Pellet grill/smoker upgrades

[Beap52 1,845]

A pellet  grill was given to me.  I did a deep clean on it and for the most part it seems to work well.

 

 I was told that these grill/smokers can have an issue of the auger overloading the burn pot and apparently it can cause a small explosion.  It seems to  be related to dirty burn pot.  I did have the fire go out on my last smoke and noticed the temperature dropping below the normal swing between a few degrees above target temp and a few degrees below.  Out of curiosity and caution, I disassembled the grill and the pot was overflowing with pellets.  The auger continued pumping pellets into the burn pot. 

 

I wired in a light so I know when the auger is running and maybe it will get my attention if the temp drops lower than expected.  

 

I also ran some of the insulation tape around the lid that is used on green egg grills between lid and body of the grill.  It sure cut down on the smoke escaping by 90%.  From my little use, I don't think these smokers impart as much smoke flavor as my electric smoker with a smoke generator or real wood smoker.  I tried to use my smoke generator and it won't stay lit in the pellet smoker. 

 

I used one of the heavy aluminum pans that restaurants use to transport food.  I formed it to fit and lays on the metal plate that seems to be a heat deflector (and also catches and burns the drippings).  I fill the aluminum pan with water which keeps the heat deflector clean, adds humidity and I believe acts as a heat sink keeping temperatures more even. 

[c-series don 10,923]

Well since we are talking about smokers I figured I’d add some pictures from a few years ago. 

[Beap52 1,845]

31 minutes ago, c-series don said:

Well since we are talking about smokers I figured I’d add some pictures from a few years ago. 

The black one is smoking but I'll bet the pretty red ones don't smoke at all!  If there was a "YEEHAW" emoji, that's what I would have hit!
 

 

[Sodaking27 1,066]

Did someone say smokers. Couple of mine. @Beap52 I agree that that you get more smoke flavor with the electric smokers. I learned that the hard way.

 

[Beap52 1,845]

You all have some mighty fine equipment out there.  The problem is you all are too far away for me to drop in just before supper!

 

While I'm new to pellet smokers, I've had the smoker below since 1992.  It  was a Brinkman smoker that we took to the Philippines and when it rusted out I had it remade in stainless steel.  The lid is original. 

 

I can use charcoal, wood or electric.

 

In the first picture the red part is electric and the section below is where i put the smoke  generator.  It does a really good job of maintaining 225 degrees 

 

In the second picture we are using it as a heating stove burning firewood inside. 

 

The third picture shows the smoker over a bed of coals baking turnovers.  

 

I've made a blower that I used to bake bread.  In the Philippines the charcoal was actually coconut hulls.  With a blower below the smoker, I could maintain the 350 degrees.  We hired sisters, one was the cook, the other cleaned.  Luz, the cook, would say on a Saturday morning "Sir, let's bake bread today."  So I'd fire up the smoker, bake a couple loaves (We made a few bricks in the beginning.) then throw on a slab of pork ribs.  Good memories.  And, homemade bread with a little touch of smoke is awful hard to beat. This is lightweight, fairly compact and goes every time I go camping.  I've got a Kamado grill, the pellet smoker and this ugly old thing and it's still my favorite.