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[fullahead]

The electrical element, when they burn out.   Do they slowly burn out, or do they work or not. The reason, I ask is after 4 hours on the side of the pan some chips are not fully burned

[TheChumWhisperer]

The Little Chief is a terrible smoker.  The heating element never ever gets hot enough to fully cook salmon.  I always found that I had to shake the chip pan every 30 min or so to get the chips actually smoking.  Buy a Bradley, you won't regret it..

[CohoJake]

I have smoked plenty of salmon in my little chief, and although it isn't perfect, it can produce some tasty stuff.  If you are smoking any later than September, it will probably be too cold outside to use it without any alterations.  In moderately cold temperatures like October and November, I will slide the cardboard box that is came in down over the smoker to insulate and protect from the wind.  In very cold weather, I have had to get creative and find a garage or structure where I can smoke inside without ruining everything else in the building. 

I have never had your particular problem - even in cold weather all of my chips seem to turn to ash pretty quickly, which is why I always soak them in water first.

[Suther]

I have smoked plenty of salmon in my little chief, and although it isn't perfect, it can produce some tasty stuff.  If you are smoking any later than September, it will probably be too cold outside to use it without any alterations.  In moderately cold temperatures like October and November, I will slide the cardboard box that is came in down over the smoker to insulate and protect from the wind.  In very cold weather, I have had to get creative and find a garage or structure where I can smoke inside without ruining everything else in the building. 

I have never had your particular problem - even in cold weather all of my chips seem to turn to ash pretty quickly, which is why I always soak them in water first.

Sounds like you need to build some sort of wooden insulated box to put your smoker into. Then you dont have to smoke the garage. lol

[StillAqua]

For less than $25 you get a roll of ayr-foil reflective insulation and foil tape and make a cozy blankie for your Little Chief. I've used mine on the deck surrounded by snow to smoke fish for New Year's.

[buzzbomb]

In winter in Sask I've put old dropsheets and an old sleeping bag over my smoker so it would get hot enough.

[milo]

All I use in cold weather for my Little Chief is an old towel to wrap it around the smoker. Works like a hot damn.
I have successfully smoked salmon in below zero temps on my deck in it.

By the sounds of it, I think you have a defective unit. Replace the burner.

[Fish Assassin]

Just use one of those emergency blankets. Nice and cheap

[Zackattack]

You could always switch to a different brand of chips, I find some smaller than others.
Also make sure to use DRY woodchips. Many people think of soaking chips like you do when smokin pork shoulder or ribs etc. like on a larger barre-type
The little chief was designed to burn dry woodchips, as the goal is to remove moisture.

[Toprod]

I liked my little chief, until a friend got a Bradley.

I now have a Bradley digital too, have done fish, pulled pork, and chicken so far. Its a great unit, got mine on sale for $299 plus tax

[fullahead]

Ok thanks for all your help. My brine recipe I use with my little chief. This works in the coldest day of the year, no blankets or anything, works good with two Coho.

Cut fish up take skin off.
1 Kg brown sugar
½ cup pickling salt
1 orange peal graded off
Ginger graded as well
This is dry brine, no water added.
Put in a container for 24 hours, and mix up 4 times , after 24 hours dump in the sink, and put fish on rack in the fridge for 24 hours.
Do not rinse with water when fish is in the sink, the more orange peal left on the better.
After the fish has dried for 24 hours put in the Little Chief, add some maple syrup.
The fish is in for 12 hours; use 3 full trays in the 12 hours.
The fish looks translucent when it comes out.

[DC1980]

I have found that my little chief takes a good hr to heat up before its ready.  Not sure if that means the element is going or not but it does get up to 160 degrees after and hr. I have to put the box over it to help insulate it though.