Part two!...Now understandI tried many different materials and these were what worked.
First, go to dube.com and click on kevlar rope, then click on 1/8" and purchase one foot ($0.35). Next is a hair dryer, I purchased a Vidal Sasson 1875 compact turbo. This dryer has 2 different size heating elements, you want the small one. Dismantle dryer and cut a 3" piece, it resembles a spring. Straighten it out, it's pretty stiff. Now cut a 1 1/2" piece of the kevlar rope, this is multi-stand and loosely twisted so moisten it and twist it tight. Now mark with a pen 1/4" in from each end of the rope. With the rope in one hand and the wire in the other place the wire against the mark on one end of the rope 3/4" from the end of the wire. Now twist the long end of the wire straight around the rope once, now twist the wire on an angle 5 more times around the rope ending on the mark at the other end of the rope, the 5th twist straight around just like on the other end making sure the left over tail is pointing in the same direction on both ends. You have now made your new element, it may take a couple of trys to get it like this. You should have a 1/4" of rope past both ends of the coil.Trim the wire tails to 1/4-3/16 long, these will be soldered on to the solder points wher the original element is. Hold Your new element between your fingers and bend it into an arched shape with the wire tails facing each other. Remove original element and wick with cotton and discard. Solder new element into place pinching it together to fit. After soldering push 1/4" ends of rope over solder, if too much trim it off. You should end up with enough of an arch in element to create a space to slip a 2" piece of rope through it. Pull one of the stands out of it to tie it up. Now trim this loop off enough so the ends up just touching the bottom of the oil tank, you can tie two pieces on but you don't want to distort the shape of the element. Soak it with smoke oil, put a 1/4" in the tank, screw on the lid and you're done.
It will smoke ALOT MORE that the original.
Hey I did this just to help my fellow tankers, not to step on anyones toes. Any questions please ask. If you want me to build you one e-mail me. Thanks!!!!!!!!!
. HL smokers are a disappointment to say the least. Since I have so much time on my hands I set out to explore the possibility of upgrading this unit and make it a long lasting, dependable, smokin sob. I'm not a electronics genius but sometimes I surprize myself (most of the time I disappoint myself). I read what others have attempted and after some experimenting I do believe I've done it. I tested it with letting it run continuously for 1/2 hour, then stoped and and started it ten times letting it run a few minutes between stops, I've started it over and over for days. Is it durable I asked? So I placed it in a 14" square cardboard box and shook it violantly, then I dropped it several times chest high on a hard surface. It still works fine! 
how much smoke does it give out ? more than stock ? would be great to cheaply get a good smoker as decent ones like graunpers cost a fair amount 
