Seasoning the little guy

[elkins20]

Hey Dale am surprised you did not get the chip screen with your smoker. I received it and the rib hooks with mine. Also had the cord hooks not sure why I received all three but figured I was lucky.

[swthorpe]

At different times during the year, Steve runs specials on SI smokers where he throws in different items.  I suspect the deals were different at the times of purchase.

[drains]

I got a cover and rib hooks. I lined the bottom of the smoke box with foil and used cherry wood chips to smoke a chicken Sunday and it worked great.

[swthorpe]

Sounds good, Dale!   The purpose of the chip screen is to keep wood chip ashes from dropping down on the heating element, but foil accomplishes the same thing!     Cherry wood and chicken is a match made in Heaven!    Cheers

[TmanEater]

Are wood chip ashes getting to the heating element a problem? I have chip screen but I didn't know of a concern for keeping ashes away from element?

[SuperDave]

Are wood chip ashes getting to the heating element a problem? I have chip screen but I didn't know of a concern for keeping ashes away from element?

No, it is not a problem.  I've added wood under my box in the middle of the smoke and had the chunk touching the underside of the element. 

If you have ever seen these charcoal starters, think smoker element buried in hot coals.

[swthorpe]

The SI site under accessories indicates:  "Run out of wood chunks, and all you have is wood chips? With the chip insert, you can place smaller pieces of wood in your wood box without them falling down onto the heating element."   This seems to be the purpose of the chip screen, along with keeping the ashes in the box where they belong.

[Limey]

In my experience the chip screen also helps to cut down, or totally prevent, the dreaded belch.