New Propane Smoker Advice??

dameatsweats · May 6, 2015

I'm thinking about purchasing a Masterbuilt Sportsman Elite (http://www.basspro.com/Masterbuilt-...product/1408211437/?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL).

This smoker seems like a decent buy. I was wondering your guys' opinion on this smoker, better alternatives(without getting crazy with price), and what modifications I should expect to make after purchase?

Thank you for your advice in advance.

timberjet · May 6, 2015

You would want to do some mods to that smoker to get it to perform right. A lot of folks seem to have a hard time keeping the temp. down on those. So you you would want to get a needle valve installed for fine tuning the gas flow. The next thing I see people having problems with is the wood tray seems to like to burn the wood up too fast causing big spikes in temperature. I see people using a cast iron pan with bolts for legs to get it just a little bit up off the burner. Other than those easy mods it is a good smoker. I think a needle valve is just a few bucks and you need a couple of fittings to make it work. You might already have an old cast iron pan around or you could buy one for cheap at a yard sale or something. I personally love charcoal and that is the way I roll.

cmayna · May 6, 2015

That smoke is just like my gasser but a little wider. Nice. Yes for a needle valve for when you do low temp smoking. Also yes for a cast iron pan.

dameatsweats · Jun 10, 2015

Do you guys have any pictures of your set up?

I just purchased the Masterbuilt XL and added a ball valve under the smoker, where the propane line attaches. I haven't cooked on it yet, but I was messing with it a little, and saw a couple things I didn't like. Have you guys seen these.

1.) when I turn the ball valve down, you can hear a high pitch whistle sound

2.) when the ball valve is turned down for a lower flame, adjusting the regulator on the smoker doesn't effect the flame.

Not sure if these are real issues, but im all for suggestions.

thanks

yoni malka · Jun 14, 2015

[h1]Also Check "Masterbuilt 20051311 GS30D 2-Door Propane Smoker" I think it's best for you! read more here - http://www.oureviews.com/masterbuilt-20051311-gs30d-2-door-propane-smoker/[/h1]

41bd07E7ttL.jpg

yoni malka
Jun 14, 2015

mowin · Jun 14, 2015

Yoni Malka said:
[h1]Also Check "Masterbuilt 20051311 GS30D 2-Door Propane Smoker" I think it's best for you! read more here - http://www.oureviews.com/masterbuilt-20051311-gs30d-2-door-propane-smoker/[/h1]

41bd07E7ttL.jpg

yoni malka

Jun 14, 2015

Thats the smoker I have. Its a dual fuel. Gasser or charcoal. I did a 1/4 turn gas shutoff valve mod decause I couldn't find a needle valves locally. I can keep the tank valve open fully, and adjust the flame w the shutoff valve to whatever flame I need. I can get the flame so low, that the dry chips won't even start to smoke....

noggin · Jun 15, 2015

Use a needle valve, not a ball valve. With a needle valve, you'll have MUCH finer control over the smoker flame. On a ball valve, you can go from fully open to fully closed in as little as half a turn making minor adjustments in temperature very difficult. A small bump of the knob might be 50° difference. On a needle valve, you turn three full turns or more to go from fully open to fully closed. A small bump in the knob of a needle valve might be a 5 to 10° difference in temperature.

When using an external valve with your smoker, you'll want to fully open the valve on the smoker and use just the external valve to control the flame.

mowin · Jun 15, 2015

Noggin said:
Use a needle valve, not a ball valve. With a needle valve, you'll have MUCH finer control over the smoker flame. On a ball valve, you can go from fully open to fully closed in as little as half a turn making minor adjustments in temperature very difficult. A small bump of the knob might be 50° difference. On a needle valve, you turn three full turns or more to go from fully open to fully closed. A small bump in the knob of a needle valve might be a 5 to 10° difference in temperature.

When using an external valve with your smoker, you'll want to fully open the valve on the smoker and use just the external valve to control the flame.

I agree a needle valve is the best choice, but I needed something quick. The shutoff works better than I thought. Very easy to tweek the flame to whatever I need. For a quick fix, it works...

Search

Search

New Propane Smoker Advice??

dameatsweats

Newbie

timberjet

Master of the Pit

cmayna

Master of the Pit

dameatsweats

Newbie

yoni malka

Newbie

41bd07E7ttL.jpg

mowin

Master of the Pit

41bd07E7ttL.jpg

noggin

Fire Starter

mowin

Master of the Pit

Similar threads

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Spammer PMs, Anybody Else?

Lost my dad yesterday

On the Edge of Trying Sausage Making

Took a stroll this afternoon

Don't let your Meatloaf