Holes in drip pan

[poppypig]

My SI-2 under smoker drip pan has at least 12 pin holes which I found the hard way after a 14 hr. overnight 2 butt smoke with grease running down the cabinet the smoker sits on.I don't know how long they've been there because most of the time I line the pan with foil, but I didn't this time. I wonder what caused them as it doesn't look abraded and the only thing ever in it was grease which isn't caustic. There are holes in the bottom (which I circled in the pics) and several holes where it curves up the side. The smoker is only a couple years old. Anyone else have this problem and where an I get a replacement? I know I can just line it with foil but I'd rather have a pan with no holes.

 

[Lonzinomaker]

Take your pan with you to a restaurant supply store. You should be able to find one there.  Measure the clearance on your smoker, don't know if you have casters on or not. Might be even able to get one a little deeper so you don't have to worry about overflow as much.

 

[PulledPorkSandwich]

I'm curious how the holes got there.  That's a reasonably thick stainless steel pan, right?  Could it be that there is something about the pan that is defective?

I have an SI 2 myself and I'd like to avoid this kind of problem.

 

[old sarge]

I've not seen anything like that before.

 

[swthorpe]

I have not encountered this issue.  I have had my #2 for 9 years.  I don't put AL foil in the drip pan, and I just hand wash it after each smoke (rinse out, soap and a sponge).  I think I might have run it through the dishwasher a couple of times, but this is rare.

 

[poppypig]

The pan bottom does seem pretty thin and there are a few scratches where I've scraped out the grease but I don't think that caused the pinholes as there are some on the side curves, I'm at a loss as how they got there, never anything caustic in the pan, only washed with dish detergent :-\

 

[old sarge]

Give Steve a call/send email with pictures and see if he has a solution.

 

[poppypig]

David, where would I find his e-mail?

 

[OldeSmoker]

I use the disposable aluminum foil half size steamtable pans from Sam’s Club in my 3DW. Just throw them away when I’m done. They are 12”x10”x2” deep.

 

[old sarge]

David, where would I find his e-mail?

Please call us at:
260-417-9951
or email at:
smokin.it.info@gmail.com

 

[MudFarm]

I had the same thing happen on my #3 but pretty much in the center of the pan. Used JB weld for now but was looking for a thicker pan.

 

[LarryD]

I highly recommend just replacing the stock pan and getting a deeper one.  It sucks to have the pan overflow.

I got this one (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OJHXG2/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) when it was only $16.  It fits perfectly fine on my 3DW that is mounted on the SI stand.

 

[old sarge]

Looks like a really sturdy pan.  Thanks!

 

[PulledPorkSandwich]

I highly recommend just replacing the stock pan and getting a deeper one.  It sucks to have the pan overflow.

I got this one (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OJHXG2/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) when it was only $16.  It fits perfectly fine on my 3DW that is mounted on the SI stand.

I've smoked ribs, brisket, pork shoulder, and salmon in my model 2 and I've never come close to filling the stock pan.  I get almost no juice at all in it.  I've seen recipes for finishing sauces for pulled pork that use juices, but I never get enough to make one.

I'm still curious how the holes developed in poppypig's pan.  Have you learned anything from Steve?

 

[LarryD]

I've smoked ribs, brisket, pork shoulder, and salmon in my model 2 and I've never come close to filling the stock pan.  I get almost no juice at all in it.  I've seen recipes for finishing sauces for pulled pork that use juices, but I never get enough to make one.

That's wild... I don't know that my #2 ever over-flowed the pan, but I got it damn full on many occasions.  On my 3DW I had to dump it mid-smoke when I was doing 6 butts. 

Even if it doesn't over-flow, the extra room makes it much easier to deal with the waste without worry of accidentally spilling it.

 

[barrytm]

My guess is galvanic corrosion.  Aluminum can cause corrision when in contact with Stainless steel and a liquid.    I bought a used Masterbuilt Smoker that came with a Stainless water tray, and it had a number of pinholes in it.    My unsupported guess is that moisture got between the stainless and the aluminum, and over time caused the pinholes, though I would have thought it would have caused pinholes in the Alumimum . Like the first time i put aluminum foil on a pan of lasagna - and went to take off the foil the next day and wondered why the foil looked like swiss cheese.  If there is no moisture between the aluminum foil and the pan, there should not be any corrosion issue.

 

[old sarge]

I hadn't thought about that.