Greetings,
After several failed attempts at using the AMNPS in my MES 30 I did the mailbox mod (Pictures attached). On my first attempt the AMNPS kept going out. On my second I drilled more holes (6 1/2" holes total) and it still would not stay lit (picture of where it stopped attached). I had to go to work today so I did not get a chance to re-light it. The pork could have used a bit more smoke on it...
I am using a plumbing torch to get it lit and there is a big cherry when I get it started so I don't think that is what is going on.
Anyway, after I got home I took the AMNPS out, re-lit it, and set it on my grill where it has been merrily smoking away for several hours now. By the way, I microwaved the pellets in a pyrex pie dish for 90 seconds before loading the AMNPS.
This all tells me that I either do not have enough air holes in my mailbox OR it is not getting a draw to pull new air into the mailbox.
The question for those of you with the mailbox mod is: how large are the air openings you are using?
I have been considering putting a laptop fan on the top vent of the MES to create a draw through the mailbox - or conversely pushing from the mailbox into the smoker - has anyone tried that?
I really want this to work and I have been trying to do it right but just can't get there.
Your suggestions are welcome.
Thanks
Tom
After several failed attempts at using the AMNPS in my MES 30 I did the mailbox mod (Pictures attached). On my first attempt the AMNPS kept going out. On my second I drilled more holes (6 1/2" holes total) and it still would not stay lit (picture of where it stopped attached). I had to go to work today so I did not get a chance to re-light it. The pork could have used a bit more smoke on it...
I am using a plumbing torch to get it lit and there is a big cherry when I get it started so I don't think that is what is going on.
Anyway, after I got home I took the AMNPS out, re-lit it, and set it on my grill where it has been merrily smoking away for several hours now. By the way, I microwaved the pellets in a pyrex pie dish for 90 seconds before loading the AMNPS.
This all tells me that I either do not have enough air holes in my mailbox OR it is not getting a draw to pull new air into the mailbox.
The question for those of you with the mailbox mod is: how large are the air openings you are using?
I have been considering putting a laptop fan on the top vent of the MES to create a draw through the mailbox - or conversely pushing from the mailbox into the smoker - has anyone tried that?
I really want this to work and I have been trying to do it right but just can't get there.
Your suggestions are welcome.
Thanks
Tom