can't get blue smoke in MES 40

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robbie p

Newbie
Original poster
Jun 15, 2014
5
10
Hi,

Brand new to this forum.
Been using my Masterbuilt electric smoker now for a few weeks. Can't get that blue smoke everyone talks about. I get grey smoke. Tried dry and soaked chips. Used smaller pieces,, used bigger pieces. No luck.
Anyone got any suggestions?
Rob
 
If it's a whitish gray then maybe you are putting too many chips?  Not sure but thick smoke isn't good for food.   Maybe try using small (and I mean small) chunks instead of the chips.......or you can try getting some quality wood chips.....that store bought stuff is usually crap. 

Scott
 
 
What model MES 40

New Gen 2 or Old Model?
My guess is Gen 2

110.gif
 
I bought it last year on amazon. So, gen 2????
Thanks for the tip about using less wood. I'll try it this weekend.
Yeah, my chips come from a store.

Any suggestions for a source for top notch wood chips.
Thanks in advance. I am really learning a lot from this site!!!!

Rob
 
Too many chips can certainly cause ugly white smoke, and so can wet chips

The New MES GEN 2 really struggles for any intake air

If you pull out the chip loader, and look inside the hole,you'll see a tube with a slot along the bottom.  When you slide the chip loader into position, there is very little air that can enter thru the chip loader.

Now, pull the chip loader out about 1/2" and rotate the handle 180°, so the dump tray is facing down

The slot along the bottom of the tube and the dump tray are now lined up

Pull the chip loader out about an inch, and watch the smoke from your exhaust vent increase

Without oxygen, you make charcoal

Add a little oxygen so you have proper combustion, and you can achieve TBS
 
Gen 2 has the controls above the door and the exhaust on the left side

Old Model has the controls on top, and the exhaust is in the top left corner

What Say You?
 
http://www.fruitawoodchunks.com/

High quality wood
 
I bought it last year on amazon. So, gen 2????
Thanks for the tip about using less wood. I'll try it this weekend.
Yeah, my chips come from a store.

Any suggestions for a source for top notch wood chips.
Thanks in advance. I am really learning a lot from this site!!!!

Rob
As with other MES owners here I would suggest adding  The A-MAZE-N-PELLET-SMOKER(AMNPS).   Search that and see what you come up with :o)
 
Most bagged store chips are dried out flavorless tinder. Try small chunks.
As for the air flow of the gen 2 I suggest you dremel out the exhaust vent and pull the chip loader out a few inches to get better flow. Its important for good smoke flavor.
Now padronman has suggested the AMAZN pellet tray but that thing can be a bit of a pain keeping lit in the gen 2. There are guys that combine padrons suggestion with the "mailbox mod" and swear it solves all their problems and gives hours of TBS on the MES.
BTW..... have you verified your mes readout cooking temp with an accurate temp probe?
 
Most bagged store chips are dried out flavorless tinder. Try small chunks.
As for the air flow of the gen 2 I suggest you dremel out the exhaust vent and pull the chip loader out a few inches to get better flow. Its important for good smoke flavor.
Now padronman has suggested the AMAZN pellet tray but that thing can be a bit of a pain keeping lit in the gen 2. There are guys that combine padrons suggestion with the "mailbox mod" and swear it solves all their problems and gives hours of TBS on the MES.
BTW..... have you verified your mes readout cooking temp with an accurate temp probe?
Geerock is correct.....you will have to MOD the box to get the AMAZN to stay lit (airflow issue).  

Not sure how any company can design and sell a smoker that needs to be MODIFIED at all.......puzzles me to no end.
 
Guys.....Try flipping the chip loader first

It works for me
icon_mrgreen.gif


I actually removed my exhaust vent, and that made a huge difference, but I could not maintain temp

 inside the smoker.  It was all the smoker could do to maintain 225°

Don't trust the temp controller

I set mine to 205° or so to maintain 225° on the middle racks

Geerock is right, you will have to modify your Gen 2 to get the AMNPS to work properly
 
 
Guys.....Try flipping the chip loader first

It works for me
icon_mrgreen.gif


I actually removed my exhaust vent, and that made a huge difference, but I could not maintain temp

 inside the smoker.  It was all the smoker could do to maintain 225°

Don't trust the temp controller

I set mine to 205° or so to maintain 225° on the middle racks

Geerock is right, you will have to modify your Gen 2 to get the AMNPS to work properly
Luckily I don't have an MES
biggrin.gif
  so no smoke issues for Moi!!!
 
The vent is on the left side. GEN2
I was going to verify the probe and interior with an thermometer.
Thanks for the idea of pulling out the chip loader.

Great suggestions all. I do appreciate it!
 
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