Spent 200 bucks on a ceramic smoker and it cracked on the first cold smoke

I was so excited to try cold smoking cheese on my new Akorn knockoff, but after 4 hours the ceramic base just split right down the side. Has anyone else had luck patching cracks with high-heat epoxy or am I better off just buying a cheap offset?

3 comments

3 Comments

spencer_gonzalez119d ago

JB Weld is a temp fix at best, honestly. I tried the high heat stuff and it just kept failing in the cold because ceramic expands different than metal when temps swing. Grab a used offset, you'll get better smoke flow for cheese anyway and won't cry when it rusts through in a year.

the_oliver19d ago

Heard a lot of people say ceramic smokers just don't handle cold temps well, especially the cheaper ones. Something about the material shrinking unevenly when it gets real cold. My buddy had the same thing happen with his Akorn, JB Weld worked for a bit but he said it always felt like a ticking time bomb. I'd say save yourself the headache and grab that used offset, cold smoking cheese is way more forgiving on a regular steel smoker anyway. Just my two cents though, a lot of folks have different luck with repairs.

spencer_gonzalez119d ago

Wait - yours split just from sitting there in the cold? Mine did the same thing on my first cheese smoke, and I patched it with regular JB Weld. Held up for like two smokes then cracked again. Honestly not worth the hassle, I grabbed a used offset for $60 and haven't looked back.