Not getting blue smoke, why?

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skpeep

Newbie
Original poster
Jun 9, 2014
26
10
Cheyenne, WY
Ok, let me preface this by saying I really have no clue what I am doing, and I am trying to teach myself how to smoke. I am using an analog MES 30 that I modified So that I could create smoke outside the unit, instead of relying on the heating element to do it for me. I put a 3 inch hole in the side, where I have a 3 inch elbow. I am using a soup can to hold my chips. I use a charcoal briquette to heat my chips. Tonight I wanted to throw some cold smoke on some pork chops before I grilled them. I got my briquette nice and hot and added a handful of chips. I was getting plenty of smoke, but it was not a nice light color, it was more of a brownish/grey color. I can for sure taste the smoke on the chops, but it seems a bit harsh. They are still plenty edible, but like I said before, I am new to this, I couldn't tell you good bbq from bad. Please help, why is my smoke this color?
 
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The chips are burning too fast. I tried the soup can method and I could never get it to smolder slow enough to produce TBS. I ended up giving in an buying an AMNPS and I am glad I did. 
 
Is it possible that the chips are getting too much oxygen, therefore they are burning too hot and too fast? I have about a dozen holes drilled in the soup can. I do have an AMNPS, but I could never get it to stay lit while it was in the smoker. I will look for a mailbox this summer at garage sales, and build a mailbox mod
 
I had one 1/4" hole in my soup can and it still burned too fast.

The analog users seem to have the most problems with the AMNPS since there isn't good airflow in those units.
 
Is it possible that the chips are getting too much oxygen, therefore they are burning too hot and too fast? I have about a dozen holes drilled in the soup can. I do have an AMNPS, but I could never get it to stay lit while it was in the smoker. I will look for a mailbox this summer at garage sales, and build a mailbox mod
To hot would = less smoke as heat causes complete burn. Get your AMNPS back out and play with it. It works well in the MES after you learn how to use it. i always microwave the pellets or dust for a minute and spend a full 15 minute getting it going. I pull the chip loader out about an inch with a shield above the AMNPS to keep drippings from putting it out.

Happy smoken.

David
 
I drilled a couple holes in the bottom of the smoker and in the top to try and get better airflow with the AMNPS and it still didn't work, so I decided to try the external smoker box. I like the fact that I can cold smoke with it, but now I can't get the right smoke. About to just out a free sign on it and set it by the curb.
 
To hot would = less smoke as heat causes complete burn. Get your AMNPS back out and play with it. It works well in the MES after you learn how to use it. i always microwave the pellets or dust for a minute and spend a full 15 minute getting it going. I pull the chip loader out about an inch with a shield above the AMNPS to keep drippings from putting it out.
Happy smoken.
David

Mine doesn't have the pull out chip tray. I would love for the AMNPS to work, as I have heard good things about it.
 
 
You should PM Todd @TJohnson  . He will try and help you get it going.
yeahthat.gif
 
talk to Todd, a tube smoker may work better for you. it does work better for me in my gasser, due to oxygen/airflow issues. now I get nice TBS from the tube... though I may get another one for longer smokes so I can alternate.
 
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