MESmoke leaking from door - normal?

[aircooled]

Hi all. Newbie poster, been lurking a while. Did a search (newbie here, not the innerwebs) and found nothing.

However...

Got my 30" MES today, and immediately began the Seasoning Process. Wood chips just went in about 20 minutes ago.

After the initial muffler paint burning off smell subsided, I realized this was going to be fun. Wood chips are smoking away, but there is a decent amount of smoke coming from around the door periphery. Should this be happening? Is this a gasket issue, a door tension issue, or a dork with a new toy not knowing how it works issue? I know it's a smoke issue, cuz I gots it.

Thanks. Looking forward to making a lot of mistakes and eating them.

 

[mythmaster]

LOL, "dork with a new toy" issue.

I don't remember any smoke coming out from around the door when I was seasoning mine. Have a good smoke with it, and if smoke is still coming out from the door then take it back for a replacement. The smoke should only be coming out of the vent (even while closed), and if it's not then you have something wrong.

EDIT: P.S. Welcome aboard and don't forget to post something in "Roll Call" so others can welcome you, also!

 

[mythmaster]

Oh, I forgot: the door clasp on the side is adjustable. Try tightening it up some first.

 

[Bearcarver]

I think it depends on how much smoke comes out the door. Mine has always leaked some smoke around the door, and around the chip dumper, but I figure as long as there is plenty coming out the vent, who cares---I got plenty of extra. It usually only leaks on mine when I get to temps above 160˚ or 180˚. My door seems to be adjusted just right too. Don't forget, smoke is like a fart---it'll sneak out through anything!

Bearcarver

 

[smokeguy]

That's normal. Be sure your top vent is open enough. Smoke rises so if it's open enough, the smoke will go out the top instead of the sides.

 

[scubadoo97]

Mine leaks a little smoke around the door even with the door latch pretty tight. Usually only leaks when there is copious amounts of smoke in the smoker, like when you first add wood and you are getting white smoke before the thin blue smoke.

 

[aircooled]

Thanks for the replies and welcome, folks. As I was heading out last night, I put the MES to bed and noticed his wittle waatch (creepy baby talk for door latch) seemed to have a bit of looseness where it attaches to the smoker box, so I'll address this tonight and see if that makes a difference.

I do remember seeing on one of the MES modification threads (there are some smart smokers out there!) about someone adding multiple latches. May consider that sometime down the road if this adjustment doesn't work.

And FWIW, it was a goodly amount of smoke. A few whisps I wouldn't have cared about. That's flavor escaping, dog nabbit!

 

[brokenwing]

mine has always leaked a little smoke from the top of the door but not to much to worry about.