MES Mailbox Mod! for use with AMNPS

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I put a paper towel on a plate underneath the pellets, then zap for 2 minutes. Then I change paper towels, and zap for 1 minute to 1-1/2 minutes more. It is critical that you watch it during the entire process. Some microwaves can set the paper on fire if left in too long.

I find that convection oven drying is longer, but works the best. I leave the pellets in at 250° to 275° for about 20 minutes. Again, you will have shrinkage, so put in more pellets than you need.
 
I put a paper towel on a plate underneath the pellets, then zap for 2 minutes. Then I change paper towels, and zap for 1 minute to 1-1/2 minutes more. It is critical that you watch it during the entire process. Some microwaves can set the paper on fire if left in too long.
I find that convection oven drying is longer, but works the best. I leave the pellets in at 250° to 275° for about 20 minutes. Again, you will have shrinkage, so put in more pellets than you need.

Awesome I'll definitely try that
 
I do 2 min then stir, then one more min.... BUT I just got the expandable tube from Amazen and no more nuking, I love it 

the one on the far left is expandable one,,,see how much air flow there is,,,used it this weekend on some chicken and it never missed a lick,


My mailbox set up 



 
I do 2 min then stir, then one more min.... BUT I just got the expandable tube from Amazen and no more nuking, I love it 

the one on the far left is expandable one,,,see how much air flow there is,,,used it this weekend on some chicken and it never missed a lick,





My mailbox set up 





CNN you take a picture of your mailbox. Trying to get ideas how to drill it. I don't have one of those. I have a rectangle one. Don't know if that makes a difference. Not as much head room in the mailbox. What do you think?
 
I only have 2 on each side. I think I will drill some more. And I can cover them if it's too much air flow. Thanks.
 
So it's the same as the wood chips loaded. Awesome. Making a HD stop in the AM b4 I start. It's going to rain here tomorrow morning. Going to pipe it out a window in my garage.
 
So it's the same as the wood chips loaded. Awesome. Making a HD stop in the AM b4 I start. It's going to rain here tomorrow morning. Going to pipe it out a window in my garage.
Search the forum, a couple of members have piped their vents outside an enclosed space. My MES is currently under the patio near our back door, but the smoke works its way into the house, driving my wife crazy, so I might do something similar. Here's a picture of a 3" duct I have in the vent hole.

 
Thank you for this great mod, it saved my MES!  I have a 30" analog that I bought on closeout for $95.  I thought I got a good deal at the time but then I knew nothing about smoking.  After a lot of frustration I turned to the forums and discovered the AMNPS.  It produced thin blue smoke when outside my MES, but I couldn't get it to do anything besides make clouds of white bitter smoke when inside my smoker. Since my analog MES had nothing but a tiny hole in the back top right corner for a vent I figured the problem was airflow and went looking for mods.  I found this mailbox mod and it has completely changed my smoker.  I am now getting sweet smelling TBS for about 4 hours per row out of the ANMPS and the food tastes SO much better than before.  Below is a picture of what I have done so far.  The chimney seems too tall, but it drafts really well.  Without it I had smoke coming out the mailbox door.  I need to seal the door of the MES up as it leaks badly.  I am planning on using the red RTV silicone gasket maker for that.

 
That Mod looks awesome! I recently bought the 3 tray 6x8 AMNPS and I am having trouble keeping it lit while inside my 40in Elite MES..I follow the instructions on the AMNPS box but each time it goes out about 15 minutes into the smoke..alot of unburned pellets in the tray..Any suggestions as to where i can place my tray to keep it going would be great..I will be buying a mailbox this weekend to try the mod out...

Thank You

Les
 
 
That Mod looks awesome! I recently bought the 3 tray 6x8 AMNPS and I am having trouble keeping it lit while inside my 40in Elite MES..I follow the instructions on the AMNPS box but each time it goes out about 15 minutes into the smoke..alot of unburned pellets in the tray..Any suggestions as to where i can place my tray to keep it going would be great..I will be buying a mailbox this weekend to try the mod out...

Thank You

Les
Les,,, What elevation are you at?? Do you have the chip tray pulled out at least 1" ????  You can also try nuking your pellets for about 2 - 3 min then light them,,, when you light them make sure you get a good fame (cherry) for about 10min before blowing out the flame,,,

Hope this helps,,, if you can update your profile so we know where you are at. Just helps us before we respond 

A full smoker is a happy smoker 

DS
 
 
2nd smoke today with the MES 40 (no window, slanted drip shield) but this time I have my mailbox mod I built yesterday on. Wow does it make a difference.. Very little breeze today in Charlottte area but the draft is doing its job. No extra holes in the box, just have the AMZNPS sitting just over the mounting holes in the bottom of the mailbox.

 
I have pulled out my chip loader COMPLETELY.

Pulled out the tray inside the smoker.

NUKED pellets, convection dried.

Lit the pellets and let them burn for 15 mins - eliminating 1/2 of the row, then blew out flame and put in smoker.

Let the top vent be 100% open, and the damn thing still goes out.

Im getting new pellets - the one that came with it (AMPNS brand) must really suck?!

Im a 383' elevation
 
 
I have pulled out my chip loader COMPLETELY.

Pulled out the tray inside the smoker.

NUKED pellets, convection dried.

Lit the pellets and let them burn for 15 mins - eliminating 1/2 of the row, then blew out flame and put in smoker.

Let the top vent be 100% open, and the damn thing still goes out.

Im getting new pellets - the one that came with it (AMPNS brand) must really suck?!

Im a 383' elevation
What Pellets came with the AMNPS----Sounds like Cherry.

Which Generation MES do you have, and where do you put it in the Smoker?

BTW: You aren't putting Water in the Water Pan, Right?

Bear
 
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Hello Bear -

I use a variety of the wood pellets, so Ive had cherry in there etc. Recently, the hickory has been unsuccessful. The only one that's been successful is the maple - but not consistant.

The MES is the latest generation - Signature model with the controls in front. It has meat probe sensors etc.

No water in smoker - I use sand.

I ordered the blend from cookin pellets .com. What have you had success with?

The AMPNS is useless to me until I get the mailbox set up going on next payday.

Once I find a great burning pellet I will order a pallet of them!
 
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