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Bottom of smoker

PostPosted: August 1st, 2017, 4:20 pm
by MPresson
I recently started using the new defuser plate with the trap door for easier access to cleaning out the ash, however, the bottom of my smoker after a cook basically turns to mud, the grease mixes with the ash and it makes a mess. This never happened with the old defuser plate, does anyone else have this problem?
Thanks

Re: Bottom of smoker

PostPosted: August 16th, 2017, 12:32 am
by Meat_Candy
I started using a piece of foil that is big enough to cover the seam around the door and have no issues. The problem is in the design of the door! they should have added another layer of metal to cover the seam and allow the grease to flow over it...like a shingle on roof. I was going to make one but my door warped and its not worth the effort. The tiny piece of foil is nice for putting all the grease /brushed junk during cleanup. I have been leaving more ash in the bottom (not burn pot) to absorb some grease during direct grilling.

Re: Bottom of smoker

PostPosted: August 17th, 2017, 11:17 am
by Conumdrum
I have a YS640, 3+ years old.

I also have issues with the grease build up on the bottom. I've had mine for years (3+) and when you do 4 briskets, or 9 chickens (lots of fat), or 6 pork butts (fat) at the same time I have always had grease on the bottom. That's with the original diffuser and the new two piece. It's not a big deal. Be glad it's not a new shiny car because then we freak out.

I scrape the bottom with a cheap plastic painting scraper, use my handy shop vac and vacuum it up. It doesn't need cleaned every time except for the fire pot and area around it. I used to be anal about keeping it pretty, but it doesn't need to be.

I used to foil the diffuser all the time all the time, but lately, I have been scraping it before the next cook. I clean the grates in the smoker after it has finished the cool down +30 min or so. I do not remove them from the cooker, just scrub the top. Using a stainless scrubbing pad I get all the junk off. If I don't get to it right away, well it can wait till I use it again.

As a disclaimer my smoker is covered with a Yoder cover and under a patio. I live in Vegas, it's dry, rust is not an issue. Or bugs. Yea, bit of spiders, they are cool once they die.

I do a full super cleaning at least once a year full brush and scrub inside and out. All grates etc.

Grasshopper, pay attention! Also wipe down the pellet bin well and run the auger to clean out all the pellets before you put any water on the smoker. Lesson learned.

The the guy in a recent post about the offset firebox weld on the bottom, why does it have to be that clean? It's a smoker, not a stove top in the kitchen. Maybe it's left in the weather and he can have rust issues, dunno. Looks pretty though. Like car show pretty.

In summary, no need to keep it like moms stove top. Or should I say like the 1950 TV shows. No offense to all the hard working stay at home parents. I'm at home retired now, wife (HERO woman) has 2 years to go till the magic date wants me do all that stove cleaning. Cleaning, vacuuming, etc is new to me. I need to clean the master bathroom today.

Cooking (love to cook), housework, gardening is fine. She wants me to pull the old roses and start trimming bushes now.

I'm thinking about that.......