propane question

[smokerdude65]

I took a smoker and added an upright to it. Of course, the temps won't be the same. I have a full length of tuning plates to help funnel the heat/smoke into the new section but it's running about 75-100 degree difference. My question is, if I added a propane burner to the bottom on the upright section to get the heat needed so that both areas are the same, would there still be enough smoke going through to accomplish the same thing as the main chamber? I would think so since all the smoke generated has to exit through the upright section anyway. :willynilly:

[Texas Smokers]

That's the setup I have on my trailer pit and it works great. Just be sure if for some reason the burner goes out and the chamber fills with gas that you don't light it again until it is fully aired out. Never had that happen on mine, but something to be aware of.

Jay

[smokerdude65]

Didn't think about that but thanks........that could be scary.....

[cappy]

Didn't think about that but thanks........that could be scary.....

There was a guy who had that happen on a heavy pit a couple years ago. The burner went out and as I think I recall, he may have opened the main chamber doors but not the upright. But anyway, there was still gas in the pit. When he tried to relight it, it blew the firebox door off the hinges (I think it was a 3/8" steel competition size pit if I recall) and severely damaged his leg, and the door ended up a considerable distance away. The main chamber doors were warped and bent in the pictures.

I've only used the propane in my firebox a few times to direct grill when I wanted to just toss steaks or chicken on and didn't have lead time or cleanup time. But I leave my doors all open and the exhaust open when I do, and I watch the fire.

[smokerdude65]

That's all I needed to hear. I will think of other options. I was also thinking about placing an 8" pipe on the bottom of the main chamber. Let it overhang into the firebox about 10" or so, with the end capped and an 8" hole cut out of the bottom of the pipe. Run the pipe all the way to the upright entrance. This way half of the firebox heat/smoke runs directly to the upright and the other half goes the the main chamber....

[smokerdude65]

here is s quick sketch of my idea. I may need to patent this.......:idea: