Fire Hazard, be careful

[McBuffalo]

As you are aware that loading pellets into the back hopper is sometimes difficult. You should also realize that there is a large gap between the drum portion of the smoker and the pellet container.
In a rush, or maybe I was just sloppy, some pellets became stuck in that gap. Not the first time and I will routinely clean them out between cooks.
On this cook I slow cooked some strip steaks up to 95 degrees, then removed them and reset the smoke fire to 600 to finish them off.
Well during the slow cook no problem, but at 600 degrees the pellets that fell in that gap, ignited, burning the outside of the drum, and falling on my patio on fire.

There may be a warning in the booklet somewhere, I’m not going looking for it now.
If there isn’t a warning there should be, and a new generation SmokeFire should be engineered to prevent it.

In the big picture the SmokeFire is terrific, have done many cooks large and small.

just a heads up to our group to keep us safe!

 

[JpsBBQ]

Post a picture of the damaged drum if you can. Interesting. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Goneincognito]

Seen it happen before and is talked about often. There are people around the forum who have created fixes for it but can't remember who.

 

[rexster314]

Here you go.

 

[JpsBBQ]

Seen it happen before and is talked about often. There are people around the forum who have created fixes for it but can't remember who.

Oh, I’ve definitely spilled pellets in the interstitial space there, but never have I seen them combust, or heard of that actually happening. I can imagine it happening I suppose.

 

[Bruno]

Here you go.

What is that again? I need to get off my ass and get one. Any links?

 

[JpsBBQ]

What is that again? I need to get off my ass and get one. Any links?

He made it I believe.

 

[rexster314]

What is that again? I need to get off my ass and get one. Any links?

It's a 1" wide aluminum bar stock, cut to length. Lowe's/Home Depot sells the stuff. Wedge it down flush with the hopper mounting bracket. Then whenever, knock the loose pellets out

 

[McBuffalo]

Rexter, thank you very much I have already applied your solution but 3/4 stock fit my EX6 better. Solution pictures attached
jps pictures of damage attached.

 

[abmet]

I’d send pic of it to Weber showing the damage. Maybe they’ll redesign that section.

 

[JpsBBQ]

Rexter, thank you very much I have already applied your solution but 3/4 stock fit my EX6 better. Solution pictures attached
jps pictures of damage attached.

The fire removed the enamel from the barrel? I wonder why all the charcoal kettles haven’t had this issue? Charcoal burns between 900-1300 degrees. Weird.

 

[Bruno]

Rexter, thank you very much I have already applied your solution but 3/4 stock fit my EX6 better. Solution pictures attached
jps pictures of damage attached.

How many pellets did you let sit.
Thanks Rexter I got get over to Home Depot, that’s too easy.

 

[KevinD]

I bought an aluminum scoop on Amazon that just fits inside the hopper. I store the pellets in a sealed bucket. No spillage.

 

[Duck man]

I now use a “Gutter Clean Out” scoop to load pellets into the hopper - no more spillage. $4 at Home Depot.

 

[JpsBBQ]

I just cut the corner of the bag and dump them in there. I have to admit, I still spill some in the space between the hopper and barrel occasionally. It’s usually if I’m trying to load a full 20-22# of pellets in there. Sometimes I use my hand to try and level them out and get too aggressive.