Where do you place your A-Maze-N tube

timtimmay · May 10, 2015

I got the A-Maze-N pellet tube as an accessory to my new Rec Tec to add additional smoke when desired. I haven't found a good spot for it to operate in the grill. I think if I set it on the drip tray it will get clogged with grease. Setting on the grate doesn't seem great either. The choices are far right or left, or right in the way. I don't want it 1" from the food so either side would be better. I think on the left it would interfere with the temperature sensor and on the right it would just go up and out the stack wastefully.

Anyone have one of these in use with their pellet pooper? where do you place it?

Thanks

themule69 · May 10, 2015

Send SeenRed a PM. or look at a thread he started.

Happy smoken.

David

seenred · May 11, 2015

Hi Tim. You're right about there not being a perfect spot for it. I get pretty good results by placing mine across the cooking grates in the back left of the barrel. As long as it's against the back wall of the barrel, I believe it's far enough away from the RTD sensor probe that it won't affect temp readings. And that is the spot where it takes up the least amount of cooking grate space.

I've actually been wondering about designing some sort of bracket for the tube to set it in the left bottom of the barrel, below the drip pan. This may or may not be a good idea. I haven't gone far enough to try it yet, so I don't know how it might affect performance of either the Rec Tec or the tube...wondering if it would interfere with the grill's air flow, or it the bellows fan would affect the performance of the tube.

With a little trial and error, I've found that propping up the open end of the tube a couple of inches with a wad of foil seems to help the tube maintain a more consistent burn.

Don't know if that helps or not...

Red

westby · May 11, 2015

When I used mine, I had it placed along the back left like Red mentioned above. I have actually stopped using it because I found I am more than happy with the smoke flavor I get from the Rec Tec at 180 - 250 temps.

timtimmay · May 11, 2015

Thanks guys I'll try it in the back. I got it figuring I'd typically use it on hotter cooks where the rec tec isn't putting out as much and for cold smoking. Do you guys use the xtreme smoke mode?

seenred · May 11, 2015

TimTimmay said:
Thanks guys I'll try it in the back. I got it figuring I'd typically use it on hotter cooks where the rec tec isn't putting out as much and for cold smoking. Do you guys use the xtreme smoke mode?

My RT is 2 years old...they didn't have that feature when I bought it. There have been times I've wondered about ordering the new controller to upgrade...but to be honest, I'm already happy with how it performs. So I figure if it ain't broke...

Red

timtimmay · May 11, 2015

I'll have to smoke some with xtreme mode on and off as well as with and without the tube and see the various results. Good excuse to smoke more

westby · May 12, 2015

I haven't noticed a real difference between extreme smoke and without it.

Here are some ribs without:

20150419_171156.jpg

westby
Apr 20, 2015

frog1369 · May 12, 2015

I notice a difference with Extreme smoke but only on certain foods. Beef ribs, especially, they seem to really absorb the extra smoke, so much so that I need to be careful how long I put smoke to them. I also have a smoke tube and when I used it I placed it just like Red said, back left against the wall. It seems to get good air flow there, is out of the way and doesn't affect the RTD. I do like Red's idea for under the drip pan but honestly, like Westby said, I like the taste just as well without the tube so I typically don't mess with it anymore. The thing to do is experiment and find what you like best. Like any piece of equipment, learn to use it stock and as is until you get great results, then start adjusting just one variable at a time to find what you may like better. Out of the box with no add-ons the Rec Tec will make great food. Enjoy that for a while then start experimenting with what you think you want to change.

smokin218r · May 12, 2015

Great info, I was wondering the same thing.

timtimmay · May 12, 2015

Cool thanks for the suggestions, lots of experimenting to do

timtimmay · May 23, 2015

I struggled with the tube today. Back left definitely messed with the sensor, my grate temp was 174 when the grill thought it was 230. When I moved it to the right the smoke basically just went straight up the stack. I settled on back middle, but a lot of the smoke came out between the hopper and the body. I think it was working is way out by the light, but I'm not sure how.

westby · May 26, 2015

I used one for my pork butts this past weekend and had troubles with my normal left rear positioning. I ended up having to put it on the left front to keep it going.

timtimmay · May 26, 2015

I emailed rec tec and they recommend it sit on the grates a few inches from the left side, but I think it would be too much in the way there.

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Where do you place your A-Maze-N tube

timtimmay

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themule69

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seenred

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westby

Smoking Fanatic

timtimmay

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seenred

Epic Pitmaster

timtimmay

Action Team

westby

Smoking Fanatic

20150419_171156.jpg

frog1369

Meat Mopper

smokin218r

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timtimmay

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timtimmay

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westby

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timtimmay

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