Posts made by mikedef5

The first batch I had the drip pan in and added a stainless water pan on top of that in the second hour, the 2nd time I had a water pan in on the drip pan for the entire time. Now the water pan was the size of the smoking pan that came with the unit (maybe too small or I need to use a pan not as deep but flatter and wider or size of drip pan?). In order to get 25 lbs hanging in there I cut 19mm casings 41" (which gave me 20" hanging and a 1" flat in the center to hang on my dowels) I figured this when hanging of the top rack brackets centered the sticks fairly well (same distance from the top of smoker and off the drip pan). Both times I ran the smoker outside (not a real windy day). Cook temps were 1 hr at 125, 1 hr at 140, 2 hrs at 155, then raised to 170 until internal was 160. Now I used the lower wattage element at the lower temps and switched to the higher wattage to get to the next temp. I found unit had trouble staying up at higher temps (not sure if using outside affected this) so I left element on higher wattage. I did have to close vents slightly on and off at higher temps to get it to maintain the 155. Both times the top and bottom 5" of the sticks came out like shoe leather and the middle was like bologna. DON’T GET ME WRONG THE UNIT IS A GREAT WELL BUILT UNIT! I just have guys counting on me after hunting season to make summer sausage and snack sticks and I cannot ruin 500 lbs of venison. Unit says I should be able to do 100 lbs of summer sausage, that would make it full from top to bottom. I am using the snack sticks as the trial runs. Gas smoker I have to crack the door an 1/8" to maintain lower temps which make a little more airflow.

I purchased a PK100 this year. this unit is build like a commercial unit and is an amazing unit, built to last. My problem is that I am use to gas smokers where my hanging snack sticks turn out perfect (need more tending to maintain temperatures). I have used the PK100 2 times and ruined both 25 lb batches of snack sticks.
with vents wide open it burnt (dries out completely) the top and bottom 5" of each hanging with leaving the middle raw, yet middle got to 160 degrees. Not knocking the unit, but it is built tight and with quality. Tried all over youtube to get tips but there is nothing on this unit. Afraid to use it more, maybe it’s to tight.