Smoke box direction

[Perkolater]

Need some direction on my smoke (wood) box guys  or gals.

I'm using smokinlicious wood that arrived a couple weeks ago so I'm reasonably certain its moisture content is fine but have not the means(yet) to check.  Anyway, Ive had more fires, belches than not and just wondering if Im doing something wrong.  Im 'boating' the blocks in foil now but had not previously.

As I viewed pictures of others' smokers, Ive noticed you can sometimes see the element clearly below the bottom of the smoke box but the only way my door will close is if I turn the smoke box such that it rests on top of the element brace strap.  If I try to insert it where it goes all the way to the back wall then it hits the lower shelf brace and extends out beyond the door.
Anyway I'm concerned that the smoke box resting on the element may be the reason I keep having fires?

 

[Pork Belly]

The box only fits properly one direction, if the door will not close, you have it in backwards.

if you are having frequent combustion issues your wood is too dry. I do not boat, foil soak or do anything special with the wood however I do not use bone dry wood either. Some guys buy moisture meters to check there wood but you can just use some common sense, if it looks crazy old and dry it is likely to old and dry. 

 

[Durangosmoker]

the top photo is correct, in the bottom photo the box is inserted backwards. 

As for the wood question, try to make sure that you are not putting the wood over any of the holes in the bottom of the wood box. You might also try an empty run where you have several pieces of wood at various spots in the box. at the end you will be able to tell where your particular hot spots (wood turned to ash) and cooler spots (wood is charred) are.

 

[Perkolater]

if you are having frequent combustion issues your wood is too dry.

Brian-I think that is the only logical answer but I wasnt ready to accept that possibility since I am using a recent order from smokenlicious?  The wood appears dry and Im going to borrow a moisture meter from a friend to confirm.

 

[Perkolater]

the top photo is correct, in the bottom photo the box is inserted backwards. 

As for the wood question, try to make sure that you are not putting the wood over any of the holes in the bottom of the wood box. You might also try an empty run where you have several pieces of wood at various spots in the box. at the end you will be able to tell where your particular hot spots (wood turned to ash) and cooler spots (wood is charred) are.

I did the empty run, hottest to the rear, so Ive positioned my wood mdway and forward, not over holes and boated in foil.

I know there's only one way for my box to fit but I know some of the photos Ive seen of door open smokers you can see the element below the wood box which is impossible with mine so there must be some variation in design, maybe among different sized smokers?  Anyway, just crossing off all possibilities and as usual, the most obvious seems apparent.
Thanks!

 

[DivotMaker]

I know there's only one way for my box to fit but I know some of the photos Ive seen of door open smokers you can see the element below the wood box which is impossible with mine so there must be some variation in design, maybe among different sized smokers?  Anyway, just crossing off all possibilities and as usual, the most obvious seems apparent.
Thanks!

There is NO variation in design.  All of the SI smoker smoke boxes mount the same way.  When inserted properly, the lid should open right to left, and the door should close.  It will not go in backwards, and all of the models work that way.  You're either trying to put it in backwards, or are missing something (like too big of a wood chunk that is holding the lid open).

 

[SconnieQ]

Smokinlicious woods ship with a card (in an envelope I think?) that tells you the moisture content of the wood when it shipped. At least mine did, and I've read posts from other people whose did too. Since they test the wood before they ship it, I doubt if they would ship anything dry. You should not have to foil boat Smokinlicious wood, maybe just adjust wood placement. I like to keep things simple if I can.

 

[Perkolater]

There is NO variation in design.  All of the SI smoker smoke boxes mount the same way.  When inserted properly, the lid should open right to left, and the door should close.  It will not go in backwards, and all of the models work that way.  You're either trying to put it in backwards, or are missing something (like too big of a wood chunk that is holding the lid open).
[/quote]

Good to know Tony...I havent had any problem putting my smoke box in correctly as it will only go the one way as you confirmed.  But based on some photos I had seen, It caused me to 'think' ??? that maybe it should fit the other way where it somehow might not be resting directly on the element.  I guess I imagined seeing the element in those pictures and it lead me to think there should be more separation (distance) between it and the base of the smoke box.

 

[Perkolater]

Smokinlicious woods ship with a card (in an envelope I think?) that tells you the moisture content of the wood when it shipped.

Mine showed 33% to 24% depending on which wood type .  There is some variation in pieces and I'm guessing thats probably a representative average but still should not catch fire?  So Im perplexed :-\

 

[SconnieQ]

Your wood should be fine. Avoid those hot spots and see how it goes for the next smoke.

 

[Perkolater]

Agreed!
The box on the #1 and #2 isn't huge like the 3 or 4s but I am going to do another test for hot spots and try to be very deliberate about it