Wood chunks on a Gas Grill question

[WillTravelForFood]

We've put wood chunks on the Weber Genesis before, resting on the flavorizer bars. Generated a ton of smoke right away, and left a ton of ash in the box that needed to be shop-vac'd out.

Would we get the same smolder/smoke effect by placing the chunk on a piece of foil on the grate over the burner (as we would with a cast iron chip box) to help ease the cleanup aspect? or are we better off using chips in the cast iron box as usual?

(side comment: we also use pellets in a smoke tube alongside and/or instead of the cast iron box. we know that with a gasser and the required open air flow, you can't really overdo the smoke)

[RichieB]

I've never used chunks on gasser. Just chips and pellets in tube. Do you see a benefit in results using chunks versus chips?

[WillTravelForFood]

Chunks provided more smoke out the back of the grill than we see with the tube.

[RichieB]

Tube with pellets? I mainly use tube and pellets for cold smoking cheese. I've had decent results with chips in smoker box. Clearly doesn't compare to Kette or PBJ with whatever you're smoking with.

[Troutman]

I can never get a tube to work, both tube or tray. There’s simply too much open air flow in my Summit. I do have a smoke box built in to one side with its own burner. It works better but to be honest the smoke never produces enough adhesion to the meat. I use it as a grill and not a smoker anyway. Sorry I have no good advice.

[WillTravelForFood]

yeah, we know it's not a smoker, but we have had success with "hint of smoke" over long slow cooks using packets, tube, box...

trying to gauge if the chunks NEED to be that close to flame or if merely being nearby on top of foil would be adequate..

[Troutman]

Obviously you want the chunk to smolder so the use of foil might help with that.

[smokin fool]

I've tried both the foil method and those metal smoke boxes you find at Marshals/Winners with both chips and chunks.
Tried which ever right on the burner and on the grate.
Chunks are the way to go, I found right on the burner the best.
As far as the ash goes, there was so little in my case there was nothing worry about.
Disclaimer: I have a $180 Home Depot gasser....it'll live....