Is there something wrong with my MES30?

[tlcase]

So this afternoon I seasoned my new MES30 and when it came time to add chips I did so and was getting lots of white smoke. The temp was set at 375 per the manual. A little bit later I came out to check on it and the wood chute blew out about three feet away on the ground. I of course opened the door to find the chips on fire so I removed them and turned the temp down to 225. I've got some chops on now and am running 200 and I've got some soaked chips I'm planning to add. When I first put chips on and they start smoking I'm getting lots of smoke from the vent holes on the chute as well as from the vent. I think I've calmed things down but is this normal? And yes....I know I need to get the amazn smoker and forget about the MES tray.

 

[tjohnson]

So this afternoon I seasoned my new MES30 and when it came time to add chips I did so and was getting lots of white smoke. The temp was set at 375 per the manual. A little bit later I came out to check on it and the wood chute blew out about three feet away on the ground. I of course opened the door to find the chips on fire so I removed them and turned the temp down to 225. I've got some chops on now and am running 200 and I've got some soaked chips I'm planning to add. When I first put chips on and they start smoking I'm getting lots of smoke from the vent holes on the chute as well as from the vent. I think I've calmed things down but is this normal? And yes....I know I need to get the amazn smoker and forget about the MES tray.

Too many chips burning at one time

Only add about 1/2 cup MAX

White Billowing Smoke is bad

Do Not Soak Your Chips!

Todd

 

[tlcase]

Yeah I wasn't filling the chute up by any means. I did add soaked chips before I saw your response and it did seem to help a bit. When they first started going it did smoke a bit out the chute vents but then settled down to a nice TBS. I was 10 degrees of my target of 160 before I had to pull them and finish in the oven due to a lightening storm heading this way. They are in the oven now and smell wonderful. Thanks for the response.

 

[teeznuts]

Hey tlcase,

First off please pardon my dirty MES30. I should have cleaned it a little better and dumped the drip pan before taking pics but it was late when I read your post and I ran out back to snap a few quick pics.

I was curious as to how your wood chip tray is inserted. I've never had a flying wood chute but while experimenting with the chip tray placement I had an issue where I went from no smoke for quite a while to a ton of thick nasty smoke that was the result of flaming wood chips.

THE FOLLOWING IS JUST MY OPINION BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIMENTS. I'M SIMPLY THROWING OUT A THEORY AND CLAIM NO EXPERTISE IN THIS MATTER.

That said,

I have no idea what the exact reason behind this is, but I noticed when I inserted the chip tray with the heat shield resting on top of the bars, between the heat element and the bars directly below it, I got zero smoke for a while then a massive flare up of burning wood chips. This also caused my chip tray to sit above the heat element instead of on it which is what I attributed to my lack of smoke. I was just monkeying with the placement to see if there was a huge difference in smoke/lack of.

heat element and bars

Heat shield on bars = no smoke for a while then later a nasty, thick smoke filled flare up for me

But when I insert the chip tray with the heat shield below the bars, the chip tray seems to rest perfectly on the heat emement and I get perfect smoke as soon as my temps hit around 180-190. I have never had a flare up this way.

Heat shield below bars = no flare up and perfect smoke for me

Again pardon my dirty smoker, I just wanted to hurry and get these up in case by some chance it might help you.

 

[SmokinAl]

Interesting Teez!

 

[tlcase]

Thanks teez. I do have my heat shield under the bars. I'm thinking I just need to play around with it a little more to get used to the little nuances. I appreciate you snapping pics for me.

 

[bigbob73]

MIne will do that sometimes.  I think air is coming back thru the top vent.  sometimes it blows smoke rings.  I've added a smoke stack and haven't had that problem anymore.

 

[tlcase]

I picked up a 3" elbow today so I'll give that a shot next smoke.

 

[tjohnson]

My 40 MES did it a couple times when using chips

No reason, just backfired out the exhaust

I assume it's starved for air, and once the smoke clears out, air(Oxygen) rushes in and "Poof"...Backfire!

TJ

 

[bigbob73]

I usually leave my chip loader out a couple of inches.  makes for some good airflow.

 

[rubbin butts]

I had the same thing and discovered the same thing teez did with the placement of the chip tray. I also now leave the chip loader out a little to increase the air flow. Works great now.

 

[Bearcarver]

Stop soaking your chips in gasoline!!!

Just kidding!

The only time that ever happened to me was when I tried putting a big piece of quarry tile, flat on the right side, above the heating element.

The tile held the heat too well. It got super hot below the tile, and the heat sensor didn't get enough heat to shut the element off.

Lucky I didn't blow the whole smoker up!!!!!

I also never put more than 4 or 5 chips, or 1 or 2 chunks in at one time. No need for more than that IMO.

Then I got the AMNS, and later the AMNPS, and now I'm in smoking heaven.

Bear