not impressed with amns

[SmokinAl]

What do you put them in.

Do they have to be in something wide, so they are spread out real thin, or will it work in a bowl???

Bear

I just put them on a paper plate Bear. I spread them out & nuke them for a minute. They're warm to the touch. The first time I did it I put them in for 3 minutes & they started on fire. The whole house smelled like hickory for days.

 

[SmokinAl]

Like anything new, there's a learning curve

Once you get it figured out, you'll like the results

If you just can't get along with it, give me a call, and I'll buy it back!

Todd

How's that for customer service. There are plenty of businesses that could learn a lot from Todd!

 

[raymo76]

Like anything new, there's a learning curve

Once you get it figured out, you'll like the results

If you just can't get along with it, give me a call, and I'll buy it back!

Todd

That's customer service at it's best right there! A man who fully stands by his product.

 

[eman]

I just nuke my dust in a 16 oz plastic cup. don't stir or shake .That's why i go two min.

 

[Bearcarver]

I just put them on a paper plate Bear. I spread them out & nuke them for a minute. They're warm to the touch. The first time I did it I put them in for 3 minutes & they started on fire. The whole house smelled like hickory for days.

I can't be doing that !!!!!

I'd like the smell, but did you ever see a raging "She-Bear"?!?!?!

Thanks guys,

Bear

 

[roller]

I never do anything to mine except light them with a torch let them burn about 5 min then blow them out and place in my smoker and let them burn and burn and burn...

 

[wbrian]

To the original poster (JimmyK?),

What kind of pellets were you using? 

I had a 2 hour learning curve this AM on my first run with my new AMNPS.  For the life of me I couldn't get the dang things to stay lit.  Started out great, but each time I went to check, they were out. I'd relight, wait 5 min and close back up after blowing out, and after a while they were out again.  This went on for 2 frustrating hours.  So I decided to do something radical for me.  I actually read the directions.  real reading, not the skimming I had done 5 times before.  And I found that Cherry is one of the "hard to stay lit" pellets which works better when applied over and layer of Oak.  So I nuked some Oak, dumped the AMNPS into a metal dish and put the oak in and then the cherry on top (put the lit cherry at the beginning).  Lit it, waited 5 minutes, blew it out and put it back in the MES40. Voila! Smoking like a charm now...

Something to consider anyway...

Later,

Brian

 

[glocksrock]

Just fired up my amnps for the first time with cherry pellets and the flame burned for a few mins. then went out on it's own and it's been smoking perfectly since... I just pulled the chip drawer and loader out a bit to let the air flow through and it's smoking like a champ.

 

[wbrian]

Are you hot or cold smoking? When I cold smoke I completely remove the chip tray. I pull the chip tube out about an inch. I also added a 3" elbow(per Todd's suggestion) as a chimney. I use it in an MES30. I microwave my pellets between 45 sec- 1 1/2 minutes depending on how much pellets I'm using. I haven't used it on many hot smokes yet but it goes like a champ on cold smokes.

Here's a shot of the elbow during a hot smoke without the AMNPS just so you can see the set up.

Will this elbow fit on the MES 40?  How is it attached? 

Thanks!

Brian

 

[BGKYSmoker]

I use both my AMZN AND AMZNPS in my Bradley and MAK and have had 0 issues.

 

[alaskanbear]

If you are having troubles with the AMZNS, then its the fault , with either air flow, moisture in pellets or not allowing it to 'start' up correctly.

Rich

 

[tjohnson]

Will this elbow fit on the MES 40?  How is it attached? 

Thanks!

Brian

It fits "TIGHT"

TJ

 

[tjohnson]

To the original poster (JimmyK?),

What kind of pellets were you using? 

I had a 2 hour learning curve this AM on my first run with my new AMNPS.  For the life of me I couldn't get the dang things to stay lit.  Started out great, but each time I went to check, they were out. I'd relight, wait 5 min and close back up after blowing out, and after a while they were out again.  This went on for 2 frustrating hours.  So I decided to do something radical for me.  I actually read the directions.  real reading, not the skimming I had done 5 times before.  And I found that Cherry is one of the "hard to stay lit" pellets which works better when applied over and layer of Oak.  So I nuked some Oak, dumped the AMNPS into a metal dish and put the oak in and then the cherry on top (put the lit cherry at the beginning).  Lit it, waited 5 minutes, blew it out and put it back in the MES40. Voila! Smoking like a charm now...

Something to consider anyway...

Later,

Brian

It's OK Brian....

I don't read instructions either!!!

I'm not sure why Cherry is so tough to burn on it's own

Rather than not sell Cherry, I found a way to make it work

Try doing the same thing with Hickory

Todd

 

[teeznuts]

Will this elbow fit on the MES 40?  How is it attached? 

Thanks!

Brian

Hey Brian,

If the exhaust on the 40 is the same as the 30 it will fit snug. just wedge it in and your good to go. no tools or anything needed.

 

[glocksrock]

It's a pressure or friction fit, mine stays put when I leave the smoker alone, but sometimes when moving it around it falls off, but I'm not going to do any type of permanent install for it.

 

[sound1]

Like anything new, there's a learning curve

Once you get it figured out, you'll like the results

If you just can't get along with it, give me a call, and I'll buy it back!

Todd

Now that's service!!

I have talked to Todd about this pellet burning issue at higher altitude and the new  amnps. His concern about his products and customer service is second to none....

Baked, Nuked, oak, cherry, maple, brand name, in the MES or on the table...doesn't seem to matter, the pellets will burn with flame, once blown out...they only smolder for a bit then go out...

Learning Curve.....Pellets will continue to smolder if nuked and smoker temp is above about 180. Dust works and stays lit fine for cold smoking...coincidence that the usefulness of dust stops at about 180, tries to jump rows. 

Solution. Nuked pellets over 180...dust under 180.

Now, being the cheap a** that I am, I don't want to stock pellets and dust in several species.

Going through the Garage I found an old blender...Question, will the blender return the pellets to their native state?  Answer, a resounding yes. Nuked pellets + Blender = dust that smolders and makes the turns at 40 degrees, in the MES!

I have tried this with most of the major species and it seems consistent. 

Yup...been a learning curve, and like I need one, a good excuse to sit, watch and taste whilst enjoying an adult beverage. or two

 

[SmokinAl]

Now that's service!!

I have talked to Todd about this pellet burning issue at higher altitude and the new  amnps. His concern about his products and customer service is second to none....

Baked, Nuked, oak, cherry, maple, brand name, in the MES or on the table...doesn't seem to matter, the pellets will burn with flame, once blown out...they only smolder for a bit then go out...

Learning Curve.....Pellets will continue to smolder if nuked and smoker temp is above about 180. Dust works and stays lit fine for cold smoking...coincidence that the usefulness of dust stops at about 180, tries to jump rows. 

Solution. Nuked pellets over 180...dust under 180.

Now, being the cheap a** that I am, I don't want to stock pellets and dust in several species.

Going through the Garage I found an old blender...Question, will the blender return the pellets to their native state?  Answer, a resounding yes. Nuked pellets + Blender = dust that smolders and makes the turns at 40 degrees, in the MES!

I have tried this with most of the major species and it seems consistent. 

Yup...been a learning curve, and like I need one, a good excuse to sit, watch and taste whilst enjoying an adult beverage. or two

Awesome find! I wonder how a mixture of dust & pellets would work at low temps?

 

[sound1]

Al, I don't know down where your at.You have humidity, I have lack of oxygen. ..At 7000 feet and about 20% RH, the dust/pellet combo seems to stop any airflow and again, won't stay lit even on the table...   On the first try, I ground the pellets to about a 70/30 looking grind of dust/small pellets and another grind to fine sawdust/powder (looking about like the cherry dust I have from Todd).  Then I loaded the amnps half way each with the two blends.  The 70/30 burned about 2-3 inches and went out. The finer grind went around the turn and stopped where it met in the middle with the course blend...I really thought that it would continue a bit, but nooo...stopped dead in its tracks.

 

[SmokinAl]

You have a very interesting situation at 7000 ft. I'm at 151 ft above sea level & yes you are right about the humidity, it's usually above 70% here & many times in the 90's. I guess you have to experiment wherever your at & see what works for your area.

 

[sound1]

70-90%....out here, when its that humid,  we call it rain.   Altitude does cause strange things...coming up the hill and hearing the bags of snack chips  explode (sometimes with some real style), water boiling under 200 (try cooking beans),  changes the way you think about cooking....yes, experimenting with the smoking/cooking is a real pain, but someone has to do it

I hope my mishaps and experiments help others, I hate to see them give up on good products like the amnps without really giving them a chance. I'm lazy, so I'm determined to get a consistent 9+ hours unattended cold smoke out of this thing...