MES "built in" project

I am also in the process of planning a shelter .. I live in a snow belt and want to smoke in low temps and rain.. Do not forget access to the grease pan on the back of the unit. Maybe a clean out port on the other side .. Or extend the spout to a level below.

Being 6'4" I do not intend on having my Mes at deck level .. So if you are the same .. Some plastic tubing could drop the grease overflow down a level .. Then again it depends on what you smoke and how you clean the unit as whether you have any overruns or not ..

Posters on this site talk of leaks , flair ups, fires and all sorts of things to be aware of .. So plan well ..

My shelter will be a bit below waste high .. With storage below . Be mainly a roof with walls made from treated privacy screen and lined with window screen .. I will have stored sheets of wool blanket or welding blanket I can hang inside for cold winter days or days the wind is driving the rain sideways. Want it simple and for most months/days airy, but as dry as reasonably possible.
I know I need a cover .. The masterbuilt ones seem poorly rated so I bought a Varanda one .

I presume you have a canopy of some type to work with , I do not , my front deck has all those trimmings.and the MES is going on the back one. :-)

Ross

I am looking at building mine into a "box" to keep it out of the snow and up 22" so I didn't have to get on my knees to clean it.  I was thinking storage and a grease catcher below.  I also am considering a light bulb in the storage area to warm the bottom area when I am cooking and will allow any grease to flow.  Otherwise any grease could freeze up in the tube and back up. Also a side access opening to allow me to get to the wood filler.  No drawn plans yet.  Mine is on an open back porch so I don't need to make the top very water tight. 

I have been blessed with a nice winter so I am putting it off until warmer weather.

I am anxious to see what you guys come up with. 

Ron

BG RTR I'm looking forward to see how you incorporate the MES inside your outdoor kitchen. 

Putting it on the end of the counter makes sense due to the height of the MES 40, I have mine on a 12 inch stand so it does stick up pretty high.  You could go lower than 12" maybe 6" but it will still be very high profile.  Due to the chip load tray it will have to be on the right side of the counter unless you provide an access door.  You could put it on a roll out shelf, but the guides will have to be very heavy duty in case you load your MES with 10 - 8 lb butts.  I have mine in a mini cooking Gazebo type setup, and have to cover the Gazebo with a tarp during the winter.  However I leave about 4-6" open at waist high and the gazebo entrance is about 5' wide, so there is plenty of air circulation.  So far I haven't had to vent the MES. 

If the shelf idea isn't feasible then consider a stand on wheels for servicing, and a door on the counter to all you to push the MES back into it's slot or pull it out of it's slot.

As promiced pic's of the shelter



Air blows through it to remove smoke ( doors can close to cover the screen ) this will allow me to smoke in the snow and wind driven rain.. a bit elaborate there are three doors .. One on the side not shown in the pic to allow the draft to exit .. It opens opposite to the one shown .. I will be able to control air volume with internal relefective materal during the winter and adjust door openings .. we will see how it heats up in cold temps.


MES 30 is on it's burn in as I type ..



WATCH OUT FOR GREASE FIRES .. DO NOT BUILD A UNIT LIKE THIS UNLESS YOU KNOW HOW TO AVOID THEM .........