in the last year i have seen post about burning scrap wood, coal,mixing used motor oil with their pellets,and anything else iI missed in their pellet stoves. I had time to kill today and went to Gandermountain and seen a pellet smoker. the thing workes on the same princibal as a pellet stove so I started to think. If the stove was cleaned out, including pellets, I was thinking why couldnt you connect the vent pipe to a drum(55) or a metal trash can and make your own smoker? yes the price or smoking pellets are pricey but at lease in the cold months you would not be wasting the HEAT. you would still be able to heat your home. when your are done smoking the meat you could scoop out the smoking pelletes and just add the heating pellets. yes I am really board now that i lost my job. lol happy heating everyone.