Make a Smoke Generator for my Q-1000

[Vintage465]

So I am kind of new to gas grill use. The Weber Q-1000 is really the only option for me due to size constraints and I just really respect Weber products. Normally when I want to get some smoke flavor I take some aluminum foil, fold it back and forth several time to add some thickness, then sort of form it into a bowl, put dampened wood chips in it set it right on the burner and it will impart some flavor. Not real keen on the possibility of aluminum fumes.

So My thought is to take a heavy gauge stainless measuring cup......

Then fix some kind of stainless "clip" using stainless fasteners to snap over the burner.

This would likely put it just above the burner. Problem is I don't seem to be able to find a stainless clip. The ones pictured are galvanized and I have breathed plenty of galvanizing in my career as a welder and don't want it permeating my chow.
If I don't find a suitable clip I suppose I could just set it on the burner but that would snuff out about 4 to 6 little flames. Or maybe I could find some kind of stainless spacer, say a 1/4" or so high and fasten it to the cup and then set it on the burner and let it rest on back against the inside of the little grill so it doesn't fall over? They could be place so the land between flame holes in the burner.......wa-chu-tink?

[Brad_C]

I use one of these. Filled with pellets it will last 3-4 hours. It's also great for cold smoking cheese.


https://www.amazon.com/Amazen-Pellet-Tube-Smoker-12/dp/B00CS6YFIC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1487181062&sr=8-4&keywords=WOOD+SMOKE+TUBE

[jjrbus]

Nice idea, I have had the Weber Baby Q like yours for 16 years. Kept out of the weather but constant use and never replaced a part! Great investment.

[Dave_and_Sue]

Look into some thing like this.I'm going to make one for my Q so I can do some cold smoking on cheese.I have a big pellet smoker and do believe that the pellets will work in a Q.Just turn down the heat to go slow.

http://smokedaddyinc.com/

[Vintage465]

So I got the goods to assemble the little smoke generator. I originally planned on 2 clips and leaving the handle on the stainless measuring cup to rest back against the edge of the Q for stability.


Turns out there is so little room between the burner and the grill I and to trim down the measuring cup to about an inch high and with the grill on and the little guy in place there is no way it can tip. I may look like it's not tight but it actually is. And the machine screws fastening the clip to the cup keep it up off the burner tube so the flames don't snuff out.


From the top it looks like this. I fired the little dude up and had damp chips smoking in like 5 minutes.


This is what the little guy looks like under the grill. Might not want to place the "product" directly over the smoke!


There is a little wisp of smoke!


And here is the Little Q filled with smoke. This was all done on the back of my pickup as a test run. The Grill Setting was on High. I suppose if you got it smoking on high and turned it down to low for cooking bone in chicken or ribs it would smoke for quite a bit of time. I can also experiment with damp smoking dust which last a lot longer then damp chips and chunks. I will very likely try it out when we take off for Bodega Bay on our next adventure!

[Vintage465]

mikestock wrote:
Lack of anything to catch the drippings and create smoke was my complaint when I had a Weber-Q. I bought a baffle made for a different grill and used it. It's been several years and I can't remember the details of how I helk it in place.

Yeah the drippings just head down to the drip pan and aren't used to enhance the products flavor. But I have to say, that's one of the things I like about it.......Easy clean up!

[mikestock]

Lack of anything to catch the drippings and create smoke was my complaint when I had a Weber-Q. I bought a baffle made for a different grill and used it. It's been several years and I can't remember the details of how I helk it in place.

[Vintage465]

LenSatic wrote:

Vintage465 wrote:

Then fix some kind of stainless "clip" using stainless fasteners to snap over the burner.

This would likely put it just above the burner. Problem is I don't seem to be able to find a stainless clip. The ones pictured are galvanized and I have breathed plenty of galvanizing in my career as a welder and don't want it permeating my chow.
If I don't find a suitable clip I suppose I could just set it on the burner but that would snuff out about 4 to 6 little flames. Or maybe I could find some kind of stainless spacer, say a 1/4" or so high and fasten it to the cup and then set it on the burner and let it rest on back against the inside of the little grill so it doesn't fall over? They could be place so the land between flame holes in the burner.......wa-chu-tink?

I found these stainless dudes on Amazon. I'll give them a try.


I found these on the Maverick site: http://www.maverickhousewares.com/parts/et-73732-grill-clips You could reshape them and use the probe holes to attach it to the cup.

BTW, I like your idea. I have two types of rectangular boxes, one for chips and one for pellets. Both take up about 1/3 of the grill.

LS

[LenSatic]

Vintage465 wrote:

Then fix some kind of stainless "clip" using stainless fasteners to snap over the burner.

This would likely put it just above the burner. Problem is I don't seem to be able to find a stainless clip. The ones pictured are galvanized and I have breathed plenty of galvanizing in my career as a welder and don't want it permeating my chow.
If I don't find a suitable clip I suppose I could just set it on the burner but that would snuff out about 4 to 6 little flames. Or maybe I could find some kind of stainless spacer, say a 1/4" or so high and fasten it to the cup and then set it on the burner and let it rest on back against the inside of the little grill so it doesn't fall over? They could be place so the land between flame holes in the burner.......wa-chu-tink?

I found these on the Maverick site: http://www.maverickhousewares.com/parts/et-73732-grill-clips You could reshape them and use the probe holes to attach it to the cup.

BTW, I like your idea. I have two types of rectangular boxes, one for chips and one for pellets. Both take up about 1/3 of the grill.

LS

[wowens79]

Vintage465 wrote:

wowens79 wrote:
They sell some little rectangular smoking boxes made from stainless, just for this use. They are only about $10-15.

Who has those them little smoking boxes?

Just about anywhere that sells grill accessories. Lowes, Home Depot, Amazon had a ton of them.

[RandACampin]

Most people just put soaked wood chips in a tin-foil pouch. Pop a few holes in the top and place directly on the burner.

[profdant139]

They also make little cast iron boxes for holding the smoke chips -- the heavier metal means that the chips get hot and smolder, rather than burning the way they do in the thinner stainless boxes. (I have tried both.) You just soak the chips, put them in the box, close the box, and set it down on the grate:

Box

At home, I have a Big Green Egg smoker. Some folks take them on the road, but I think they are too heavy and fragile for that. So we make the smoked meat at home, freeze it in portion-sized bags, and bring the food with us. Almost as good as fresh made.

[westend]

Weber sells a smoke box but I think it's sized for larger grills.

Weber box

There are also "V" shaped boxes

[Vintage465]

wowens79 wrote:
They sell some little rectangular smoking boxes made from stainless, just for this use. They are only about $10-15.

Who has those them little smoking boxes?

[Vintage465]

neschultz wrote:
Just an idea. Do you think the handle on the SS cup could be bent down to support it? or up to hang on the side of the grill or over the grate?

That's an idea worth looking into. I'll go check it out