To crumble or not to crumble?

[papa g]

I searched around the forum a bit trying to find some previous posts on this subject, but came up with nothing--but here is what I was wondering:

I got a MES 40 almost a week ago Christmas and since, I've spent hours on this site and scouring the Internet looking for tips and just background info on it. One I found suggested adding a crumbled charcoal briquette to the smoke tray with your hardwood chips.

Is there an advantage or reason why. This might have been suggested by someone having a problem burning all of the wood chips thoroughly.

Thoughts?

g

 

[fpnmf]

As many MES smokers as we have here.. I have not seen anybody doing this.

Craig

 

[SmokinAl]

I have put a few small pieces of lump in the chip drawer & it helps keep the chips smoking when the element is cycling off. You can add a small piece every hour or so when you add chips.

 

[steve nellett]

I don't know about the MES, but I could see this being helpful with an electric smoker.  I have been having some degree of trouble getting decent smoke out of mine, wood chips don't seem to work, the pellets are somewhat better, but adding some charcoal is an interesting idea that I might have to try.

 

[mdboatbum]

I read somewhere (maybe on here?) that not only does it keep the chips going during the off cycle of the element, but it also can aid in forming a smoke ring. I think I remember the gist being that the ring comes from the CO released during the process of burning carbon, and the smoldering wood alone isn't enough. Does this sound familiar to anybody or did I dream it?

 

[eman]

I read somewhere (maybe on here?) that not only does it keep the chips going during the off cycle of the element, but it also can aid in forming a smoke ring. I think I remember the gist being that the ring comes from the CO released during the process of burning carbon, and the smoldering wood alone isn't enough. Does this sound familiar to anybody or did I dream it?

no you didn't dream it. i tried it and it didn't really make any difference.

BTW. i was on the masterbuilt site and someone asked this same question. MES said that they do not reccomend adding charcoal to the chip loader or pan.

 

[steve nellett]

Until I get around to getting myself one of these Amazen jobs, I'm making due with using a can with wood pellets and/or chips in it.  I might try adding a few pinches of crumbled charcoal to the mix to get a little better burn going on the wood...

 

[grampyskids]

Obviosly you bout the MES because you want good Q and want set and forget like all of us. I got tired of feeding the chip tray. I never had a problem with my tray not consuming all pf my chips, but I got tired of filling it every 30 minutes. So I biught the AMZN from Todd. Solved all my problems.