A-MAZE-N-PELLET-SMOKER Does Not Smoke, Why?

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tjohnson

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Dec 29, 2009
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I've received some PM's, Emails and Phone Calls about pellets not burning in the New A-MAZE-N-PELLET-SMOKER(AMNPS). 

Each time I've been able to get the customer going.

Reasons Why the AMNPS Stops Burning

Not Started Properly

 - Not Enough Heat During Start Up - Use Propane Torch for Approx. 30 Seconds Thru The Starting Hole

 - A Small Flame Needs to Appear on top the Pellets

 - Allow the Flame to Burn for Approx. 5-10 Minutes and Then Blow Out Flame Before You Put The AMNPS Inside Your Smoker

 - You Need a Good Bed of Coals going, to Keep the AMNPS Burning

Not Enough Ventilation

 - Open Intake Vents and Exhaust Vents 100% to Start and Adjust Accordingly

 - Gas or Charcoal Can Consume all the Available Oxygen - Place AMNPS Closer to Intake Vent

Too Much Humidity In the Smoker

 - Don't fill the water Pan - Use a Small Pan For Water if Necessary

 - Damp Wood Just Does Not Burn Well

Pellets

 - Good Quality Pellets Burn Better - Try Different Pellets

MES Owners

 - Pull Chip Pan Out 1 1/2" - This Increases Air Flow

 - Remove Chip Loader During Cold Smoking

 - DO NOT Remove Chip Loader During Hot Smoking

As you gain confidence in your New AMNPS, you can alter the instructions.

I'm sure guys will add their own "Tips and Tricks", but this is a start.

THX!

Todd
 
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As a suggestion, take a look at Todd's threads on his recent bacon.  He posted excellent QVues of lighting the AMNPS and what it should look like before  inserting into the smoker.  Most important though is to remember FIRE (or in this case pellets) NEEDS OXYGEN to burn.  If the pellets don't have oxygen, they will go out.  I've even made poor quality pellets smoke nicely. 
 
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Another thing to be careful with is the placement of the AMNS or AMNPS smoker. Don't place it under dripping anything.  If you have to place it directly under what you are smoking make an "aluminum foil tent" to cover the smoker to protect it. 

Also make sure that your pellets or dust is dry before trying to light it

Good smoking
 
Not trying to hi jack the thread but... can Todd or someone explain the pros and cons of the original compared to the pellet smoker. Whats better and why. I'm in the market just trying to figure out what to go with.

Thanks Robb
 
The new pellet smoker with smoke both pellets and dust. From what I gather is the pellets will smoke longer and also the main thing is they will hold up at higher temps. The issue I was having with my dust was when I would put it in my propane rig it would burn up really fast because the dust can't hold up in that high of heat but the new pellets can. I'm sure there will be others that can give you some more insight into this as well.
 
Holdem,

The AMNS (dust) is the best thing since sliced bread.

The AMNPS (pellets) is the best thing since way before sliced bread!

The biggest thing is the AMNPS will smoke perfectly at higher temps, even at temps up to 275˚.

My AMNS would burn through interior walls for me at temps of 230˚ & above, and sometimes even a few degrees lower than that, so I was always filling the outside rows only when hot smoking with it.

They tell me the AMNPS burns dust good too, but my AMNS works soooo good for cold smoking, I hate to try it for that.

I will probably continue to use my AMNPS for Hot smokes (above 180˚), and my AMNS for cold & warm smokes (180˚ and below).

Kinda like using my .308 Winchester (model #88) for Deer & Bear, and my 22 cal for squirrels.

I'm set for life. I got my MES 40 that I can set for any temp up to 275˚.

I can monitor that thing from any place on my property.

Then I can put whichever one the heat I'm using calls for, and get up to 11 hours of perfect smoke on whatever I'm smoking that day.

What else can one ask for???

Thank You Todd !!!!

Bear
 
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Great Answers Guys!

I've also received a number of calls, PM's and emails about the differences, but they are very well covered in the posts above.

Since the AMPS is so new, I wanted to give guys using one, a thread they could rely on for good info.  There are enough guys currently using the AMNPS, to offer some help, if needed. 

Yes, I include instructions with every AMNPS, but if my customers are anything like me, they don't read them!

THX!

Todd
 
One thing I have been doing is taking out the chip load (From my MES) when using the pellet version.  For the dust it was too much oxygen (burned way too fast) but it seems to be perfect for the pellets.  Of course this all depends on the placement of your rig compared to the wind.

I ONLY read the instructions because I saw, on here, that it was a must (due to needing to let it burn for a while then blowing it out).  The first try I didn't succeed too well (it went out on me) so I lit both ends to make damn sure I would get enough smoke.  The second time I mixed apple and hickory and lit 1 end and had more than enough smoke for a good 10+ hours (I put it out after 8 and still had 3/4s of the last row left to burn).  One thing I did notice is that you need a nice hot flame.  I ended up having to have the torch on "full blast" in order to get a good starter flame. 
 
 
I ran out of propane for my torch, so instead of heading into town for another bottle I grabbed my Heat Gun to try.  It has worked so well for starting the pellets I may never pick up a tank for the propane torch.  And just lighting 1 end it will fill my GOSM with good smoke. 
 
Joe,

Are you "Yankin' My Chain"?

A Heat Gun?

Now I gotta try this for myself

If this works, this could be a very cool thing!

Todd
 
I ran out of propane for my torch, so instead of heading into town for another bottle I grabbed my Heat Gun to try.  It has worked so well for starting the pellets I may never pick up a tank for the propane torch.  And just lighting 1 end it will fill my GOSM with good smoke. 
Holy Shoot!!!!

I never would have thought that would work.

Only things I ever used a heat gun for was to put hardwood edging on shelving, and to thaw frozen pipes in old uninsulated homes.

We gotta get a Qview Demo of "Lighting an AMNPS with a heat gun"!!!

Thanks Striper,

Bear
 
Joe,

Are you "Yankin' My Chain"?

A Heat Gun?

Now I gotta try this for myself

If this works, this could be a very cool thing!

Todd
Todd,

Nope, it works.  When it happened I really didn't have time to head into town for another propane bottle, had to get things going somehow so just grabbed the heat gun and tried it.  For a minute or so I didn't think it was gonna work, but it does.

Joe
 
Holy Shoot!!!!

I never would have thought that would work.

Only things I ever used a heat gun for was to put hardwood edging on shelving, and to thaw frozen pipes in old uninsulated homes.

We gotta get a Qview Demo of "Lighting an AMNPS with a heat gun"!!!

Thanks Striper,

Bear
Bear,

You gonna do that or should I see if I can get someone to take pictures for me while I do it?   HMMMMM I am out of Smoked Mozzarella and Havarti.

Joe
 
Bear,

You gonna do that or should I see if I can get someone to take pictures for me while I do it?   HMMMMM I am out of Smoked Mozzarella and Havarti.

Joe
ALREADY?

Todd
 
Holy Shoot!!!!

We gotta get a Qview Demo of "Lighting an AMNPS with a heat gun"!!!

Thanks Striper,

Bear
No sooner asked then done.

The gun (borrowed from SWMBO's art deco "stuff")

d5fa0618_IMG_0276.jpg


Playing with the zoom of my new "smoking camera".  The other one was too big and awkward to use for this type application.

95387303_IMG_0277.jpg


More realistically, some pellets from previous smokes tossed into a common can (I think I got the idea from you, Bear)

6b07dff9_IMG_0278.jpg


Finally got everything propped up to work.

170d65ec_IMG_0279.jpg


Temp as measured at the center of the pellet pile.  Nice temp gun, got the lead from one of our Floridian members.  Thanks, a sweet tool!!

ccf49ab6_IMG_0280.jpg


Can you see it?  Just a kernel of a starter. 

8771cf78_IMG_0281.jpg


A better picture.

0602f8af_IMG_0282.jpg


And, finally:

459524aa_IMG_0283.jpg


There ya go, Bear, Joe and Todd.  Joe wasn't yanking our chains.  It does work, in a pinch.  Took about 3 minutes then I figured that I'd put the nozzle of the heat gun almost on top of the pellet.  Then it worked real good.  In a pinch, this will work.  The other method is much faster though.

~Dave
 
Thanks for the great illustrations, Dave!!!

And thank you for the idea, Joe!!  Never thought of it until you brought it up!!!

Working together to learn more & more ----That's Great !!!!

Bear
 
Hey Dave,

Thanks for the pictures of your pretty PINK
30.gif
heat gun.  Mine is just a plain ole Ace Hardware special.
icon_confused.gif
  It does the trick though and is quick enough for now.

Joe
 
WOW... excellent info in these posts. Thanks. Looks like I'll go with the AMNPS... 
banana_smiley.gif
 The main reason I want to try it is I'm looking for more smoke flavor out of my gosm bb. 
 
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I think your monitor is out of color sync.  That color is fuschia and I did happen to mention, it's the wifes.  If it were mine, it would have been some macho color like Camo, Nato Green or other manly color.  You might just as well use the weed burner you use to remove airport striping with.  That would get it smoking......real good.
Hey Dave,

Thanks for the pictures of your pretty PINK
30.gif
heat gun.  Mine is just a plain ole Ace Hardware special.
icon_confused.gif
  It does the trick though and is quick enough for now.

Joe
 
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