Door Help

[TARDISgirl]

Soo... went to open my little guy, and the door will not open.  I can open the latch, but the door is stuck - no amount of pulling or prying would get it to budge.  I am currently running it at 100degrees in hopes that warming up the box will help soften any gunk that may have sealed it.
Any other thoughts?

 

[SuperDave]

I think you are thinking in the right direction but might require more that 100 degrees.  As a side note, the doors are held on by gravity hinges, which is to mean that the door side hinge just hangs on the box side of the hinge.  I might try laying the box on its back and bumping the door from the bottom in the upward direction.  That might slide the door off the hinge.  In the meantime, I like your heating it up hot idea first.

 

[TARDISgirl]

Thanks for the reply! After about 30 min at 100, I was able to open the door.  I had missed a spot in the lower corner, and with the recent cold weather, it must of just cemented it shut.

 

[NDKoze]

Wow, that is a new one. I have not heard of this happening before. I have never cleaned very well around where my door touches the smoker because that gunk helps reduce the amount of smoke that leaks out of the door.

Good idea on the reheat though.

 

[SconnieQ]

Whaaa? That's weird. Glad you got it open.

 

[DivotMaker]

Wow!  That's a first!  Never had that happen...but know how to solve now!

 

[gregbooras]

Very weird and as other have said, never heard about this before.

The good news, is that you have a really tight seal on your door.


Greg

 

[AlinMA]

Thanks for the reply! After about 30 min at 100, I was able to open the door.  I had missed a spot in the lower corner, and with the recent cold weather, it must of just cemented it shut.

+1 on your analysis.

 

[DiggingDogFarm]

FWIW,
I had the door sticking issue a year or so ago.
I smoke cured meats and sausages almost exclusively in the Model 4 at relatively low temperature which led to the door gumming up and sticking.
I occasionally spray the outer edges of the door and the smoker with cooking spray and I haven't had the problem since.



~Martin 

 

[TARDISgirl]

Martin, thanks for the cooking spray idea! I still need to do a good cleaning, but that sounds like a good preventive measure.