Trouble with burning chips

deandde,
try the foil.
easiest way to make a pouch is to tear of a piece of foil that is the the length as it is wide (like 12" x 12")
fold it in half
put the fold line at the bottom (or in my case next to my belly)
fold the left side over twice
fold the right side over twice
this leaves an opening in the top
add your chips
fold the top over twice
using a toothpick make one hole
i use this method for running pellets in peggy's sm150 and it works like a charm every week.
hope it helps some
jack

I wonder how tight I need to wrap them in the foil? Also, is one toothpick hole enough?

Don't believe the thermometer on the door. (If it's the smoke I'm thinking of)

Howdy deandde; Sometimes in my weber I'll use prisonchef313's method on top of charcoal but I'll always soak the chips in water at least 45 minutes. Give it a try.

Don,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm somewhat familiar with your smoker although I have not personally used it. I have seen it in use several times. You mentioned your wood box was a light metal. I am thinking something got switched because, if I'm not mistaken, the wood box should be cast iron with a cast iron lid. At least that is the way the Great Outdoors are equipped at the stores here.

If your wood box is indeed a light weight metal AND has no lid, then putting your wood chips or chunks in a foil packet is probably necessary. You might consider looking for a cast iron wood box replacement that will fit. Great Outdoors should have them.

However, with your smoker, you do need to soak your wood chips in water 30-45 minutes before putting them in the woodbox. This is necessary because the wood box sits right over the propane burner. Otherwise the chips will just burn too fast. This is also why a cast iron box would be better.

Since your smoker is not sealed like the CS units, you also have a water pan and you do need to use it because of the constant flow of air through your unit. It is very likely that you will also need to add more soaked wood to the wood box probably 45 minutes to an hour after your start the cook, depending on the size of your wood pieces.

I hope this helps and good luck.