Installed SmokeWare chimney cap

DeltaNu1142

It'll always be this clean... right?



Installation was pretty straightforward. I used alcohol & a plastic drywall taping knife to get the old felt gasket off. I can't wait to give it a try.

pgprescott

Purdy!

swordsmn

You'll like it.. One caution if you cover your egg, on mine when I pull off the cover, the top piece can pull off with the cover.  I put a piece of duct tape on to hold the slits closed, keep top on when I cover my cold egg.   My cover also covers the cedar table so it's big cover.  The whole smokeware unit cleans up nice in the dishwasher btw..

DoubleEgger

You don't want to clean it other than wiping off the top of it. The grease seals air better and it helps when shutting the egg down. That's been my experience after having my cap for three months. 

RRP

swordsmn said:
  The whole smokeware unit cleans up nice in the dishwasher btw..

Sure, if you are in to cleaning it after every use or just about that frequently. That often would be a real PITA to me! Instead I let 'er rip and once a year take if off and spray it with Easy-0ff oven cleaner and it will look like new! 




BTW with Easy-Off there is no scrubbing and elbow grease involved!

mahenryak

@RRP I put that gasket on mine when installing.  I'm wondering if others have done that or have just opted to leave it off?  I have been reluctant to try and remove it for cleaning purposes because I'm half afraid the gasket will then be compromised. 

P.S. OP you will very much enjoy your new chimney cap.

RRP

mahenryak said:

@RRP I put that gasket on mine when installing.  I'm wondering if others have done that or have just opted to leave it off?  I have been reluctant to try and remove it for cleaning purposes because I'm half afraid the gasket will then be compromised. 

P.S. OP you will very much enjoy your new chimney cap.

I applied the gasket which came with my SmokeWare cap not to the ceramic dome itself as suggested in the instructions, but instead to the inside of the neck piece itself. My cap and that gasket will soon be 3 years old. NO - it is not still pristine white, but even after the Easy-Off cleanings it is on there tight! 

scottcrazydog

Does anyone have regrets getting the cap

onedbguru

I got one, but typically only use it when doing a long cook in the rain

RRP

scottcrazydog said:

Does anyone have regrets getting the cap

Not a regret at all! Only issue has been that they don't make one for a Small which has the same dome throat size as the new Maxi-Mini. Let's hope that Magic Matt is at work for a solution!

RRP

DeltaNu1142 said:

It'll always be this clean... right?



Installation was pretty straightforward. I used alcohol & a plastic drywall taping knife to get the old felt gasket off. I can't wait to give it a try.

Not trying to upset you, but after looking at this picture again then I have to ask - why isn't your throat piece sitting down against the surface of the dome? It is standing "too proud" and not seated. Hopefully you can correct that positioning before too many uses.

DoubleEgger

scottcrazydog said:

Does anyone have regrets getting the cap

I'd say the only downside is that it doesn't shut down the egg as fast the daisy wheel or ceramic cap. I have one on my medium but I don't think I'm going to buy another one for the XL.

If you don't already have a thermopen, I'd buy it before the cap. The thermopen will make you a better cook. 

RRP

DoubleEgger said:

scottcrazydog said:

Does anyone have regrets getting the cap

I'd say the only downside is that it doesn't shut down the egg as fast the daisy wheel or ceramic cap. I have one on my medium but I don't think I'm going to buy another one for the XL.

Not sure that I would match it up against a ceramic cap ever for air tightness. but against my cast iron Miss Daisy it runs circles!!! BTW as long as you applied their enclosed gasket "someway" it will be tight and then get even more air tight the longer you use it. Creosote is a remarkable sealer - even as a friend or foe!

Ozzie_Isaac

I use a wood plug in both my caps.  It shuts down just as fast as the ceramic cap.

I tested the wood plug on a nuclear burn and it didn't even turn black.

blukat

I like the cap but have also noticed it takes longer to shut down.  Mines close to a year old and needs the easy off spray cleaning.  Doing an overnight cook on Friday night, so it will be nice with a high chance of rain.

theyolksonyou

RRP said:

BTW as long as you applied their enclosed gasket "someway" it will be tight and then get even more air tight the longer you use it. Creosote is a remarkable sealer - even as a friend or foe!

I can't even get the SW base off my egg. I think I welded it on at some point. 

RRP

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I use a wood plug in both my caps.  It shuts down just as fast as the ceramic cap.

I tested the wood plug on a nuclear burn and it didn't even turn black.

Here's mine! BTW I believe a metal "plug" similar to your Father's design is forthcoming from the SW "skunk ware" works!

thegooddocta

I just left my felt gasket on top when I added my chimney so that I can swap it for the ceramic cap to shut 'er down. It sounds like everyone else removed the felt gasket. Any concerns with my approach?

RRP

thegooddocta said:

I just left my felt gasket on top when I added my chimney so that I can swap it for the ceramic cap to shut 'er down. It sounds like everyone else removed the felt gasket. Any concerns with my approach?

No, that is fine for the time being! Just keep in mind that felt gasket has a short life if you use your egg at any high temperatures.

Ozzie_Isaac

RRP said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I use a wood plug in both my caps.  It shuts down just as fast as the ceramic cap.

I tested the wood plug on a nuclear burn and it didn't even turn black.

Here's mine! BTW I believe a metal "plug" similar to your Father's design is forthcoming from the SW "skunk ware" works!

I believe you are correct.  He talked to them about his idea and sent them pictures.  They asked him if they could use it.  He told them no problem.

Ozzie_Isaac

thegooddocta said:

I just left my felt gasket on top when I added my chimney so that I can swap it for the ceramic cap to shut 'er down. It sounds like everyone else removed the felt gasket. Any concerns with my approach?

I have found over time the factory felt gasket gets compressed and allows the whole cap to spin when you try to adjust it.

The SW material is thicker and seems to hold up better.

swordsmn

@rrp is correct. My cook frequency is Much lower than most but I probably did 10+ cooks mostly wings or ribs.  It was pretty nasty but nothing like the hard core usage folks here.

caliking

DoubleEgger said:

scottcrazydog said:

Does anyone have regrets getting the cap

I'd say the only downside is that it doesn't shut down the egg as fast the daisy wheel or ceramic cap. I have one on my medium but I don't think I'm going to buy another one for the XL.

If you don't already have a thermopen, I'd buy it before the cap. The thermopen will make you a better cook. 

I somewhat disagree. It annoyed me no end that the daisy wheel settings seemed to change unexpectedly after a few beverages (yes, I know about setting the screw perpendicular to the handle to keep it from swinging), and that you cooked with one piece, but shut down with the ceramic cap. I consider the SW cap to be one of the best eggcessories I have purchased. But then again, I'm not that enamored with the thermapen. A thermopop would do you just fine. Much cheaper too.

DeltaNu1142

RRP said:

Not trying to upset you, but after looking at this picture again then I have to ask - why isn't your throat piece sitting down against the surface of the dome? It is standing "too proud" and not seated. Hopefully you can correct that positioning before too many uses.

I don't see why not. I had just placed the gasket and set the cap on top. It feels plenty snug, but maybe I can give it a little more force today before leaving for work. I wouldn't expect any issues as is, though.

Before I purchased this, I read about perceived shutdown issues and planned to make a wooden plug. I'll probably do that this weekend. My Egg sits in a table in a covered lanai, so I'm not too worried about rain.

Thanks all!