New MES question about wood chips

[Bearcarver]

I put it at 250, but for some reason mine struggles to get over that. It ran 240-245. I'd like it at 275 for chicken but it want do it. If time allows I'll toss them on the grill for 5 minutes to crisp up the skin a little. I want 165 to 170 IT.
I used a all purpose rub SPOG (salt, pepper, onion powder & garlic powder) on half the legs and a bbq rub on the others and let them set over night. Mopped the bbq ones with bbq sauce at the 2 hour mark. The ones I put the SPOG on I dipped into some Alabama white bbq sauce I made up for something a little different.
Hope this helps.

Smell Smoke

I don't know what you're using to tell you it only gets to 240-245°, but if all you're reading is your MES digital read-out, that number could be wrong.

In order to be sure of what the smoker temp really is, you need a therm that you can check for accuracy, like a Maverick ET-732 or ET-733.

As for burning chips in your MES for smoke. Some MES units do that better than others, and some guys are happy with what they get from their units, but I would have quit a long time ago if it wasn't for the AMNS, and then the AMNPS the following year. I can fill it with Hickory Pellets, get it lit properly & put it in my MES 40, and have perfect consistent, continuous smoke for up to 11 or 12 hours without touching it. Made my smoking so much easier.

Bear

 

[smell smoke]

 
I don't know what you're using to tell you it only gets to 240-245°, but if all you're reading is your MES digital read-out, that number could be wrong.

In order to be sure of what the smoker temp really is, you need a therm that you can check for accuracy, like a Maverick ET-732 or ET-733.

As for burning chips in your MES for smoke. Some MES units do that better than others, and some guys are happy with what they get from their units, but I would have quit a long time ago if it wasn't for the AMNS, and then the AMNPS the following year. I can fill it with Hickory Pellets, get it lit properly & put it in my MES 40, and have perfect consistent, continuous smoke for up to 11 or 12 hours without touching it. Made my smoking so much easier.

Bear

Agreed. Have the 5x8 on the way. The MES does fine on short smokes, but anything where I need over a hour of smoke it struggles.

 And I did check the temp with my own gauge.Was hoping it was just a bad reading on the MES but sigh, it was withing 5 degrees on mine.

Smell Smoke

 

[smoky mike blu]

Since my last post I was reading about the AMNPS. For what ever reason I was thinking this was around $100. But it seems very reasonable and I can also use this for cold smoking, correct? What size would I need for my 30 inch MES? Also, as I hear this smokes not stop while you are cooking, do you ever need to worry about over smoking your food with a AMNPS? Also where do you place it in the 30 inch MES? And if you were using it for cold smoking, would you just get the AMNPS smoking and not turn the heating element on?
Thanks again everyone. I just got the smoker and we are getting an extreme cold blast with the winter conditions, so I have only been able to season it and and play for a few min. Once with some chips and then it's been in the garage since. I'm hoping tomorrow I can get it out or Friday. Thought I'd try a butt roast and a fatty first. When I told my wife about cooking a fatty she started to laugh as we have never heard of a fatty before I came on the forum. You all are the best. Thank you so much.
Mike

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Agreed. Have the 5x8 on the way. The MES does fine on short smokes, but anything where I need over a hour of smoke it struggles.

 And I did check the temp with my own gauge.Was hoping it was just a bad reading on the MES but sigh, it was withing 5 degrees on mine.

Smell Smoke

Hmmmmm, so even set at 275°, it only goes to an accurate 240°-245°???

If that's what's happening, how long do you have it??

In the past I have told people who set their MES to 275° and can't get above 260°-265°, they should call Masterbuilt, because you paid for a smoker that gets to 275° when you want it to.

By the same token, those who set theirs to 275° and it goes to 300°, I told them to enjoy it---They got a bonus, as long as it doesn't go much higher than 300°.

Bear

 

[sota d]

Mike, I have been smoking on my MES 30 for over a year using chips. Have had great results! The AMZN just takes a lot of the work out of it. I ordered one a couple days ago and it shipped same day. Hoping to get it tomorrow.David.
 

 

[Bearcarver]

Since my last post I was reading about the AMNPS. For what ever reason I was thinking this was around $100. But it seems very reasonable and I can also use this for cold smoking, correct?  Yes.

Bear

 

[smoky mike blu]

I have a black MES with the digital reader sticking up on the top. Is this considered a gen 1?

 

[Bearcarver]

I have a black MES with the digital reader sticking up on the top. Is this considered a gen 1?

Digital controls in a box mounted on the center, back on top???

That's a Gen #1

Put your AMNPS on the little bars in the bottom to the left of the chip burner assembly.

Bear

 

[smoky mike blu]

Thanks Bear
Yes that's my MES. I just bought it new, does it mean I got a bad deal when I bought it the other day? I paid $180 from Amazon , but was the same price on Walmart.com. Just wondering. Also, do I take out the current wood chip tray or leave it in?
Thanks again
Mike

 

[litterbug]

I put it at 250, but for some reason mine struggles to get over that. It ran 240-245. I'd like it at 275 for chicken but it want do it. If time allows I'll toss them on the grill for 5 minutes to crisp up the skin a little. I want 165 to 170 IT.
I used a all purpose rub SPOG (salt, pepper, onion powder & garlic powder) on half the legs and a bbq rub on the others and let them set over night. Mopped the bbq ones with bbq sauce at the 2 hour mark. The ones I put the SPOG on I dipped into some Alabama white bbq sauce I made up for something a little different.
Hope this helps.

Smell Smoke

Are you by chance using an extension cord? I do not have a MES, so somebody else can chime in with proper advise. I just wanted to put this out there as an option. But from what I have read somewhere, if you must use an extension cord, then you should use a heavy gauge 12/3 and not the cheap everyday 16/3 cord as it is underated and will have an effect on how much power is being delivered to your unit and therefor its overall performance.


Somebody please correct me if I am wrong because I would hate to steer anybody in the wrong direction.

 

[smell smoke]

Are you by chance using an extension cord? I do not have a MES, so somebody else can chime in with proper advise. I just wanted to put this out there as an option. But from what I have read somewhere, if you must use an extension cord, then you should use a heavy gauge 12/3 and not the cheap everyday 16/3 cord as it is underated and will have an effect on how much power is being delivered to your unit and therefor its overall performance.


Somebody please correct me if I am wrong because I would hate to steer anybody in the wrong direction.

You are correct. I used a extension chord once and it just got a little over 200. Swapped the chord out with heavier gauge and shorter chord I had and the temp went to 240. But I usually don't use one. Think I'm going to give master built a call.

Smell Smoke

 

[gary s]

Use a heavy duty cord  probably 10 ga.  you wont have any amp drop

Gary

 

[jted]

Are you by chance using an extension cord? I do not have a MES, so somebody else can chime in with proper advise. I just wanted to put this out there as an option. But from what I have read somewhere, if you must use an extension cord, then you should use a heavy gauge 12/3 and not the cheap everyday 16/3 cord as it is underated and will have an effect on how much power is being delivered to your unit and therefor its overall performance.


Somebody please correct me if I am wrong because I would hate to steer anybody in the wrong direction.

You are correct. I used a extension chord once and it just got a little over 200. Swapped the chord out with heavier gauge and shorter chord I had and the temp went to 240. But I usually don't use one. Think I'm going to give master built a call.

Smell Smoke

A extension cord that is to small will give you problems. Generally folks just use a cord from the garage that is to small and to long. There is no  need for a real large cord on a MES30. It pulls less than 7 amps and after looking at south wires voltage calculator.

http://www.southwire.com/support/voltage-drop-calculator.htm

I find a 14-3 cord 25 feet long will only have a 1.68% drop (normal is up to 3%)That is only a 2.01 of voltage drop. Here is a link to a inexpensive cord. 20.00

You can use a 12 or 10 GA cord but they get pr icy.

.http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-25-ft-14-3-Extension-Cord-HD-277-533/100650642

Remember In this case shorter is better.      Jted

 

[Bearcarver]

Thanks Bear
Yes that's my MES. I just bought it new, does it mean I got a bad deal when I bought it the other day? I paid $180 from Amazon , but was the same price on Walmart.com. Just wondering. Also, do I take out the current wood chip tray or leave it in?
Thanks again
Mike

Mike,

The price usually depends on which model, and what all it has in it.

5 1/2 years ago, My first one was an MES 30 Gen #1, with no window, no remote, no frills, and I paid $129.

I would leave everything that came with your MES exactly where it belongs (chip dumper, chip drawer, water pan). That way you won't be changing air flow, or things like the chip burner assembly blocking direct heat from hitting the meat above it.

Bear

 

[gary s]

Sounds like sound advice

Gary

 

[smoky mike blu]

What do you all use to light the AMNPS? Do you always fill it with wood pellets, even if you are only smoking something for a short time? Do you save any un burnt pellets that are left over in the AMNPS?
When do you decide to light both ends vs. only lighting one end?
Thanks again every
Mike

 

[Bearcarver]

What do you all use to light the AMNPS? Do you always fill it with wood pellets, even if you are only smoking something for a short time? Do you save any un burnt pellets that are left over in the AMNPS?
When do you decide to light both ends vs. only lighting one end?
Thanks again every
Mike

I use a Burnzamatic (Fat-Boy) Propane Torch.

I am pretty much what you call a Smoke Hound, and I only ever lit both ends one time, and I put one of them out later in the smoke time. One end is plenty.

I estimate 3+ hours per row, so if I want 10 to 11 hours I fill it.

If I want 3 hours I fill 1 1/3 rows. That way it won't stop short.

When done smoking, I use an old teaspoon I keep just for scraping the unburned pellets away from the burning ones, so I can save the unburned ones. When the burning ones go out, you can blow the ashes out & keep the good ones.

Bear

 

[smoky mike blu]

Sorry, I have a few more questions. I hope you all don't mind me keep asking these questions? How long does a two pound bag of pellets last? What type of wood do you all normally prefer to use? I was thinking pecan and hickory. Any thoughts?
Thanks again
Mike

 

[tropics]

What do you all use to light the AMNPS? Do you always fill it with wood pellets, even if you are only smoking something for a short time? Do you save any un burnt pellets that are left over in the AMNPS?
When do you decide to light both ends vs. only lighting one end?
Thanks again every
Mike

I only fill 1 row and around the turn, have not done a smoke that I needed more then that yet. You should be able to save any unburnt pellets.

I use a cheap torch from Harbor Freight 

100_1449.JPG

• tropics
• Mar 5, 2015

 

[Bearcarver]

Sorry, I have a few more questions. I hope you all don't mind me keep asking these questions? How long does a two pound bag of pellets last? What type of wood do you all normally prefer to use? I was thinking pecan and hickory. Any thoughts?
Thanks again
Mike

I never checked how long a 2 pound bag lasts. A full AMNPS lasts about 10 to 11 hours.

I use Hickory Pellets or Dust about 95% of the time.

Cherry Pellets are a pain to keep smoking without mixing them with another flavor.

Try a bunch of various types to see what you like best.

BTW: I use a Propane torch for lighting pellets, because it gets into the pellets better than a wimpy butane torch. However I use the Butane torch when lighting Sawdust, because the Propane blows the dust out of the AMNS.

Bear