Hunsacker Vortex Drum Smoker w/ Fireboard 2 Drive

The video has a common unpaid review of the Hunsacker Vortex Drum Smoker. I review functions and general operation of the unit in addition to the integration of the Fireboard 2 Drive WiFi thermometer and fan.
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[@ericsteven4916]

Thank you soooo much for sharing this! I'm going to order a Hunsaker and was wondering if a fan controller would really give me "set it and forget it" convenience. I didn't want to get a pellet grill because food tastes so much better with wood and charcoal. Do you feel like the barrel holds temps well without the fan attachment?

[@danimalshouse]

Here are my thoughts on that. I bought the barrel so I could smoke summer sausage in addition to doing other things like grilling and slow cooking. What I found is to hold 180°-200°F temps I was constantly moving the damper on the stack and because his smoker really likes the 250°-325°F temperature range, I had a hard time with all the babysitting. Whenever I target the higher temperatures when grilling and fluctuations including 25°F of temp doesn't matter so much, I don't use the blower attachment but when I want to truly not worry about holding the lower temps, I go to the blower. Once it levels off, its golden. I would buy the blower again for sure. Hope this helps.

[@chadwilson6550]

So what your saying it won’t on its own 250? It will jump around? But the fan keep it set it and forget it.

[@danimalshouse]

I'd trust it to stay steady down to 225-250°F but below that it's got a hard time because it's such a large fire box. The fire box can go @ 275°F for 12-16 hours easy depending on the outside weather. When I smoke summer sausage I like to get it down to 170°F or so so that is why I like the fan. I also like to set and forget so having the automated controls was a good choice for me. If you have the time to keep an eye on it and think you'll be cooking at or above 225°F I think you'd be impressed with the product. Good luck!

[@lillyscantina5137]

Do you have a list of the parts that you used?

[@danimalshouse]

I used stainless steel 1" pipe including a few nipples, a coupler, two elbows, and a ball valve. Whatever I needed to have it fit right. Then I had to get the Hunsacker modified bottom piece as well. For the fan, I have the Fireboard 2 with the fan attachment and the 1" pipe adapter. Hope that helps.