oggy
11-03-2009, 10:47 AM
Well, OK then. Tis I the Og returning as promised with tales of refrigerator converting extrodinaire. And probably a few photo images meant to impress under duress, if that's how your meat smokes. Guess I'm not cut out for poetry. Hope the Servel comes out better than that last ditty. HA! The Servel Custom! And you all thought sure I'd forgot! Not likely. Not today anyway. I'm a day late w/this post but I have made what appears to be to me, significant progress. I'll let ya'll decide how close I really am to trying this out with real meat inside. And here's the kicker. I typically enjoy all that I do, and every day I get to do it in. Always been like that. Older now and slowed down a tad, I anticipate and still enjoy all the little intracacies making life so interesting. I have enjoyed a whole lot doing this project. It took about as long as I planned, sort of. It was about as much work effort as I had imagined, not a lot but enough. I was able to call up from memory many things relevant regarding how things are done, what tools I had available, and how I was able to use and succeed at all of this. Using my own resources and head, and enjoying now the final steps before ultimately enjoying the product of this event. And meeting all of you fine folks who have so welcomed me into your group. I feel well grounded and prepared to continue, with the security of all your knowledge and offered assistance behind me.
As I geezerly fritterd away nearly the entire day yesterday accomplishing nothing of any importance, I nonetheless remembered I had said I would do pix and fix on the Servel Custom. Not wanting to be known by at least someone as a total flake, I rallied a bit before dusk and finished improving the hole in the floor pan of the refer to accomodate a twin element hot plate.
You can judge for yourself from the pictures I'll get to, when I complete bothering you all with this.
And here's the questions!
It took at least 45 minutes to bring the IAT to 220, after closing the door, and having set up the inside for the first full test. Both plates dialed to max. The CI 10" frying pan containg enough hickory chunks for what I was doing. Both floor fresh air intakes shut nearly all the way and the top vent open halfway. Almost immediately, within 10 minutes, smoke appeared out the vent in the top. Just a small amount but visibly increasing fairly quickly.
A few more minutes passed and the visible smoke was even more visible. What I noticed particularly was the rate smoke was exiting through the upper vent. Impressive isn't the word I want but it will work to make a point here.
The visible smoke now had increased in both density, and rate of flow up and away from the top vent. Imagine the rate and perhaps the volume of a heavy smoker taking a big hit off a cigarette, the forcefully exhaling it thru pursed lips upwards. Not necessarily blowing hard the smoke out so much as with some reserve force steadily and something more than gradually. More than an child's old Lionel train puffed smoke. With a bit more force and density.
To me it looked as if it were more than adequate, and mostly too quick a rate of flow by a nominal measure. But of course I have no idea other than some info gathered along the way and common sense. I apprciate I must learn as I proceed. But having some cognition of ABOUT where I am starting might help me out. If anyone might care to jump on this runaway thing.
This dual element hot plate isn't one of the more powerful and durable (looking) units I've seen. 1650w is the rated output. The coils on top are thinner and fewer than the single unit's element I swapped out for, but 650w more power, it says. It obviously works as I said. But 45 minutes minimum to attain 220 seems to me to be more than is convenient due to having to
recharge the foil wet chunk wood packs at intervals yet to be established.
I can fabricate an access door or panel in the back (I think) that would serve to add material without the big recovery time needed when doing that. I don't mind doing that except cutting and changeing I can always do, doing the opposite requires a bit more everything. Planning, and staying mindful mistakes can be repaird or adjusted, I have no hesitancy about this, but would appreciate any ideas or suggestions for any alternative actions here.
If there is a way to speed up the heat recovery time, it would then solve the problem making further cutting and potential leakage, unneccessary. If there is no way feasible, I can go to Cosco and get a slick looking two element hot plate, that when I looked at and touched it and all that, it was both heavy and had solid plates as the surface elements, rather than the traditional coils wound circularly. It was or seemed to be quite sturdily built and substantial in composition if I am any judge of these things. I neglected to catch the w rating but I imagine it's at least what I have now is, and likely more. How much is the question?
There is smoke leakage from several various spots, and locations. Not a lot, but more than a little tiny bit. All easily addressed should it become evident they need attention. So that's how it stands at this moment in time. Close (I think-hope) but not quite ready to Q. Alas (whimper-whine-snivel).
And lastly, am writing in the right place here? If whatever I am doing is somehow not THE way, lemme know and I'll fix it. I haven't a weak clue as to how I get pix into this site, but I bet I can figure it out. Check those out later today if yawanna. With this thing, I'm not stuck so much as looking for any offered ideas and suggestions anyone may have that might help. I can do this. But I joined you all gladly, and hope to benefit from your experience and counsel you may offer, so I am saved from taking my own life if things turn south. Or more probably, taking the ife of the ijit up the street a waze from here. Yeah. A fine idea if ever there was one.
Later today then. Ogsby
As I geezerly fritterd away nearly the entire day yesterday accomplishing nothing of any importance, I nonetheless remembered I had said I would do pix and fix on the Servel Custom. Not wanting to be known by at least someone as a total flake, I rallied a bit before dusk and finished improving the hole in the floor pan of the refer to accomodate a twin element hot plate.
You can judge for yourself from the pictures I'll get to, when I complete bothering you all with this.
And here's the questions!
It took at least 45 minutes to bring the IAT to 220, after closing the door, and having set up the inside for the first full test. Both plates dialed to max. The CI 10" frying pan containg enough hickory chunks for what I was doing. Both floor fresh air intakes shut nearly all the way and the top vent open halfway. Almost immediately, within 10 minutes, smoke appeared out the vent in the top. Just a small amount but visibly increasing fairly quickly.
A few more minutes passed and the visible smoke was even more visible. What I noticed particularly was the rate smoke was exiting through the upper vent. Impressive isn't the word I want but it will work to make a point here.
The visible smoke now had increased in both density, and rate of flow up and away from the top vent. Imagine the rate and perhaps the volume of a heavy smoker taking a big hit off a cigarette, the forcefully exhaling it thru pursed lips upwards. Not necessarily blowing hard the smoke out so much as with some reserve force steadily and something more than gradually. More than an child's old Lionel train puffed smoke. With a bit more force and density.
To me it looked as if it were more than adequate, and mostly too quick a rate of flow by a nominal measure. But of course I have no idea other than some info gathered along the way and common sense. I apprciate I must learn as I proceed. But having some cognition of ABOUT where I am starting might help me out. If anyone might care to jump on this runaway thing.
This dual element hot plate isn't one of the more powerful and durable (looking) units I've seen. 1650w is the rated output. The coils on top are thinner and fewer than the single unit's element I swapped out for, but 650w more power, it says. It obviously works as I said. But 45 minutes minimum to attain 220 seems to me to be more than is convenient due to having to
recharge the foil wet chunk wood packs at intervals yet to be established.
I can fabricate an access door or panel in the back (I think) that would serve to add material without the big recovery time needed when doing that. I don't mind doing that except cutting and changeing I can always do, doing the opposite requires a bit more everything. Planning, and staying mindful mistakes can be repaird or adjusted, I have no hesitancy about this, but would appreciate any ideas or suggestions for any alternative actions here.
If there is a way to speed up the heat recovery time, it would then solve the problem making further cutting and potential leakage, unneccessary. If there is no way feasible, I can go to Cosco and get a slick looking two element hot plate, that when I looked at and touched it and all that, it was both heavy and had solid plates as the surface elements, rather than the traditional coils wound circularly. It was or seemed to be quite sturdily built and substantial in composition if I am any judge of these things. I neglected to catch the w rating but I imagine it's at least what I have now is, and likely more. How much is the question?
There is smoke leakage from several various spots, and locations. Not a lot, but more than a little tiny bit. All easily addressed should it become evident they need attention. So that's how it stands at this moment in time. Close (I think-hope) but not quite ready to Q. Alas (whimper-whine-snivel).
And lastly, am writing in the right place here? If whatever I am doing is somehow not THE way, lemme know and I'll fix it. I haven't a weak clue as to how I get pix into this site, but I bet I can figure it out. Check those out later today if yawanna. With this thing, I'm not stuck so much as looking for any offered ideas and suggestions anyone may have that might help. I can do this. But I joined you all gladly, and hope to benefit from your experience and counsel you may offer, so I am saved from taking my own life if things turn south. Or more probably, taking the ife of the ijit up the street a waze from here. Yeah. A fine idea if ever there was one.
Later today then. Ogsby