Cold Smoke Generator for the MES

[bud lite]

Thanks to FastEddie for the idea of a "Homebrew Cold Smoke Generator."

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=79811

and

http://www.transpave-showcase.com/smoke/

Here is my version of........ The Cold Smoke Generator...for the MES.

Stainless Steel bottle from Big Lots. $3. WalMart has one for $6. Shop around.
Brass Hose Barb Adapter $3 at Home Depot. 1/8" Barb x 1/4" MIP
Drill slightly undersize hole and thread it in.

Attachment 22600

Cut off top with Dremil Tool. Fine tooth hacksaw should work.

Attachment 22601

Ready to assemble. Screen goes in. Made from piece of gutter screening with plastic coating burned off.
A few wood chips and one completely lit (grey all over) charcoal. Very important to get "white ash all the way around" it. I used a propane torch.
More wood chips. Small wood chunks. Fill it up.
3 in. elbow goes on.

Attachment 22602

Test run. Working good. Small air pump. WalMart $6.
"Hinge air valve" was not needed and removed.

Attachment 22603

MES chip chute is not used. MES power cord is unplugged.

Attachment 22604

Takes 10 - 15 minutes to "Gen Up" Now we're smoking.

Attachment 22605

Cheese in MES.

Attachment 22606

Smoked for 5 hours with Apple wood. Into Vac Seal bag for 2 weeks.

Having smoked cheese before, I expect this to be very good.

 

[beer-b-q]

Nice Job on the smoke generator... My question is does it have insulation in it or is it solid stainless steel?




Did you notice the guest in the lower left? PETA will be after you if you smoked him, Like they did Obama for swating one during a news conference... LOL

 

[downstatesmoker]

that's great. How does this affect temp control?

 

[pantherfan83]

I'm guessing for cheese he didn't turn the MES on.

 

[downstatesmoker]

I'm just wondering if the smoke makes the chamber warmer or not. I'd like to do a cold smoke to make Lox which I've seen anywhere from 60 degrees to 90 degrees.

 

[gnubee]

Considering the two probes My guess is that he did.

For doing some smoked salmon. I attached my smoke daddy to the MES without drilling any holes in it. I drilled a hole through the top and bottom of a cambell soup can. stuck the smoke daddy pipe thru the can. The can is the exact size of the Mes wood chip tray hole. Supported the weight of the smoke daddy on 2 bricks an viola cold smoke. I just take it out and replace it with the wood chip tray when I do Meats at 230f.

Works for me!

I do like Fast Eddies idea for a cheap and easy to make cold smoke generator. Pretty sure I gave him points for it.

 

[target]

No I dont think MES is on. I cant imagine one brisquette and some wood heat the whole box up above 100 degrees??

 

[bud lite]

I'll try to answer questions.

The MES is NOT on, not even plugged in.

The inside temp of the MES increased about 2 degrees F due to the smoke.

There is NO insulation in the SS bottle. Just thin SS wall. It does get hot.

I didn't notice the fly till after the picture was taken. Don't know if he was smoked or not.

I used two probes because I wanted to compare them. Besides, when you have these toys, you have to play with them.

I plan to do this again.

Did I miss anything?

 

[pantherfan83]

I don't think so. Thanks!

Did you have to re-fill the generator with chips/charcoal, or did it last the whole 5 hours?

 

[bud lite]

I did not re-fill it. Lasted 5 hours.

 

[gruelurks]

That's a great idea, I love it.

// pulls out notepad and makes shopping list

 

[scubadoo97]

This is really cool.

I've been using the tin can/ soldering iron method for cold smoke. I wonder if this can be adapted to continue to use the soldering iron as the heat source but incorporate the air pump and pump the smoke up through the chip tray hole the same way. The air pump would help to keep the chips burning.

 

[hounds51]

 

[hounds51]

Oh by the way no external air pump needed, just good old draft!!!!!

 

[scubadoo97]

I just made a couple of cold smoke generators using a modified Bud Lite method. I found a stainless cocktail shaker for 5 bucks but made a prototype using a tin can. I put the hose barb adaptor in the bottom and used my soldering iron as the heat source so I don't have to bother with charcoal and a torch to light it. It's working like a charm. I'm currently smoking a 3.3 lb side of salmon. The ambient temp in the MES is hardly changed although the can and elbow are quite hot. Photos to come when I can find where my wife put the camera

 

[scubadoo97]

Here's my prototype with a tin can and soldering iron. The brass barb fitting is in the bottom of the can.



You can see the smoke rolling out of the MES

 

[gruelurks]

How do you set the iron and wood chip an up? Do you just drop the iron in the can with a pile of chips?

 

[scubadoo97]

The basic tin can/soldering iron method uses a basic 15 oz tin can. Make sure you toast this over an open flame to burn off all coatings. This can was a can of Thai coconut milk. It fit perfectly but instead of a paper label it was a painted can. I had to burn all this off and lighly sand away any residue. It should also be mentioned that the soldering iron be new so there is no lead exposure.

In the video that shows how to make this type smoke generator they leave the lid parially attached and drill a hole in the lid and insert the soldering iron. The can is filled with chips or pellets and the iron inserted. The can is layed on it's side and smokes away. Simple easy and cheap

I've have instead drilled a hole near the bottom and inserted the iron there so the can will stand upright in my smoker as can be seen in this photo below



For this external method I placed a screen over the air suppy and drilled a hole in the can just higher than that and inserted the iron.

Here is my rig with the cocktail shaker. I have not drilled the hole for the soldering iron yet

 

[beer-b-q]

It appears we have a budding group of Inventors here at SMF...

Maybe we should have our own Research and Development Division...

 

[tjw in kans]

i tried the soldering iron method yesterday, chips started smoldering after 15 minutes, went out to unplug and noticed the handle had almost melted off. looks like i should have made sure a chip was directly contacting the the tip and unplug it a lot sooner.