travisb
Smoke Blower
Sorry, where exactly do you put the can? Don't think I'm following exactly.
Help With A-MAZE-N Pellet Smoker
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Put the can "over" the exhaust hole.... that, in effect, adds draft, stops back flow of air etc... Remember to have both ends of the can cut out.... cutting out "one end only" doesn't work so good....
travisb
Smoke Blower
I think I was confused because with the old generation, the vent was on the top. With the new generation (which I have), it's on the side
With the side vent get a 3 inch adjustable elbow from lowes or depot. Get a 3 inch butterfly damper and install in the elbow. Remove the existing vent assembly and the new elbow fits exactly into the mes hole. I have a picture on my homepage and don't know how to get the pic on the thread.
I wouldn't "86" the "Water Pan". I would dump the water out, and cover the empty water pan with foil, and put it back in place.
Or you can put sand in it to hold heat.
If you put a tin can on your exhaust vent, and you live in the North, be prepared to cover the meat under the vent, so when the condensation forms on the inside of the can & runs down & drips, it won't land on the meat.
Bear
travisb
Smoke Blower
Dave, I am not pleased. With our economy still struggling to stand on its feet due to all the lost jobs, you've even outsourced the can of fruit to use with my Made In China MES 30. Ettu, Dave? Ettu?
But no wonder the can extended chimney thing didn't work for me yesterday. Silly me, I was using a Del Monte fruit can. I first thought it was because I didn't cut off either end of the can but now I know it was because I used a domestic can and not a foreign one. You ask why I didn't cut off either end of the can? Because I'm part Polish. Remember that my people invented the submarine with a screen door, and we launched the first night time space mission to the sun. We handle things our own way...
But no wonder the can extended chimney thing didn't work for me yesterday. Silly me, I was using a Del Monte fruit can. I first thought it was because I didn't cut off either end of the can but now I know it was because I used a domestic can and not a foreign one. You ask why I didn't cut off either end of the can? Because I'm part Polish. Remember that my people invented the submarine with a screen door, and we launched the first night time space mission to the sun. We handle things our own way...
Bear, you're giving me more and more work to do here. First I put the can opened at both ends on top of the top vent and THEN I gotta cover the meat underneath it with foil? I thought the MES was invented by Ron Popeil to just "set it and forget it". You mean there's extra work involved?
I'm going to cover the water pan with foil instead of filling it with sand. First, I'd have to buy the sand but I already have tons of heavy duty aluminum foil. Second, Todd didn't much like the sand in the water pan idea because I think he said it was an inefficient heat sink, or something like that.
Told the wife we have to go out and buy more air tight containers. Costco sells a pack of OXO plastic ones in assorted sizes that is really great. They would be perfect for the wood pellets. We also have an abundance of cans I can use since my wife runs her daycare in our home and there are TONS of empty fruit and vegie cans every week in regular and large sizes. I think a regular size can oughta do it.
I'm going to cover the water pan with foil instead of filling it with sand. First, I'd have to buy the sand but I already have tons of heavy duty aluminum foil. Second, Todd didn't much like the sand in the water pan idea because I think he said it was an inefficient heat sink, or something like that.
Told the wife we have to go out and buy more air tight containers. Costco sells a pack of OXO plastic ones in assorted sizes that is really great. They would be perfect for the wood pellets. We also have an abundance of cans I can use since my wife runs her daycare in our home and there are TONS of empty fruit and vegie cans every week in regular and large sizes. I think a regular size can oughta do it.
Hey, I love a mod where I don't have to hardly to anything.
I can handle this except for, what kind of soup or fruit?
And yes, I greatly enjoy being a member of these forums.
I thought finding "this particular can" would be a challenge for your fix....This is the only can that will work..............
....................
The airflow on the gen 2 is highly restrictive. It doesnt allow moisture, smoke, or air to flow freely enough. The elbow / damper install, and pulling out the chip loader solved all problems.
I gotta remember that, if my Gen #1 ever takes a crap, and I have to get a #2.
But then again hopefully they'll make improvements to the #2, like going back to the #1 design.
Bear
My take on the gen2 is well known. Its gonna take more than the elbow to fix these things. I have the auber pid to solve the controller problems. Removal of the slanted drip tray and ceramic tile install to even out side to side heat variance. Basically the box and the racks are the useable pieces. They had to send me four, that's 4, since early december because of fire and controller issues. I gave up and just decided to fix it with my own mods. Masterbuilt found out I was not happy and telling my negative experience on the forums so what do they do? They send me another one. Its been sitting unopened in the box in the garage for 2 months. Take good care of the one you have, bear, because the new gen 2 doesn't cut it IMHO.
Wow, what a choice with the MES--do I go number one or number 2? Is the gen 2 a piece of number 2? I read some reviews in this forum and I'm very happy to stick with gen 1. It's just like I have a 4th generation iPod Nano because I didn't like generations 5, 6 and 7.
travisb
Smoke Blower
I would definitely stick with the older generation if possible. I've had a lot of problems with my new one. I'm getting my third replacement this weekend. Plus the air flow issues. I'm sure not everyone has had these issues though.
I'm not sure how to do the quote attribution thing but the above is from geerock and my reply is directed to you as well. Why don't you just sell the unopened MES on ebay or some other marketplace or put an ad in the classified ads?
coffaqcof
Newbie
Newb here, and I'm a bit confused and looking for some clarification on the Gen 1 vs Gen 2 issue. I just purchased an MES 30 from Amazon, and when I was looking through the smokers they had available, I noticed that both the 30 and 40 come in 2 types, listed as "Old generation" and "New generation". Based on some posts I had read here and on some other, less informative forums, I purchased the old generation. It arrived yesterday and was assembled and seasoned in preparation to use in anger today. The model number is 20070411 and the vent is on the top. Is this a gen 1 or a gen 2 (indicating there is a gen 3 now out there)?
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coff, morning...... Vent on top....... #..0411 is made in 2011 I think.... old generation..... good smoker.... Dave
If the control is in a box that mounts on the top/back, it's Gen #1. ---Great smoker!
If the control is built in on the front/top edge, it's Gen #2.
Bear
The 0411 is a nice gen 1 model with 800 watt element with an access door so you can change it out easily if it fails.
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