Ruedeleglise Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 (edited) Having read with interest some comments on air flow I have come to the conclusion that my set up (see the photo) needs some alteration.The bottom compartment which I have put a door on, only has 10 or so 15mm holes in its roof which vent the smoke up into the smoking chamber. There are 5 small holes in the side walls but I have taped them over because when the smoker is going most smoke belts out of them and doesn’t go upwards into the smoke chamber. I have already made an extra hit and miss vent in the roof of the smoker behind the chimney but even so not a lot of smoke comes out of there. So my idea is to enlarge considerably the 10 or so 15mm holes in the roof of the bottom compartment to increase the smoke passage upwards. Then I may be able to untape some of the small holes in the side walls to allow more air into the unit from the bottom. There are illustrations of my smoker on eBay. What do any of you think of this idea....crazy or possible? I am thinking of doing this as when the unit is going full chat, smoke belches out round the front vertical sliding door but not a great deal in comparison comes out the top! Edited August 28, 2018 by Wade Added link to photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 Any holes in the walls that are ABOVE the cold smoke input tube should remain taped closed and also tape closed the holes in the bottom. You need to ensure that the air and smoke enters the smoke chamber and passes up inside over the food and out of the top. For most foods you will probably find that the air from the cold smoker pump is enough to keep it sufficiently moving - but for salmon you may need a little more. In my large cold smoker I have a slow fan at the top to drawing air and smoke through - but that may be overkill for yours. To begin with I would add a variable vent hole in the top using something similar to these Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruedeleglise Posted August 28, 2018 Author Share Posted August 28, 2018 Thanks. I have already made a crude hit and miss extra vent at the top by the small chimney. A small fan sounds a great idea. I will investigate that ......eBay a possibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 I have just replaced mine and will give you details of the things to look for. We are about to have visitors over so I will be going offline now but I will post the information in the morning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruedeleglise Posted August 29, 2018 Author Share Posted August 29, 2018 I would be most grateful for your advice on the type of fan needed. I am probably going to increase the diameter of the holes in the bottom of the smoking compartment which is directly above the compartment that the smoke is blown into from the smoke generator. Again see that photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 The fans I use are cheap, variable speed, 120 mm computer case fans. I have created a new thread showing what I have found to work well http://www.woodsmokeforum.uk/topic/749-a-practical-cold-smoker-flue-fan/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanta Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 (edited) Much appreciated, I have just made an unrefined hit and miss additional vent at the top by the little fireplace. A little fan sounds an extraordinary thought. I will explore that ......eBay a chance. Edited February 25, 2020 by Smokin Monkey Admin edit to remove external links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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