Continuing the discussion about the
AMNPS, this is my 10 cents (used to be 2 cents but with inflation...). There are guys who have trouble keeping it lit. I have the opposite "problem". When I finish smoking I have to separate the unlit pellets from the smoking ones or the tray will keep burning the rest of the pellets. This is especially true when I remove the Maze from my smoker and place it on the ground. The thing won't stop burning! I move the unburnt pellets away from the smoking ones and the tray goes out usually within 5 minutes. I always leave it out for a few hours or overnight before putting it back in the garage with my MES 30.
As for nuking wood pellets beforehand--never needed to do it. I've used leftover pellets that have been exposed to grease and steam inside my MES 30, to the night air, and also stored in my uninsulated garage. All the pellets I've bought from Todd are stored in their original plastic bags. I've got pellets over a year old. I
never have problems lighting any of them or keeping them lit. Never. I used to light the tray with a propane torch but this year I switched to using gelled alcohol. I'll never use a propane torch again.
I don't know why other guys have problems. Some of that can be attributed to the design of the MES Gen 2 smokers and their restricted airflow. I have a Gen 1 and the
AMNPS has been more than great, it's been essential to producing the great "Q" I put on the table.