Masterbuilt Smokers (Bear’s Thoughts & Findings)

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At least you've confirmed what I've been saying forever. The AMPS burns better after and hour or two. If you dont light it properly in the beginning, it's not enough to get it over the hump.

I'm not really seeing that. I think it may be a temp thing -- after sitting in a hot smoker for a while the pell its are easier to ignight. I always nuke my pellets to dry/warm them, and then immediately light the tray.
 
 
Thanks Steve!

It should be interesting.

This is the first time my AMNPS ever put out a Smoke that got Heavier than I like it.

Looks like our wind is supposed to Die Down by Tuesday.

Bear
My problem with the AMNPS is that there has been never enough smoke until I began nuking the pellets 2 minutes at a time for 3 times for a total of 6 minutes in all. I tried that at the suggestion of a friend here in OKC two smokes ago and it has worked to perfection for these past two smokes.

I don't see an increase in smoke as time moves on as someone reported recently. It stayed the same the whole time from beginning to end. The only time I have ever had too much smoke from pellets is when I put a few in the chip loader and dumped them into the tray a couple of weeks ago. It was so bad that I haven't repeated it since.

Since Bear and I both have 40" BT's of which both should smoke the same , it appears I may like more smoke than he does. I just know that what I am getting now with my nuking of the pellets, is the perfect amount of smoke and smoke taste. I would suspect that for those that say they get more smoke later into the smoking may be because their pellets dry out more from the heat in the smoker as time moves on, thus smoke more.
 
I only nuke mine for 1 1/2 minutes. One plate full is enough for the first row and barely around the corner. The rest I fill directly from the bag. I am in Florida, which is humid, but I keep my pell its inside in the AC, so I wonder if it's humidity, or just heat. Doesn't matter, it works for me.
 
 
I totally agree. My 'stick burner' is a weber kettle. One of many options, it's probably not the best, but it works for a good sear, and has a cult following. And dang do I see a lot of them pushed out to the curb (how I got my last 2) or cheap used. Tough to beat the MES30+Weber Kettle combo at ~250 out the door.
I love my Weber kettle for grilling. I do add wood chips at times. Recently I started experimenting with a small wood pellet tube smoker given to me by a friend here on SMF. I went to a local BBQ competition a few weeks ago. What did I see? Many stick burners, some electric smokers like Cookshacks, and...quite a few Webers charcoal grills! I saw WSMs, kettle grills, and a few of the Weber Performer Series kettle grills.  
 
 
I totally agree. My 'stick burner' is a weber kettle. One of many options, it's probably not the best, but it works for a good sear, and has a cult following. And dang do I see a lot of them pushed out to the curb (how I got my last 2) or cheap used. Tough to beat the MES30+Weber Kettle combo at ~250 out the door.
This is exactly my setup. My family bought me a Weber 22.5" One Touch Silver for Father's Day years ago and I bought my MES 30 Gen 1 about 3.5 years ago. For certain grilled meats or pizzas I add wood chips. Now I'm experimenting with a wood pellet tube smoker.  
 
 
My problem with the AMNPS is that there has been never enough smoke until I began nuking the pellets 2 minutes at a time for 3 times for a total of 6 minutes in all. I tried that at the suggestion of a friend here in OKC two smokes ago and it has worked to perfection for these past two smokes.

I don't see an increase in smoke as time moves on as someone reported recently. It stayed the same the whole time from beginning to end. The only time I have ever had too much smoke from pellets is when I put a few in the chip loader and dumped them into the tray a couple of weeks ago. It was so bad that I haven't repeated it since.

Since Bear and I both have 40" BT's of which both should smoke the same , it appears I may like more smoke than he does. I just know that what I am getting now with my nuking of the pellets, is the perfect amount of smoke and smoke taste. I would suspect that for those that say they get more smoke later into the smoking may be because their pellets dry out more from the heat in the smoker as time moves on, thus smoke more.
I only nuke mine for 1 1/2 minutes. One plate full is enough for the first row and barely around the corner. The rest I fill directly from the bag. I am in Florida, which is humid, but I keep my pell its inside in the AC, so I wonder if it's humidity, or just heat. Doesn't matter, it works for me.
Reply to both:

I need to do more experimenting:

I never Nuked pellets, never pulled my dumper out or my chip drawer in my Gen #1.

And It always started out lightly smoking for the first hour, then light medium, then medium, and then medium heavy, but it never got too heavy (Not able to see through it).

This #2.5 did the same thing, except it actually got Too Heavy. I just need to figure out why. No big deal. I'll get it figured out & let you know.

John
 
 
Reply to both:

I need to do more experimenting:

I never Nuked pellets, never pulled my dumper out or my chip drawer in my Gen #1.

And It always started out lightly smoking for the first hour, then light medium, then medium, and then medium heavy, but it never got too heavy (Not able to see through it).

This #2.5 did the same thing, except it actually got Too Heavy. I just need to figure out why. No big deal. I'll get it figured out & let you know.

John
Bear, if I were to guess why the smoke got heavier, I would guess that it is because the pellets dried out from the heat in smoker and thus provided more smoke, just like when I nuke them, I get more smoke in my BT than I do if I don't nuke them .... I don't know that for fact though, but that would be my first suspicion. 
th_dunno-1%5B1%5D.gif
 
 
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I would maybe disclose it in your review to address questions of bias that may come up.  Are you going to post a review about all your suggestions for Model 3.0.  Im very curious to hear your thoughts.
Why would I worry about that? Most people know me & know my report would be honest regardless.

If I was going to slant my review because the Test item was "No Charge", I wouldn't have reported that I didn't like the Gen #2. No charge for that one either, and I told them I hated it & listed things I would change. If this one had anything I didn't like, I would have done the same. That's one of the reasons I was asked to do the testing.

There is no model #3, and I gave everything I had on the ones I tested.

Bear
 
 
Why would I worry about that? Most people know me & know my report would be honest regardless.

If I was going to slant my review because the Test item was "No Charge", I wouldn't have reported that I didn't like the Gen #2. No charge for that one either, and I told them I hated it & listed things I would change. If this one had anything I didn't like, I would have done the same. That's one of the reasons I was asked to do the testing.

There is no model #3, and I gave everything I had on the ones I tested.

Bear
Yeah I wasnt suggesting anything.  More along the lines of if someone joins the forum 6 months from now and reads your review without knowing you.  Oh and there is always a next gen model!  I hope MB continues to work towards perfection.  Their PID is the first area of business IMO.    
 
Bear, has there been any new info about the LCD screen and freezing temps?  Most people never had the MES BT last winter and I dont want to be a guinea pig.  Is it covered by warranty if my LCD freezes and stops working?
 
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Bear, has there been any new info about the LCD screen and freezing temps?  Most people never had the MES BT last winter and I dont want to be a guinea pig.  Is it covered by warranty if my LCD freezes and stops working?
I think the 2.5 came out last November or so. I would guess if some guys in MN, NY, PA, or some other freezing A$$ cold state would have had a problem, it would have gotten around to us by now.
 
I'll let you know about freezing issues after this winter... I am in southern NJ and I keep mine covered outside (just survived significant rainfall from Jaoquin without issues).
 
I'll let you know about freezing issues after this winter... I am in southern NJ and I keep mine covered outside (just survived significant rainfall from Jaoquin without issues).
Yup---We get the cold in PA, but we only got 5 inches of rain in the last few days. I guess Joisey didn't get it as bad as expected---Am I right??

Bear
 
Hey everyone. I just fell upon this post. I see where the gen 1 30 inch Master built has a digital read out. If that's a gen 1, what's mine? Mine isn't digital at all. There is a knob you adjust at the plug going to the smoker and there is a whole about the diameter of your thumb at the back upper corner of the smoker.
 
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