 01:12 PM

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.

mistertom · 10-30-2012, 01:14 PM

Fill port:

mistertom · 10-30-2012, 01:20 PM

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?

deguerre · 10-30-2012, 01:27 PM

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

Dr_KY · 10-30-2012, 01:57 PM

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.

mistertom · 10-30-2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deguerre

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

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

mistertom · 10-30-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_KY

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 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.

Dr_KY · 10-30-2012, 02:55 PM

Exactly.

SmokerKing · 10-30-2012, 06:49 PM

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

mistertom · 10-31-2012, 12:11 AM

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

mbshop · 10-31-2012, 12:20 AM

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

woodpelletsmoker · 10-31-2012, 12:42 AM

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

10-30-2012, 12:46 PM	#1
mistertom Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-01-12 Location: Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada	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. Last edited by mistertom; 10-30-2012 at 01:22 PM..

10-30-2012, 01:27 PM	#7
deguerre somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-15-09 Location: Memphis, TN...Formerly of Decatur, AL	I'm thinking pellets would be your best bet in that device. __________________ Guerry [FONT=Book Antiqua]Pit Beeatch for Team Munchkin[/FONT] [FONT=Book Antiqua][B]Avatar by Northwest BBQ [/B][/FONT]"...In nature, there are predators. I believe the common denominator of the universe is not harmony, but chaos, hostility and murder..." Werner Herzog

10-30-2012, 01:57 PM	#8
Dr_KY Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-15-07 Location: England	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. __________________ www.drsweetsmoke.com Slappin that bass like some delerious funky preist!!! UDS, Half Pint (Mini UDS), Weber, ProQ 20, Kegrilla 250 gallon cooker- 'The Meat Beast!!' British BBQ Championships Grand Champion 2008 ~~~~ British BBQ Society - Southern Championship Grand Champions 2009

10-30-2012, 02:55 PM	#11
Dr_KY Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-15-07 Location: England	Exactly. __________________ www.drsweetsmoke.com Slappin that bass like some delerious funky preist!!! UDS, Half Pint (Mini UDS), Weber, ProQ 20, Kegrilla 250 gallon cooker- 'The Meat Beast!!' British BBQ Championships Grand Champion 2008 ~~~~ British BBQ Society - Southern Championship Grand Champions 2009

10-31-2012, 12:20 AM	#14
mbshop Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-24-07 Location: visalia, ca	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 __________________ george spam, can't live without it

10-30-2012, 01:05 PM	#2
mistertom Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-01-12 Location: Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada	The consistency of the chips I am using.

10-30-2012, 01:08 PM	#3
mistertom Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-01-12 Location: Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada	The prototype model.

10-30-2012, 01:12 PM	#4
mistertom Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-01-12 Location: Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada	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.

10-30-2012, 01:14 PM	#5
mistertom Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-01-12 Location: Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada	Fill port:

10-30-2012, 01:20 PM	#6
mistertom Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-01-12 Location: Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada	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?

10-30-2012, 06:49 PM	#12
SmokerKing is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 09-07-10 Location: Sunny AZ	I built several a year or two back, pellets work the best in mine;

10-31-2012, 12:11 AM	#13
mistertom Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-01-12 Location: Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada	That is nice looking! I will have to get some pellets to try.

10-31-2012, 12:42 AM	#15
woodpelletsmoker is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-29-11 Location: Beijing,China	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