On this and other forums, I often see people suggesting that postwar steamers be converted to liquid smoke. I have never thought this to be a good idea, and personally would never do it.
Here’s why:
- The units in their original form can use both pellets and liquid, meaning that a conversion to liquid limits the array of smoke producing materials that can be used.
- For those who prefer the smell of pellets(such as me), excellent reproductions are available, and these can’t be used in a converted unit.
- Original units can be made to smoke much better than any liquid-converted unit by removing a turn or two of Nichrome wire, and still maintain their ability to use liquid and pellets.
- Finally, the pellet units can be run dry without harming the unit. This isn’t the case with liquid units.
For these reasons, I have elected to repair my burned out units rather than converting to liquid.
I realize that they’re your engines, and therefore your decision as to what to do with them. I would like, though, to hear some of your reasons for converting to those of you who do choose to do so.