While I don't run chips in my hopper, I've found that running a 75/25 mix of chips to pellets in a tube smoker adds a ton of smoke flavor to anything I cook on my Pitboss. Fill the tube, ignite it with a torch, allow to burn for 5 minutes before blowing out the flame and placing the tube to the rear right corner of the pitboss. That allows maximum smoke but doesn't effect the temp probe. The smaller the chips you can find the better.
Look at 6:15 in the video. There is a hickory chip caught between the auger and the opening of the pellet tube. That is what is causing those "awful" sounds. There is too much clearance between the auger and the pellet tube. I'm certain the amps to that auger motor were spiking! Still, other than that, it's not too damaging. Especially if you plan to replace your pellet grill before ~500 to 1000 cooks. Now this might sound counter intuitive, what you need in your situation is no chips that are small enough to get trapped between the auger and tube yet are still small enough to fit between the auger "blades" and none that are wedge shaped. If you sort those chips through hardware cloth for size and then sort out those that are wedge shaped, this will work. Frankly, if I were going to do this, I'd just hand split larger chunks. That way you can sort for size shape at the same time. However, I'd just use one of those smoker tubes. I don't have the time to hand sort wood chunks. That's why we use pellet grills instead of an offset smoker!
Thank you! I was going to try the same thing. I think That sound is a wood chip pinched between the auger and the outer tube. Eventually it would probably burn up the motor.
I did this with my expert grill pellet grill because it has an open auger and it was only $100 at Walmart. I did a 1 part wood chips to 2 parts pellets and it worked. I had some western brand wood chips which I actually hand picked through to get the smallest chips possible. Would not use thick or big wood chips and would not do more than 30% wood chips to pellets. I much prefer using wood chips in a smoke tube instead of adding them to the hopper.
Well, I've done several cooks with the same wood chips in my Grilla Chimp. No problems. But I use a 3 to 1 pellets to chips ratio. I haven't tried it over 325°. But up to that is not an issue. I also THOROUGHLY mix the chips and pellets to make sure I don't have a clump of chips. The results have been great. I can see and smell the smoke difference while cooking and also taste a difference when eating. I think the ratio of pellets to chips is critical.
We got the same resluts running them in the Pellet Pro Vertical smoker from Smoke Daddy Inc. That sound is not good you can snap the sheer pin or strip a gear in the auger motor. Try puting ONE large wood stick on top of your heat diffuser for more smoke. You may want to soak it over night to help keep the flame down.
Just ordered my LSG. But 14 weeks out. If you order now you are 10 weeks in the hole and it takes 4 weeks to make it seems that a lot of people are switching. Because of the wood chips
Lone star grills are built like offset smokers basically built like a tank. They are pricey but worth every dollar. Plus they are 100% American made in texas
I did this yesterday and started with Smokehouse hickory chips from Amazon. Much smaller than what you used but I had a difficult time getting my temps up over 200. Chips easily went through auger and smoke was definitely there. Did this at night so I went to bed and didn't see much. long 15 hour cook that I had to finish in the oven then 12 hour rest at 155. Taste was great but not the texture. I'll try again with a 2/3 1/3 mix instead of 50/50 on my GMG.
Love the comment about the quality of cardboard box that the wood chips come in...Lonestar's response...Don't put our premium chips in your Chinese smoker..LMAO!!!
That's the sound of the auger trying to turn with wood chips wedged between it and the auger tube. You're lucky nothing broke because using _anything_ other than Traeger's own pellets in a traeger grill voids the warranty.
To much pressure on the auger I my buddy seen this video and the pin on his auger snapped and heavy pressure where the auger fan was the plate it sits on was bending from pressure people just use the wood chip can. Never try this at home and if you did and your shits messed up you will be on TH-cam watching videos to fix. Nobody else has done it on line cause it’s physics looking at the wood chips and looking at where it needs to feed threw next to impossible and will jam it says in the manual do not feed wood chips in hopper
And THAT is why they don't recommend other pellet smokers to use those chips. The Lone Star Grillz pellet smoker has an open auger design that can handle those chips. 😂😂 Just spend the money on an LSG Pellet Smoker!
@@gosman949 you'll spend that much buying those cheap Chinese made pellet smokers 3x and the LSG will still last longer than those three. Nothing worth having is easy.
could not say it better.....I would not own another Treager. I own a Timberline 1300 D2 drive, wifire, and it is OK at best. For the $$, much better going with this LSG. IT is 10 times the cooker of any other pellet
Thank you for this test. I wanted to try it on my MAK grill, but now I won't. Great job.
While I don't run chips in my hopper, I've found that running a 75/25 mix of chips to pellets in a tube smoker adds a ton of smoke flavor to anything I cook on my Pitboss. Fill the tube, ignite it with a torch, allow to burn for 5 minutes before blowing out the flame and placing the tube to the rear right corner of the pitboss. That allows maximum smoke but doesn't effect the temp probe. The smaller the chips you can find the better.
Solid advice and a great alternative
You can add a pile of wood chips at start manually once flame starts it will burn add a hefty pile
Look at 6:15 in the video. There is a hickory chip caught between the auger and the opening of the pellet tube. That is what is causing those "awful" sounds. There is too much clearance between the auger and the pellet tube. I'm certain the amps to that auger motor were spiking! Still, other than that, it's not too damaging. Especially if you plan to replace your pellet grill before ~500 to 1000 cooks.
Now this might sound counter intuitive, what you need in your situation is no chips that are small enough to get trapped between the auger and tube yet are still small enough to fit between the auger "blades" and none that are wedge shaped. If you sort those chips through hardware cloth for size and then sort out those that are wedge shaped, this will work.
Frankly, if I were going to do this, I'd just hand split larger chunks. That way you can sort for size shape at the same time.
However, I'd just use one of those smoker tubes. I don't have the time to hand sort wood chunks. That's why we use pellet grills instead of an offset smoker!
Thank you! I was going to try the same thing. I think That sound is a wood chip pinched between the auger and the outer tube. Eventually it would probably burn up the motor.
For sure it would cause damage. For now this unit is still working flawlessly
I did this with my expert grill pellet grill because it has an open auger and it was only $100 at Walmart. I did a 1 part wood chips to 2 parts pellets and it worked. I had some western brand wood chips which I actually hand picked through to get the smallest chips possible. Would not use thick or big wood chips and would not do more than 30% wood chips to pellets.
I much prefer using wood chips in a smoke tube instead of adding them to the hopper.
Hey good to know!
Am trying to decide the between the traeger timberline XL and the LSG. This is a question I had, so thanks for sacrificing your unit for our benefit
the LSG has a hollow auger that allows chips to work also the pellet pro has gerhollow au
Well, I've done several cooks with the same wood chips in my Grilla Chimp. No problems. But I use a 3 to 1 pellets to chips ratio. I haven't tried it over 325°. But up to that is not an issue. I also THOROUGHLY mix the chips and pellets to make sure I don't have a clump of chips. The results have been great. I can see and smell the smoke difference while cooking and also taste a difference when eating. I think the ratio of pellets to chips is critical.
Interesting. Yea, I don't think the auger design of this Traeger will allow for that.
Thanks I was gonna try it on my pitboss
We got the same resluts running them in the Pellet Pro Vertical smoker from Smoke Daddy Inc. That sound is not good you can snap the sheer pin or strip a gear in the auger motor. Try puting ONE large wood stick on top of your heat diffuser for more smoke. You may want to soak it over night to help keep the flame down.
Thanks. Yes, this was just a test and I won’t be doing it again. Appreciate the ideas :)
Just ordered my LSG. But 14 weeks out. If you order now you are 10 weeks in the hole and it takes 4 weeks to make it seems that a lot of people are switching. Because of the wood chips
thanks for the test. won't do it on my Traeger thanks to you.
is there any way to inject wood chips other than through the auger?
Lone star grills are built like offset smokers basically built like a tank. They are pricey but worth every dollar. Plus they are 100% American made in texas
100% regret not getting one for sure.
I did this yesterday and started with Smokehouse hickory chips from Amazon. Much smaller than what you used but I had a difficult time getting my temps up over 200. Chips easily went through auger and smoke was definitely there. Did this at night so I went to bed and didn't see much. long 15 hour cook that I had to finish in the oven then 12 hour rest at 155. Taste was great but not the texture. I'll try again with a 2/3 1/3 mix instead of 50/50 on my GMG.
Interesting results! Glad you got it working though!
I tried it with my Yoder 1500s and it did the same thing. Completely stopped the auger. Bugger to get it freed up.
Bummer! Yea I got it back to working but it had me nervous! For science!!
@@Smokingmeatsbbq - Thanks for the video.
I’ve tried them in my recteq about six months ago, and they jam up the auger and broke off the shear pin
Hey at least we both know now!
Love the comment about the quality of cardboard box that the wood chips come in...Lonestar's response...Don't put our premium chips in your Chinese smoker..LMAO!!!
LOL
Almost ordered a box for my pitboss, glad I watched your video first🤣.
Ha! Most likely if it doesn’t have an open auger it ain’t gonna work!
Thanks for the video!! Do you mind if I link to it?
Please do!
@@Smokingmeatsbbq Sweet - I'll put it in the description of mine as a cautionary tale. 👍 th-cam.com/video/ZvffC3_mSHE/w-d-xo.html
That's the sound of the auger trying to turn with wood chips wedged between it and the auger tube. You're lucky nothing broke because using _anything_ other than Traeger's own pellets in a traeger grill voids the warranty.
My friend tried this and he called me over to repay it cause it was jammed
lol yep. Not intended use!
To much pressure on the auger I my buddy seen this video and the pin on his auger snapped and heavy pressure where the auger fan was the plate it sits on was bending from pressure people just use the wood chip can. Never try this at home and if you did and your shits messed up you will be on TH-cam watching videos to fix. Nobody else has done it on line cause it’s physics looking at the wood chips and looking at where it needs to feed threw next to impossible and will jam it says in the manual do not feed wood chips in hopper
And THAT is why they don't recommend other pellet smokers to use those chips. The Lone Star Grillz pellet smoker has an open auger design that can handle those chips. 😂😂 Just spend the money on an LSG Pellet Smoker!
and wait for 3 months and spend $500 for shipping and somehow getting into your backyard. They need to sell LSG at retailers.
@@gosman949 you'll spend that much buying those cheap Chinese made pellet smokers 3x and the LSG will still last longer than those three. Nothing worth having is easy.
could not say it better.....I would not own another Treager. I own a Timberline 1300 D2 drive, wifire, and it is OK at best. For the $$, much better going with this LSG. IT is 10 times the cooker of any other pellet
@@eeglot you're right, LSG is 10x the cooker.
@@gosman949to think, of you'd ordered an LSG when you made this comment, you'd already be cooking on one! 😅