Pusher Pucks burning

[harvestbarn]

Just seasoned my smoker put 5 pucks in seemed to work fine but next day I found I only had half a puck left is there a reason for this?  The unit is in an outbuilding well ventitated but not subject to strong wind.

I note from the forum metal pucks are available in the USA but cannot see them on the UK site.  I gathered that it was normal for the puck next to the end to half burn but had not expected it to do thisto the last one actually in the smoke generator.  Although this is the first time the unit has been run it was bought a few years ago all the wood pucks are sealed in polythene and I broke open a new pack.

The smoke generator arm is currently tight on the water bowl but cannot see this would effect the burning extent of the pucks.

[KyNola]

With 5 pucks the third fourth and fifth puck are going to be there for the duration.  Unless you shut the heat off from the smoke generator it will continue to heat the third puck and that heat will transfer to the fourth and finally the fifth puck. 

[harvestbarn]

I see so it does not switch the heating plate off when there are no more pucks left.  Is it normal then to run the unit through a time switch to automate the porocess?

[Quarlow]

Hi HB I am trying to understand what you mean when you say "the smoke generator arm is currently tight on the water bowl". This is confusing as the water bowl sits under the smoke generator and does not touch the bowl. Could you post a pic so we can see what you mean.

If you want to spare the cost of the bubba pucks you can get away with just using 2 metal pucks and then put a wood one on top of the 2 metal pucks as the 3rd. This is what I do.
Oh yeah welcome to the forum.

[Habanero Smoker]

Hi harvestbarn (HB);
Welcome to the forum.

Many leave the burner on for extra heat, if you don't have bubba pucks you can knock the last bisquette off if you want to. If you are looking to add a timer switch, you could not just plug the generator into a timer, because the time would also shut down the heat. Some PID's (an external temperature controller) can do that operation for you. Another option, you would have to internally wire the timer to the motor.

If your drive rail, actually the burner, is touching the bowl something is not aligned correctly. The rail is either bent, or you do not have the generator properly hooked to the side of the cabinet. It should not cause any problems during a short smoke, but for a long smoke the burnt puck may begin to stack against the burner.

Quarlow; I believe HB is referring to the Drive Rail; the section that the bisquette slide on to get to the burner.

[Hopefull Romantic]

 HI HB

it seems that you have received ample advice for the problem and therefore I just wanted to say welcome to the forum.

HR

[TedEbear]

I see so it does not switch the heating plate off when there are no more pucks left.  Is it normal then to run the unit through a time switch to automate the porocess?

You need to have three 'pusher' pucks at the end to feed all of the Bradley pucks through the system.  There are several pricey options for this or you can make your own for a lot less.  Find some scrap 2-inch thick wall pipe and cut it into 1/2" lengths.  Bevel the edges so they do not catch on the slider and there ya go.  Doesn't have to be sealed pipe, just thick wall.  Works for me.   ;)

As far as a timer I have an OBS and when I'm doing a long 15-20 hour smoke butt I just look in the feeder tube to see when the last of the pusher pucks has advanced.  Then I know all of my smoker pucks is in the water and I turn the smoke generator off.  It probably wouldn't hurt to leave it on but with two 500W elements the additional 125W of heat from the smoke generator isn't needed.  That, and I probably save 10 cents worth of electricity.   ;D

[devo]

I seem to remember another post from a member who had the same problem with the water bowl touching the smoke generator and it turn out to be bent. Can't remember if he called bradely to get a replacement or bent it back.

[KyNola]

If your drive rail, actually the burner, is touching the bowl something is not aligned correctly. The rail is either bent, or you do not have the generator properly hooked to the side of the cabinet. It should not cause any problems during a short smoke, but for a long smoke the burnt puck may begin to stack against the burner.

Habs has given you good info here.  There is one other possibility about the drive rail being tight against the bowl.  Remove the puck stacker tube.  Take a look where the pucks are stacked prior to being dropped to the pusher plate.  That should be centered.  When I received my Bradley it was shifted to the right and consequently my drive rail was cocked down towards the bowl.  If that is the case   put your fingers down into where the pucks fall to be pushed towards the burner plate and gently pull back to the left.  Seems I recall someone else experiencing the exact same issue and that was the problem. 

[harvestbarn]

Hi all, Thank you for your help, I found on the forum a comment from Bradley`s that some units get bent down in shipping I think this happened to me and can be bent back up this has cured the problem. Picture before bending attached.  I checked with the UK importers but they do not sell Budda Pucks so if anyone knows of a reasonable source that will ship to the UK please let me know otherwise I shall make some.

I bought this unit to have a go at cold smoking have just finished the set up but not yet tried it.  Have there been any cases of the cardboard box catching fire?

Garth

[OU812]

Send begolf25 a PM I'm sure he ships up there.  ;D

Check this out.

http://www.yardandpool.com/Bubba-Pucks-Bradley-Smoker-Woodsaver-p/bubbapuck-p.htm?1=1&CartID=0

[Habanero Smoker]

Your drive rail is definitely bent. It is bent more then most I have seen that were posted, but you may be able to straighten it out by carefully bending it upwards.

I'm not aware of any one having a cardboard box catching fire. I have used the cardboard box method for several years; prior to getting the Bradley cold smoke adapter.

Here is a link to how to build a cardboard cold smoker. Also if you click on the Bradley Smoker link at the beginning of the article, that you take you to the British/European representative/distributor.
Cold Smoking with the Bradley

[harvestbarn]

Yes I found www.yardandpool.com but they only ship to the USA. 

The drive rail straightened fairly easily and it is good to know the cardboard box method has proved reliable, thanks.  I did line the box with aluminium foil tape where the drive rail enters .

Just need to go fly fishing now so it can be tested properly!

[Quarlow]

Thats good news HB, glad it worked out for you. On the cardboard box I made my hole for the SG the same size as the hole in the cabinet. I was concerned about catchig the box on fire also. It works great and is cheap too. If you want to order some bubba pucks you could have them shipped to my wifes aunt in Washington state and then I could pick them up from there and then ship them to you. On second thought that might get a little expensive. Give me a couple of days and I will see what I can do for you.

[RossP]

You can also order them from JTs place   http://smokeandstuff.com/
I got mine from them and they shipped directly to me in Canada.

Ross