New here, looking to get an electric and need help

[trip]

Hi, name is Nick, but go by Trip most of the time except at work.  Live in East Tennessee.  Always wanted a smoker and happen to buy a butterball electric turkey "fryer" last year for cheap that has a smoke drawer and used a bit and decided I wanted to get something more dedicated to smoking finally.

I was looking at getting a MES 30" around Christmas when they were on sale, but got talked out of it.  Been reading these forums and noticing a lot of the issues with them and just started reading about the 40" bluetooth and thinking that may be the way to go.  Wanted to get some more input before I decide to pull the trigger from some people who use them regularly about what they would change if they had to purchase again.  Definitely would like to go electric, don't have issue with a propane one.  No interest at all in charcoal.

Any input would be helpful, may go post a thread in the electric subforum as well.

 

[sota d]

Welcome Trip. If you're sure you want electric, there are options out there. I'm fairly new at this and my only experience is on a Masterbuilt electric smoker(known as MES here). I've had mine over a year and still love it. But, as with any new smoker you have to get to know it, to use it effectively. Mine is the 30" model, if I was doing it again I would probably get the 40" for more smoking area. Welcome again and happy smoker shopping, David

 

[gary s]

  Good afternoon and welcome to the forum, from a sunny and warm day here in East Texas. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about  everything.

Gary

 

[chef willie]

My best advice would be to do your 'due diligence' and tire kick everything. Use the search bar and seek out reviews on various electric smokers and pellet smokers. I have both....and like the features both have to offer. In no way consider your first smoker to be your last....we, as smokers, tend to like gear around. Pellets are great, to me....the best of both Worlds. MES's are inexpensive to start but avoid Generation 2 models. I run a 'Smokin' It' electric, the #3 model. A little pricy, around 500 perhaps, but have had trouble free smoking from Day One. There are smaller ones for less $. If possible, head for a Lowes or Home Depot and see what they have on the floor to fondle. You will get many opinions from here on this....everybody has one.....It can be confusing....Willie

 

[tropics]

Trip Welcome to SMF, I read a few real good review about the blue tooth,seen one in Cabelas on Monday looks nice, more rack space. I have a Gen #2 MES40 it was a PITA had to replace the control panel and chip loader and tray. It is still way off on temps, I use another probe to monitor temps.

100_1678.JPG

• tropics
• Mar 25, 2015

That was after it was running 2.5 hrs.

 

[trip]

Thanks for the welcome guys

yeah tropics, that temperature range issue, the hinges, needing to get the amnps, hotspots make me nervous about getting a MES.  The price isn't too bad though. 

I am still trying to figure out all the gen info.  Did they just update the bluetooth versions?  It looks like the vent is on the top left for the 30" RF remote stainless steel window version on Amazon.  That was the one I was originally going to get.  Was just going to try out something not too expensive for my first to see if it was worth pursuing a more pricey non MES smoker.

 

[rmmurray]

Welcome Trip!

 

[tropics]

 
Thanks for the welcome guys

yeah tropics, that temperature range issue, the hinges, needing to get the amnps, hotspots make me nervous about getting a MES.  The price isn't too bad though. 

I am still trying to figure out all the gen info.  Did they just update the bluetooth versions?  It looks like the vent is on the top left for the 30" RF remote stainless steel window version on Amazon.  That was the one I was originally going to get.  Was just going to try out something not too expensive for my first to see if it was worth pursuing a more pricey non MES smoker.

Trip I have to say I can do some real good cooks with my unit, I have learned what is needed to do it with what I have.The blue tooth has some good reviews, I was impressed by its looks.