Smokin-It User Forum!
Smokin-It Smokers => Model 2 & 2D - The Middle Kid => Topic started by: va_rider on July 06, 2015, 09:52:16 AM
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So, I got the chip screen when I bought my smoker, and I haven't used chips in it yet, but I spent a lot of time looking at it, and didn't understand the need for it.
Then, I got to looking around on the website, and noticed that my smoker box doesn't look anything like the smoker boxes on the website.
(https://www.smokinitforums.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn3.volusion.com%2Fdchx7.rbjk4%2Fv%2Fvspfiles%2Fphotos%2FRFB-2-3T.jpg&hash=e1b884e2f046b1d3ce2f4f90c698f46d4490615c)
My smoker box doesn't have any holes in the bottom of it. just holes in the sides. The bottom of the box is solid. Has there been a revision? or was my box just not drilled?
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Have you had any issues with smoke production with the reduced airflow? May want to give Steve a call and see if he changed it up.
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Love the idea of a box with no holes in the bottom. Wish I had your model, I'd swap you.
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So, I got the chip screen when I bought my smoker, and I haven't used chips in it yet, but I spent a lot of time looking at it, and didn't understand the need for it.
Then, I got to looking around on the website, and noticed that my smoker box doesn't look anything like the smoker boxes on the website.
(https://www.smokinitforums.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn3.volusion.com%2Fdchx7.rbjk4%2Fv%2Fvspfiles%2Fphotos%2FRFB-2-3T.jpg&hash=e1b884e2f046b1d3ce2f4f90c698f46d4490615c)
My smoker box doesn't have any holes in the bottom of it. just holes in the sides. The bottom of the box is solid. Has there been a revision? or was my box just not drilled?
I am confused, the photo you are showing is the one from the website or yours. For me this looks like the one on Steve's website?
Thanks Greg
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Sorry, I realized that might be confusing after posting. That's Steve's picture from the website. I'm at the office and can't take a picture of the one at home until later tonight. But, picture the same thing, but no holes in the bottom of the box. Just solid steel.
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Have you had any issues with smoke production with the reduced airflow? May want to give Steve a call and see if he changed it up.
Umm.... I'm not sure? I guess is the best answer. I have nothing to compare it to, but the food taste plenty smoky. After a 8-10 hour smoke though, I still have a big black chunk of wood in the box... So I suppose that maybe I'm not getting as much smoke as I could be? I'd hate to even bother Steve with something like this, I'm more curious than anything else. I didn't notice until I was looking through the website this morning, looking to buy a stand for my #2, some Oak, and maybe that Sasha Flavor Savor pan... then I looked at the replacement parts just to see if there was a diagram or something on the chip screen to see if I was looking at using it the wrong way, and realized that my smoker box looked very different from what was there.
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Sorry, I realized that might be confusing after posting. That's Steve's picture from the website. I'm at the office and can't take a picture of the one at home until later tonight. But, picture the same thing, but no holes in the bottom of the box. Just solid steel.
That's makes sense!
Greg
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My #2 is a couple years old now, but my smoker box has a solid bottom...the only holes are on the sides of the box.
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Umm.... I'm not sure? I guess is the best answer. I have nothing to compare it to, but the food taste plenty smoky. After a 8-10 hour smoke though, I still have a big black chunk of wood in the box... So I suppose that maybe I'm not getting as much smoke as I could be? I'd hate to even bother Steve with something like this, I'm more curious than anything else. I didn't notice until I was looking through the website this morning, looking to buy a stand for my #2, some Oak, and maybe that Sasha Flavor Savor pan... then I looked at the replacement parts just to see if there was a diagram or something on the chip screen to see if I was looking at using it the wrong way, and realized that my smoker box looked very different from what was there.
You could probably get a bit more smoke and reduce it to ash with a bit more air, but if you are getting good bark and taste, no need to really mess with it.
I'd be curious about it myself and would ask Steve, by email if you don't want to dial him up. He's been really friendly and helpful when I had to call him with my initial issues.
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Thanks, I did just shoot him an email. I've had satisfactory bark on a couple smokes, but nothing I'd call great bark. I wonder if this is the reason... Although, it appears that I'm not the only one with a solid bottom box, looking at the comment above. I'll report back with Steve's answer.
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My #2 unit is around 4 months and it has holes in the bottom!
Greg
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My #2 unit is around 4 months and it has holes in the bottom!
Greg
Greg,
Did your #2 come with the 800W element? If Aaron's wasn't a mistake, I'm wondering if it is related to the new, stronger element?
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My #2 unit is around 4 months and it has holes in the bottom!
Greg
Greg,
Did your #2 come with the 800W element? If Aaron's wasn't a mistake, I'm wondering if it is related to the new, stronger element?
Dave,
Yes 800 Watt unit...
Greg
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My #2 has holes in bottom and is the 800 watt.
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Mine is only a month old, how do I check the wattage?
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Mine is only a month old, how do I check the wattage?
Aaron,
If your smoker is only a month old it would have the 800 watt heater. Look at the serial number plate (located top right side back of smoker) and you will see the watts.
Greg
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Ah. Yes. The data tag says 800W.
Also... Figured out the mystery of the smoke box... My memory sucks. It has holes in it.... As much as I've used this thing in the past month, apparently I can't remember that the box has holes in it.... Time to email Steve back and tell him I'm a dummy.
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Mine is only a week old, 800 watt, and has holes in the bottom just like the one pictured.
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I would be curious to know why they added holes in the bottom of the smoke box...as I noted earlier, my #2 is over 2 years old and arrived with no holes on the bottom. It seems to me that with the holes in the bottom, you have a greater chance of combustion as well as for ash to fall through onto the heating element.
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I would be curious to know why they added holes in the bottom of the smoke box...as I noted earlier, my #2 is over 2 years old and arrived with no holes on the bottom. It seems to me that with the holes in the bottom, you have a greater chance of combustion as well as for ash to fall through onto the heating element.
You're the first person I heard mention that! I thought they always had holes (my #1 is over 2 years old, and has holes). Might email Steve and ask! Let us know what you hear.
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So I went outside to check the smoke box, just to be sure. Something must have happened since the last time I smoked...now my box has holes on the bottom :o All this time I thought the bottom was solid, so now I know! Unreal.
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So I went outside to check the smoke box, just to be sure. Something must have happened since the last time I smoked...now my box has holes on the bottom :o All this time I thought the bottom was solid, so now I know! Unreal.
Haha.....
Must have been those little green men :)
Greg
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So I went outside to check the smoke box, just to be sure. Something must have happened since the last time I smoked...now my box has holes on the bottom :o All this time I thought the bottom was solid, so now I know! Unreal.
At least I'm not the only one...
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I am in good company, then! It's amazing to me how many times I have dropped wood in that box and did not notice the holes on the bottom. I guess this is why human beings do not make good eye witnesses! ;D
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Now we can go back to focusing on why the holes are there in the first place. LOL!
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Now we can go back to focusing on why the holes are there in the first place. LOL!
Yeah, on that note, I've seen several folks on the forum say that they lay down foil in the entire bottom of the smoker box to make cleanup easier. For the folks that do that, do you punch holes in the foil for the holes? Does it mess up airflow?
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Foil goes on the bottom of the smoker, poke the drain hole through. Then foil the top of the firebox.
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All the foil in the wood box stories are to stop wood combustion. I wonder if Steve would make me a box with no holes in it to start with? I'd try it as an R&D effort unless he has already been down that road.
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Foil goes on the bottom of the smoker, poke the drain hole through. Then foil the top of the firebox.
I'm familiar with doing that... but some folks say that they also line the inside of the smoker box (the box that holds the wood) with foil for easy cleanup.
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The box that holds the wood is the Firebox. I do not understand why anyone would want to do that, seems like a waste of time and foil.
I personally do not understand the attempts to reinvent the SI. I know some folks just are not satisfied and need to tinker but this thing works really good as is.
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To stop the belch I (like others) line the bottom of the smoke box with a single piece of foil. The belch no longer happens!
Greg
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Do you sit and watch the entire smoke to see this mysterious belch? I do not, so it may be "Belching" every five minutes for all I know.
I don't believe it is anything to worry about, lots of you guys talk about "it happened" but I haven't read about any spoiled meals.
It is wood and heat, there is likely to be an occasional fire, not a big deal.
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The foil is acting like a small layer of insulation and reduces airflow to the wood. Less air = less likely to combust, always remember the fire triangle (heat, fuel, and an oxidizing agent)
It definitely makes a difference, I see much cleaner smoke from just using foil boats vs nothing at all.
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Do you sit and watch the entire smoke to see this mysterious belch? I do not, so it may be "Belching" every five minutes for all I know.
I don't believe it is anything to worry about, lots of you guys talk about "it happened" but I haven't read about any spoiled meals.
It is wood and heat, there is likely to be an occasional fire, not a big deal.
In the past when it belched you could hear it in the house. The wood now turns into what looks like lump charcoal.
For me I don't worry, I use 5 cents of foil on the bottom and change it every once in a while.
Each to their own :)
Greg
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I am a firm believer in "If it is legal and makes you happy, go for it" but I don't feel the need.
I toss in a chunk of wood, set the dial and come back later to collect my food.
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Brian, we each have our own head scratching moments. I can't wrap my head around the guys that measure the moisture content of their wood or measure it to tenths of an ounce but each of us has our own rituals that provide peace of mind. From a quality standpoint, I do believe that fire produces sooty smoke and is detrimental to the food quality but I'm also sure that we all do what we do because we believe it effects the quality of the end product.
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I just bought a #2 and received it Wednesday. The smoker box has holes in the bottom.so you might want to contact Steve on that issue. 8)
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I just bought a #2 and received it Wednesday. The smoker box has holes in the bottom.so you might want to contact Steve on that issue. 8)
Welcome to the club, Jcnme! Looks like everyone agrees there are, indeed, holes in the bottom of the smoke box! ;)
Now that you're with us, head over to the Introductions section and tell us a little about yourself (Q experience, etc.). Also, adding your first name and town, to your Forum Profile signature line is appreciated! We like to know our new members!
Let us know how we can help you become a SI Pit Master! 8)