First Time Pork Butts in MES40 - Have questions

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smokingneophyte

Newbie
Original poster
Apr 26, 2011
25
10
Long Island, NY
Going to smoke two 8LB pork butts in my new MES40 using Todd's A-Maze-N pellet smoker.  I also just purchased Jeff's rub recipe and plan on using that.  I have several questions:
  1. What type of wood is recommended?  I'm thinking about using apple or an apple/hickory combination.  Any opinions?
  2. I was thinking about following Meowey's basic pulled pork sticky but was also looking at Jeff's method from the Smoking-Meat.com site.  Meowey foils whereas Jeff doesn't.  I like a good bark.  Will the meat get too dry if I don't foil?
  3. If foiled, do you leave the temp probe in the meat?  Is it loosely foiled or tight?
  4. Should I put each of the butts in foil pans or directly on the racks with one pan below both to collect the drippings
Thanks in advance for the help.
 
Most foil , but I love the bark so I do not.  I have never gotten dry PP from not foiling.  Try it both ways and then pick the one you like best
 
Going to smoke two 8LB pork butts in my new MES40 using Todd's A-Maze-N pellet smoker.  I also just purchased Jeff's rub recipe and plan on using that.  I have several questions:
  1. What type of wood is recommended?  I'm thinking about using apple or an apple/hickory combination.  Any opinions? Good choice
  2. I was thinking about following Meowey's basic pulled pork sticky but was also looking at Jeff's method from the Smoking-Meat.com site.  Meowey foils whereas Jeff doesn't.  I like a good bark.  Will the meat get too dry if I don't foil? No, pork butt has plenty of fat to keep it moist.
  3. If foiled, do you leave the temp probe in the meat? Yes Is it loosely foiled or tight? Tightly sealed foil tent or in pan with foil cover
  4. Should I put each of the butts in foil pans or directly on the racks with one pan below both to collect the drippings? Directly on the racks with a pan under it.
Thanks in advance for the help.
 
Thanks for the responses.  I decided on using apple only for the smoke.  Also will not be foiling the meat.  I'll take some pictures along the way and post some Q-View.  First time using Jeff's rub.  I hope it is as good as I have heard.
 
I don't have a MES but I use Hickory on butts. 
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