AMNPS will not stay lit in my MES 30

[deerman13-2]

Chef Jimmy J I am in Alabama and I have microwaved the chips and tried only hickory. Im gonna give it another go this weekend and see what I can do.

 

[chef jimmyj]

It was not my intention to insult you for it sounds like you are doing everything right but there has to be something simple we are missing. I have used the Hickory and it burns easily so we move on. Try lighting the pellets through the hole and from underneath. Let it get really going then sprinkle a small amount of pellets on top of the burning pellets. Blow on it a bit to get a good Cherry but no flame. Stick it in the MES with the drawer an inch or so out, top vent wide open and the loader out. Close the door and see what happens. Give it 10 minutes, there should be a noticeable amount of smoke coming out the top vent. If the flow gets weak, open the door and hit the pellets with the low setting of a Blow Dryer. This will give a fast burst of Oxygen and there should be visible smoke, blow out any flame. Close the door and watch again for 10 minutes. Repeat with the Blow Dryer if needed. If the AMNPS still dies then I am clueless as to what could be the problem. Just to double check, you are using one of the first Gen or older MES 30? How about posting a picture of what your set up looks like. We can figure this out just got to check every possible issue there may be...JJ

 

[kryinggame]

Gang, I don't really have a dog in this fight but may I suggest that someone puts together a detailed video on how to start and use the AMNPS. Something simple without any technical terms that experienced folks will grasp.

I've had my AMNPS for a few years and I'll admit, at times, I still struggle with it. Now, that's not a shot against my friend Todd or any of his product but some of us grasp better at visual over reading.

I've had some smokes where the AMNPS worked well and others where it would not stay lit. Therefore, the obvious problem is user error.

I think if we can visualize how to start the process of setting up the AMNPS, there will not be so many emails asking how to use it or how to keep it lit.

So, will someone put together and post a video for this product?

 

[smoking b]

Gang, I don't really have a dog in this fight but may I suggest that someone puts together a detailed video on how to start and use the AMNPS. Something simple without any technical terms that experienced folks will grasp.

I've had my AMNPS for a few years and I'll admit, at times, I still struggle with it. Now, that's not a shot against my friend Todd or any of his product but some of us grasp better at visual over reading.

I've had some smokes where the AMNPS worked well and others where it would not stay lit. Therefore, the obvious problem is user error.

I think if we can visualize how to start the process of setting up the AMNPS, there will not be so many emails asking how to use it or how to keep it lit.

So, will someone put together and post a video for this product?

Hey Ted - there's already a thread with a video on it  http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/140859/how-i-light-my-amnps-w-video-link  

   

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Hey Ted - there's already a thread with a video on it  http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/140859/how-i-light-my-amnps-w-video-link  

   

Yup---That's the one I've been recommending since Scooter made it & posted it.

I don't use a heat gun, but I'm sure it's easier than my method, even though I never have a problem keeping mine going.

Bear

 

[kryinggame]

Heck, I've never seen that link before. I hope more folks with questions on how to use the AMNPS will find that link.

 

[tjohnson]

 
Chef Jimmy J I am in Alabama and I have microwaved the chips and tried only hickory. Im gonna give it another go this weekend and see what I can do.

Are you really trying to use chips?

Chips DO NOT work, in the AMNPS, neither does coarse sawdust. 

I've had guys ticked off cuz chainsaw chips won't work

Sorry, but I don't write the rules of physics, I just have to follow them!

Any luck this weekend??

TJ

 

[chef jimmyj]

Wow TJ, I didn't catch that the guy was using CHIPS! I just thought it was a mistake and he said Chips meaning Pellets. As I said, it's not the AMNPS...JJ

 

[Bearcarver]

I figured he meant Pellets too, but typed Chips. I've done things like that in the past----And even more often lately.


However just a warning to anyone who uses chainsaw chips in any kind of smoking mechanism-----DON'T DO IT !!!!

Unless you drain the Bar Oil from your chainsaw, and replace it with Cooking Oil.


Bear

 

[tjohnson]

In my instructions. I used to state that the flame needs to burn for 5-10 minutes, before you blow it out.  After I changed the instructions to read, "Allow the flame to burn for 10 minutes, before you blow it out", the starting issues greatly reduced.  This step is very important, and in most cases of a failure is the direct cause.  Altitude, humidity and draft can also be an issue, but more often than not, the pellets have not been started properly.

Think of starting the AMNPS just like starting charcoal........

You make a pile of charcoal, and use something to light it like starter fluid, a torch or maybe an electric starter.

You can't cook on the charcoal right away, so you allow the coals to burn for a while...Right?

If you spread the coals around before they began to burn, the coals would go out....Correct?

Starting the AMNPS is very similar to starting charcoal

You need a good bed of coals to keep the AMNPS burning

Without a good bed of coals, the fire will cease to burn

Another trick to starting the pellets is to pour about 2 Tablespoons of Rubbing Alcohol on the 1st 1 1/2" of pellets

Light with a match or lighter

Works well, but be careful!!!

Alcohol produces a Clear/Blue Flame

How can you tell if the pellets are started properly?

If you blow lightly on the pellets, a flame will reappear on the pellets

If the pellets do not reignite, there is not enough coals burning

TJ

 

[tjohnson]

Some guys will interchange the word "Chips" for "Sawdust"

If you're using your own sawdust, that's cool, but make sure it's the size of what comes from a miter saw or table saw.

Planer or shaper chips don't work well either.  They just don't pack down well enough

Commercial sawdust is more of a "Chip" than sawdust, and does not burn well in the AMNPS or AMNS

In this case "Size Matters!"

TJ

 

[baba bones]

I've been using a small fan out of a computer to keep a good flow of smoke in my mes mailbox set up . works great . especially when I do my cheez no hot air to draw the smoke out of the box ...