Propane or Electric Smoker???

[Cap.Silver]

I'd say get big cabinet with propane for hot smoking , and little hot plate that you can stick on top of the burner for cold smoking like cheese and stuff and you have the best of both worlds ..... I have build myself based on the plans that one of the guys posted here a smoker with propane/natural gas and can put hot plate in there to keep the temp down bellow 120 degrees ......if you still have questions just pm me .

[ghosthunter]

Heres mine love it because it does double duty. Cooks or smokes.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Home-Cabin/Food-Processing/Smokers-Accessories%7C/pc/104798880/c/104723280/sc/104582880/Cabelas-Premium-Powder-Coated-7-in-1-CookerSmoker/732401.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fhome-cabin-food-processing-smokers-accessories%2F_%2FN-1101300%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104582880%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104798880%253Bcat104723280&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104798880%3Bcat104723280%3Bcat104582880

[RB]

Have been using Big Chiefs for about 15 years and like them, but have had lots of trouble with burners last 5 years or so. I tore my last one down and put a hot plate in it, but have not had a chance to use it yet. Hopefully will be able to try it soon. Have used a propane once and liked it as well just had to watch it close with fish.

[KFhunter]

on the big cheifs when it got colder out I'd slide the box that the smoker came in upside down over the smoker with a couple of cutouts where needed to add another pan of wood and let the smoke out the top.
 
the cardboard box insulated the big cheif pretty well and it kept the temp more stable.
 
 
I've been temped to make a cover box for the big cheif out of pine or some other soft wood, or just scrap the metal and make a wooden box that will fit all those racks nicely, could even make a nice damper on top to control the smoke.  I'd also scrap the coil and go for something with a temp control like a hotplate
 
hell all I'd have left from the big cheif was the racks