Need some help... MES 30

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Thanks all for the help. This is such a great place to go for info and help. I ended up ordering a AMNPS which should be here soon. I'm not totally convinced that I was putting too many chips in the loader.  I uploaded the pic above but I didn't get too many comments on it. Was that too many chips? Also, I did notice that there is quite a bit of bark mixed in with my chips.  Could this be the source of the burnt flavor? I was so used to using the Chunks before which never had bark. Just wondering if I need to try and pick the bark out. Again, thanks for all the help and comments. 
Just for kicks go fire up your MES to 225 but only dump about 1/4 of what you have in the chip loader pictured. Watch what comes out the vent. It will be much less visible which is TBS. Sometimes less is more with the wood chips. Also try a 3 " elbow from the hardware store. It will fit snug over the vent. This will help when you get the AMNPS in place. Todd from A-Maze-N Products actually gave me the idea. Some guys stack a few soup cans as well but a smoke stack seems to help.

f87c347b_640x480px-LL-b625d1b1_elbow.jpg
 
Just for kicks go fire up your MES to 225 but only dump about 1/4 of what you have in the chip loader pictured. Watch what comes out the vent. It will be much less visible which is TBS. Sometimes less is more with the wood chips. Also try a 3 " elbow from the hardware store. It will fit snug over the vent. This will help when you get the AMNPS in place. Todd from A-Maze-N Products actually gave me the idea. Some guys stack a few soup cans as well but a smoke stack seems to help.

f87c347b_640x480px-LL-b625d1b1_elbow.jpg
So I fired up the MES today, and I put about 1/4 the chips I was putting in.  At first I got TBS, but then about 15 minutes in, came the white smoke...  It finally calmed down after about another 15 minutes.  I started getting TBS again, but maybe I am being picky... I can smell this almost burnt smell; not the scent I usually get when I am burning the hickory chunks in my charcoal smoker.  IMO hickory has a very noticeable scent... Maybe I got some bad chips or something. Got them from Lowes, I think the frontier wood brand I believe.  Oh well, my AMNPS should be here next week.
 
 
have you tried saw dust? I actually think it works best in the MES but that is just my opinion


Haven't tried sawdust before. I'll have to give it a try. I smoked a Fatty 2 nights ago and used hardly any chips. Also made sure there was no bark in the chips and left the loader slightly open. I had better results this time. I didn't seem to have to creosote flavor which is a huge improvement. 
 
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