New Smokette...First Bang...Near Heart Attack!!!

LOL! Do a search on bang or boom and you read some good stories. It's only happened to me twice - right after changing heating elements in my ST. don't think the element had anything to do with it but it sure make a fella wonder. Some have experienced the bang while others have never had the pleasure!

I have not had a major one yet...but, now I know why they have bomb-proof latches on the doors.

ROFLMAO!

I love it!

It happened twice in my 008.
Both times woke me up in the middle of night 2 or 3 am.

what exactly is that fenomenon ??

the woodbox expanding because of the heat ?

I thought it was from real dry wood and just exploding or catching fire.....I heard the poof! or muffled bang in my Smokin Tex, also opened the door once and saw a fireball.....now I just ignore it all.....

dan

It has to be some correlation between the moist inside of the CS and the much drier outside air and the gases from the wood all interacting.

Anyone got anything better?

I'm thinking that the explosion is caused by the occasional build-up of flammable gases released by the wood as it smolders but doesn't burn outright. The low heat and low oygen levels in the smoker don't normally allow them to burn with a flame. Mostly they go up the flue fast enough not to accumulate.

However, once in great awhile, the gas concentration builds up to a point where the proper ratio of gas to oxygen is just right and it goes off with a bang. Just like propane won't explode unless the correct mix of air and gas is reached: Too much or too little of either and no boom. I believe that's why our smokers don't pop too often. My AmeriQue hasn't blown once--maybe because it has two vents and smoke and gases moves through too fast.

May have to do with the type of wood. Not sure. Has anyone noticed which woods "bang" the most? Also, do new smokers belch more than older ones? Maybe the door seal gets better with time and gunk and won't let in enough air.

Wow! Way long answer. Anyone still reading?


Hook

Mine hasn't made an actual 'bang' in a couple years, but now and then I still get a barely audible 'whooosh' sound and lots of smoke excaping out the top during.

I have a question. I had a Traeger BBQ-075 and everything that I tried to cook with it took so long to cook or was dried out and no smoke taste. That thing cooks with pellets and had a digital thermostat. I tried cooking chicken breast with out the skin and they were DRY. They tasted like they had been cooked in the oven. I'm use to cooking on a log burner (BBQ pit w/an off set firebox)Does this Smokette or any of CookShak's smokers dry your food out and is your food moist? I'm considering on buying one for the pleasure of having my food moist and not having to sit up all night to watch over it. Thomas

I have the cookshack AmeriQue and have had great bbq with it. The cookshack smokers are moist smokers, you should have no trouble with drying out with a cookshack. To me, skinless breasts are already dry, I've had the best luck with pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and jerkey.