New Smoker, Need some help

I found this thread after posting and performing a more refined search

http://forum.cookshack.com/eve...=193100961#193100961

I think I just bent the element up a bit, it looked like it was touching the wood box now. I understand cranking up the temp to get it to smoke, which would give you the visible smoke. but if you want to smoke something at less than 250-275, that really doesn't fix the problem.

Yes. The wood sits in the box above the heating element. Element touching the box, wood up front, wood at the edge of the holes.

Is the smoker empty? If so, it's like starting kindling by passing the flame by it instead of leaving the flame under it. You'll produce more smoke with something in the smoker acting like a heat sync. Meaning the heating element will stay on longer without cycling on and off if something like meat or a pan of cold water is in the smoker . The meat or water will keep the ambient temperature of the oven lower forcing the element to stay on longer, and since it's touching the wood (with only the box metal in between), it will help the wood burn.

It's a good idea to season the smoker with a fatty piece of meat like a pork butt--produces a better first smoke and gets the sides nice and loaded. It's not necessary since your first cook will do the same but helps the initial seasoning.

If you're using the wood provided by Cookshack, you're probably OK. Check my last paragraph on today's brisket thread for some info on the wood itself.

Have a read through the Owners forum, by title alone I see a number of posts that meet the question.

And call CS if you're still concerned, always good to give them feedback.

Something i also noticed when i got my first 55 is the clean smoke that the CS's make can be hard to see, its not like most other smokers i used. Take a good smell and see if you smell the smoke. Early on i thought i had the same problem so i put a green piece of wood in the smoke box and wow you could see that coming out but thats the impurities that you see thats what you dont want on your meat. Try putting a piece of meat in there and taste the smoke flavor it produces. This is the best smoker i have ever used i loved it so much after just 2 months i bought a fec100. Just through you some meat in there and enjoy.

When I first got my smokette, I played with the control panel too much trying to keep adjusting the temp. If you just plug it in, set your temp and leave it alone it should do fine.