less smoke at lower temp?

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social d

Newbie
Original poster
Sep 11, 2016
20
12
Hey all, I own this smoker:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/pr...digital-smoker-front-controller-30-inch-black

I have noticed lately that is I set the smoker temp below 240, I get very little smoke. The chips look like charcoal when I pull the pan out. If I set it above 240, I get alot of smoke and the chips turn to ash. 

I am fairly new to smoking and did not see a temp to smoke volume issue when the smoker was new.

Opinions?

BTW, is it possible my chips have too much moisture? I live in central FL and store them in the garage in zip lock bags.
 
Are you sure the temp is actually 240, the MES controllers are notoriously inaccurate.

Most MES guys use the Amazen smoke generators.

This eliminates all the smoke issues, & will give nice smoke for hours at any temp. without reloading it.

Al
 
I'm with Al, probably temp being off. My MES 40 is off by 26 degrees! Get a known accurate thermometer and see what your real temp is inside the cabinet.

Also, the Amazen is perfect for the Masterbuilts. I use to pellet tray type and it works great.
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys, I will use another thermometer and correlate the temperatures.
 
 
Are you sure the temp is actually 240, the MES controllers are notoriously inaccurate.

Most MES guys use the Amazen smoke generators.

This eliminates all the smoke issues, & will give nice smoke for hours at any temp. without reloading it.

Al
I looked up Amazen. where do you place it in the MES?
 
 
I looked up Amazen. where do you place it in the MES?
I place my tray in the bottom left hand corner,  I light it with a torch OUTSIDE of the unit and let it flame for several minutes and then I put it into the cabinet after blowing it out.

Also, you'll need to open the chip tube up so that oxygen can get into the cabinet for the Amazen to work properly.
 
I have the same issues with the MES tray as once the box gets up to temp--any temp--the off time for the burner is too long for the chips to keep burning. I love the MES so don't think I am bashing it but ...

I also live on the humid gulf coast (Houston TX) and the Amazen tray and tube work great. The tray takes a little more effort to get it lite--I think due to the humidity--so be generous with the torch time and really get it going. I load and set on the driveway a few feet from the MES just inside the garage door. Once it has flamed for maybe five minutes mine goes out and smokes but I hit it with the torch again and let it flame for another few minutes. You can then pick it up bare handed by the side opposite the slot that is burning and put it into the MES. That is what I did yesterday although about an hour in I had to relight it.
 
I'm having same issue with MES. Used to smoke vg, now ng. As I write, I am using hardware cloth to hold chips, right on heat element, instead of tray. Seems promising but this is first try. Anyone have experience?
 
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