low smoke in masterbuilt

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vett2265

Newbie
Original poster
Aug 30, 2013
3
10
Sumner Illinois
Been trying to use a masterbuilt smoker for sometime. I dont seem to get the smoke flavor as in my old side box smoker. When the temp reaches 225 good smoke for about 15 min.then dies down to nothing in 30. When more chip are added light smoke for about 30 min.The old side box took alot of attention to keep heat regulated so thought this would be easier. I guess you don't get something for nothing. Any ideas?
 
You can expect to add chips to your Masterbuilt about every 30 to 45 minutes depending on the temp you are running. The higher the temp the more often the chips will need replenished.

Since it is electric, it only heats the chips to smouldering temp while the heating element is on unlike your SFB that had a bed of coals constantly producing heat and therefore constant smoke.

Not sure what you consider "good smoke" but around here good smoke is THIN BLUE SMOKE or TBS. If you can smell it, even if you cannot see it, the smoke is doing its job.

MY MES barely makes smoke at 180 degrees but at 225 it will make consistent smoke and I add chips about every 30 minutes. Well I used to do it that way.......

I have an AMNPS as mentioned earlier and it makes your MES nearly set it and forget it!

Hours of TBS with zero hassle. It is a wise investment! Get one.......

I will agree that MY MES does produce wonderful smokey food but it is slightly less "intense" in the level of smoke flavor than my old stick burner.

BUT

I never suffer from temp spikes or flare ups or billows of white smoke from every chunk of wood spontaneously igniting at once in my MES, which did happen on occasion in my stick burner. So I see the ever so slight trade off as a good thing considering that I do not have to babysit my smoker nonstop throughout the entire smoke.

Actually to increase the smokeyness in my MES I have been adding a little of stronger flavored pellets like hickory or mesquite mixed into whatever other pellets I am using at the moment.

On my old stick burner I considered those woods to be too strong for my tastes.

Only mod to my MES is that I added a chimney to improve the draft which helped with the smoke generation with normal chips in the tray as designed and after the addition of my AMNPS.
 
I was thinking about an AMNPS for my MES 30...Where do you place it in the smoker?
I have an MES 30 as well & your best bet is to do the "mailbox mod" for the AMNPS 
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Thanks mikelikessmoke..... What is AMNPS and where do get one? Also have read some posts about mailbox method . I assume this has to do with the AMNSP.
 
 
The AMNPS is a smoke generator that uses pellets & will give you up to 12 hours of smoke at a time without having to refill. You can use it for cold smoking too. I got one for my MES & use it for every smoke I do - hot or cold. It is available here http://www.amazenproducts.com/   & Todd has a special going for another day for SMF members where you get 10% off & free shipping if you spend $49.98 or more 
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  The discount code is SMFLABORDAY2013

& yes the mailbox mod is for the AMNPS  http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/...0-new-pictures-for-attaching-elbow-to-mailbox
 
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I have an MES 30 as well & your best bet is to do the "mailbox mod" for the AMNPS 
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I'm not disappointed in the amount of smoke in my MES, so I don't think I'll do a mod to it. I take it all over the place and love the portability of just the unit. It's the frequency you have to add chips that I was hoping to change, but I had heard that the AMNPS didn't work so well in an MES in it's stock form. Was wondering if anyone used one, without any mods, and where they placed it in the smoker and if it did a good job.
 
I'm not disappointed in the amount of smoke in my MES, so I don't think I'll do a mod to it. I take it all over the place and love the portability of just the unit. It's the frequency you have to add chips that I was hoping to change, but I had heard that the AMNPS didn't work so well in an MES in it's stock form. Was wondering if anyone used one, without any mods, and where they placed it in the smoker and if it did a good job.
I use it without any mods. Not sure if you have a Gen 1 or 2, but I am pretty sure the AMNPS was built with the Gen 1 in mind. When you open the door to the smoker, it goes just to the left of the chip tray. I believe the Gen 2 it gets placed above the square opening of the drip tray. No need for mods in the Gen 1 30" for sure.
 
I use it without any mods. Not sure if you have a Gen 1 or 2, but I am pretty sure the AMNPS was built with the Gen 1 in mind. When you open the door to the smoker, it goes just to the left of the chip tray. I believe the Gen 2 it gets placed above the square opening of the drip tray. No need for mods in the Gen 1 30" for sure.
Thanks! It is a Gen 1 and I'm gonna go with the AMNPS.
 
Thanks! It is a Gen 1 and I'm gonna go with the AMNPS.
I assume the mod would keep from flare ups from opening the door the check the meat, but I try not to open and check.  Also would keep from a dramatic drop in temp when opening the door, but again, I just don't open the door.
 
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