Smoke Tube Fail

[miguelb]

I have mixed pellet and wood chips from time to time but it's a hit or miss. Since I don't have a torch, I just cut half of piece of tumbleweed at the top and light it that way.

 

[BobbyQ]

You don't want to soak your chips. Actually, you want to dry them! Don't know about chips, but pellets will absorb moisture in the garage and need to be dried. I put my pellets in a baking pan in a 225 degree oven for an hour to drive off moisture, then pack the tube and follow the video and instructions on lighting above.

If it makes you feel better to warm pellets have at it. But I've had a covered HD bucket of pellets sitting in my BBQ prep table that went through the last ten days of rain storms here in SoCal. I used them on Saturday for a rib roast and mixed some mesquite chips that were stored in the same place and they lit perfectly and burned completely. My Ironwood (covered) was also out in the rain with pellets remaining in the auger from my last cook and it lit without a hitch.

 

[Lynda McCoy]

:-(

Attempted to try it out for the first time today and bungled it. First…..forgot to soak the wood chips. Fail. Second…..couldn’t get the pellets in the tube to light. Guess I need a torch. Fail.

Oh well….chicken will still be amazing. Here’s to better luck next time.

Happy New Year everyone

I don't soak the wood chips..I put in a layer of chips (dry) then some pellets then more wood chips then more pellets....alternating...make sure wood chips are packed down tight so they will last longer then it should light...I use a 'blow torch' ....

 

[Briggs & Stratton]

:-(

Attempted to try it out for the first time today and bungled it. First…..forgot to soak the wood chips. Fail. Second…..couldn’t get the pellets in the tube to light. Guess I need a torch. Fail.

Oh well….chicken will still be amazing. Here’s to better luck next time.

Happy New Year everyone

Don't use wood chips don't soak anything Fill the Smoke Tube with pellet's about inch from the top use a 5ourch to light them let them burn for 10 min or so blow out the flame ---ready to go --I use the Smoke tube a lot with great succuss

 

[Tommy]

:-(

Attempted to try it out for the first time today and bungled it. First…..forgot to soak the wood chips. Fail. Second…..couldn’t get the pellets in the tube to light. Guess I need a torch. Fail.

Oh well….chicken will still be amazing. Here’s to better luck next time.

Happy New Year everyone

Just saw your post about the smoker tube fail. I own two and have given countless ones away as gifts. I use Cabela pellets for $9.99 / 20# bag. I NEVER, NEVER, SOAK THEM IN WATER! You got some bad advice. And I always use a propane torch to light them. I always allow them to flame for a few minutes before blowing the flame out. Do not place under the meat or the juice with put the flame out.

 

[JPSBBQ]

You don't want to soak your chips. Actually, you want to dry them! Don't know about chips, but pellets will absorb moisture in the garage and need to be dried. I put my pellets in a baking pan in a 225 degree oven for an hour to drive off moisture, then pack the tube and follow the video and instructions on lighting above.

I had forgotten about this advice. I believe this is probably the answer. I remember hearing this now that you mention it. Great call!

 

[mikefinleyco]

I don't pack them, I don't soak them, I don't dry them, I use pellets or chips, light them with a blow torch and they smoke like crazy. I usually use two at the same time.

 

[CMTiger]

Just saw your post about the smoker tube fail. I own two and have given countless ones away as gifts. I use Cabela pellets for $9.99 / 20# bag. I NEVER, NEVER, SOAK THEM IN WATER! You got some bad advice. And I always use a propane torch to light them. I always allow them to flame for a few minutes before blowing the flame out. Do not place under the meat or the juice with put the flame out.

I’m not talking about soaking pellets, but wood chips

 

[CMTiger]

I just need a torch sounds like

 

[BobbyQ]

I’m not talking about soaking pellets, but wood chips

With smoke tubes most guys myself included don’t soak chips. My thought is wet chips in the small diameter of the tube will extinguish smoldering pellets. I’ve tried dry chips with pellets and they work fine.

 

[BobbyQ]

I just need a torch sounds like

Basic propane units are pretty cheap and the tank lasts quite a while.

 

[miguelb]

I just need a torch sounds like

Same!

 

[Smokenski]

I'm sure a lot of my question is personal preference but is there a general consensus on what works best for a smoke tube? Pellet/woodchip combo? Straight pellet? Straight woodchip?

 

[CMTiger]

I'm sure a lot of my question is personal preference but is there a general consensus on what works best for a smoke tube? Pellet/woodchip combo? Straight pellet? Straight woodchip?

There doesn't appear to be lol
There is one poster that says you don't get any smoke flavor from pellets so they are pointless to use.
Others only use pellets.
Mixed bag as with most things

 

[revbilly]

I’ve used my smoke tubes a couple of times. I followed Slimpicker’s advice filled the tube and lit the top couple inches with a torch. Let stand for a couple of minutes then blow out the flame. I’ve used two tubes to smoke a turkey but my favorite way to use them is for cold smoking cheese. It has to be cool enough outside (I live in Texas). I’ve tried sharp cheddar, swiss, mozzarella and gouda. All are but the best are the cheddar and swiss. I smoke them for about 2 1/2 hours with a mixture of hickory, pecan and mesquite. 1 1/2 hours is really mild. Anything over 3 hours is too strong. Mozzarella and Gouda taste better between 1 1/2 & 2 hours.