Hi there its the 1st time that i cold smoke with my obs only with the smoke gen. Outside its between 55-60 fahrenheit and the inside temp seems to be 123f only with the sg is it normal? oviously my smoker is outside dont see why the temp is so hi. Any idea? thx
Toker,
Did you put any ice in the cabinet? If not, try filling the water bowl with ice as well as inside the tower. I could see where it would reach those temps if the smoke generator were attached directly to the tower. You might want to consider an offset box when doing a cold smoke.
SD
it (my cold smoke box) will be ready on monday and no i didnt put ice anywhere. thx but i just wanted to know if this temp was normal with this way. (just using the smoke gen) is the smoke gen can be hot as much as 123f alone attached to the tower?
I would think that the temp generated by the smoke generator in addition to the ambient temp would be more than enough to raise the temp to that internal temp. Sometimes, when my tower gets too high of a temp on a cold smoke, you can also certainly open the door a little to allow some heat to escape. You'll still get plenty of smoke for the food you're smoking.
Try doing a search (search engine ain't the greatest on the site, but it'll help) on some more cold smoking tips. Also, try finding the thread that Mr. Walleye started that shows his cold smoke set-up. It's top notch and will help immensely. Good luck on your cold smoke.
SD
Yes duck i already know it but just wanted to know if my smoke gen was over heating or not at 123f on monday my box will be ready i took this guys box as model to buld mine thx.
Yeah, Toker, that's normal. I cold smoked some cheese last Sunday night with ice in the water bowl, 2 small baggies full of ice on the V-tray, and a gallon bag of ice on a rack. At the end of my 1:20 smoke, it was approaching 90 degrees inside the cabinet. Outdoor temps were in the low 50's.
thx now i know what i was looking for thx man.
I believe it is not uncommon to see box temps of 150 or more with just the smoke gen. Will depend greatly on the outside temp. The puck burner gets up around 500 degrees to make the wood smolder. Been a while since I measured it so it is just an estimate.
Trust me...it is not uncommon...:) I have to load every rack except the top with ice bags...even when it's 50 here... just to keep the box temp down...to say... 80-85?
Yah but LQ, you don't even need a puck burner or a heating element. Just put the puck on the sidewalk, run a hose to the cabinet and you are set. ::)
So... is it like, "HOT" where you live LQ?
::) ::) ::)
Mike
I have the OBS. Depending on what I have in the cabinet, on a sunny day with the sun shining on the cabinet mine will go over 185°F with just the smoke generator, on a day with 60°F ambient temperatures.
thx to all.
That was funny Giz!! Might try that in July!!!
Yeah Mike you could say it gets pretty freakin hot here in the summer (was 100 yesterday...triple digits coming early this year)...really nice in the winter tho!! :)
Ok now my question is; assuming that the smoke gen can reach such temp if i build a cold smoke set up box a side for lowers temp can i use the heating element to go this way to get 115 degre F exemple? i mean is it ok if i want to use cold smoke set up with very small amout of heat or is it dangerous fo fire with a tumble dryer hose to put additionnal heat on the cabinet?
Im asking cause id like to buy a guru with raptor for controlling my temp and using it even on summer and if the smoke gen only can reach 123f here i think ill detach it and if i need additionnal heat ill open the heat on the cabinet (if its to cold with the tumble hose but to hot with the smoke gen attached to the tower) can i do it or not? Those of you who have a raptor what you doing to keep the perfect temp so low with this unit raptor?
Sorry dont know if im clear enough...
As long as you don't use the plastic dryer vent hose (if they still make them). I'm always using the cold smoke setup with a flexible aluminum hose when I smoke hams, sausage, and fish. Using the cold smoke set up is the only way I can start with lower temperature 110-130°F. During this time you need to use the heating element. The later stages I use temperatures up to 180°F, with no damage to the flexible. I have never taken it over 180°F, with the hose still attached to the cabinet.
I forgot to answer your second question. I have the Raptor/Guru (DigiQ II). The best way to keep the temperature to around 123°F is to use the cold smoke setup; smoke during the early morning or late evening when it is cool, keep the smoker out of direct sun light (if possible), open the vent wider to keep the temperature down
yes as always my master has spoken! lol! thx i didnt thought about anything else than ulminium hose btw like you said dont know if they still producing the plastic one many complaints in my region about this one at least for a normal way to use a dryer hose. thx again.
IronHabs is da man...!! Habs...you awe me with every post!! Thanks!! (and I think I can safely say that for a lot of us here!!) :)