how safe is the MB30??

susieqz · Jan 23, 2015

i just got this thing to smoke hams at lower temps than my horrid traeger can reach. that means i'll be smoking overnight.

the most convenient place for me to put it is on a covered wood deck.

so, it would be sitting on wood n there's an arbor covered with plywood 4-5 feet over it.

can i do this without dieing in a fire while sleeping?

if this is risky i'll put this on the ground. i would be comfy putting the traeger on the deck but i've never used this smoker.

i'll get some idea when i season it but i need to know if bad things sometimes happen.

i'll be using todd's maze for the smoke source. no wood chunks, if that matters.

chef willie · Jan 23, 2015

ya know....I still have qualms about leaving my Smokin' It electric going all night BUT i still do it....just seem to wake up every 2 hours and go look at it. I'm not sure I would be comfy doing that with a MES.....perhaps put a smoke alarm very close to it, but not near the exhaust, just in case. I did find this as I remembered this happening http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/158197/mes30-starts-on-fire-completely-ruined

susieqz · Jan 23, 2015

thanks, will. i'll put it on the dirt away from the house. even a 1 in a thousand chance is too big when i'm sleeping.

old sarge · Jan 23, 2015

'Evening Willie,

After my first couple of smokes with electric, I ceased to be concerned about overnight smokes and adopted the sentiment found at the link.

How's the char griller and the SI doing for you? It's been a while since I've seen your posts. By the way, SI now has handles on their 2 and 3 models.

Dave

http://wp.production.patheos.com/blogs/soulandcity/files/2014/12/alfred_e_neuman.jpg

timberjet · Jan 23, 2015

Suze you could get a small sheet of Dura rock from home depot or Lowes. They sell it in pieces now days. put that down on the wood and put the smoker on top. That stuff is fireproof. I know you don't get much rain there but it is nice to be out of the weather when tending the smokers.

susieqz · Jan 23, 2015

thanks for the tip, timber. i'll look for dura rock. it really would be nicer to have the smoker on the deck, if i can make it safe.

thesmoker would probably like being out of the wind n rain, too.

timberjet · Jan 23, 2015

Glad to help you out. I am pretty sure I saw 4 foot sheets the last time I was at HD. Might keep your deck grease free too.

susieqz · Jan 23, 2015

timber, mostly, i don't wanna die screaming in pain, but catching grease is a nice plus. i won't put the smoker on the deck till i get some.

i may miss my regular saturday smoke due to snow. both snow n cold are breaking records in new mexico.

sarge, where do you park your smoker so you are so carefree?

timberjet · Jan 23, 2015

susieqz said:
timber, mostly, i don't wanna die screaming in pain, but catching grease is a nice plus. i won't put the smoker on the deck till i get some.

i may miss my regular saturday smoke due to snow. both snow n cold are breaking records in new mexico.

sarge, where do you park your smoker so you are so carefree?

Oh come on suze. You can do it.

susieqz · Jan 23, 2015

timber, with that vote of confidence, i will. i haven't gone a week without smoking since july 1.

i have a steak for the treager, to see if it actually grills. the recipe provided by traeger calls for 350 for 20 minutes. i never heard of steak at 350, have you?

i can get 400 on this machine.

i have a little butt for the MB to smoke overnight. gonna try dave omak's method of super low temps.

timberjet · Jan 23, 2015

I cook all my steaks hot and fast. I never really look at the temp on the grill when I do hot and fast. I like mine med rare. You could cold smoke your steak for a while with your new toy before grilling it. Just a thought. I hear you about smoking at least weekly. I do twice a week most of the time.

susieqz · Jan 23, 2015

ooh, cold smoking to get some taste! great idea ! you can bet i'll do that.

old sarge · Jan 23, 2015

Patio, under a roof.

inkjunkie · Jan 24, 2015

Our MES40 is sitting on a wood table. Prior to putting it up there I ran it at 275* for 6 hours just to see if it got hot under it. No noticeable heat to the touch of a hand. The table has a roof on it, about 30" over the top of the smoker. No issues there neither. We had some snow on it when I used it once, the heat from the smoker did melt the snow off of it...

themule69 · Jan 24, 2015

It is just fine on a wooden deck It is cool to the touch.

Happy smoken.

David

jted · Jan 24, 2015

Back in the early 90's a friend in eastern Tenn. had a vertical charcoal smoker. You know the Brinkm amm type. He burnt up a spot on his deck, Not at night but during a football game. After that he put a aluminum stove pan (like you use in the oven under the burner) That would eliminate any fears of grease on the deck. I had fears of a element going wild and over heating during a overnight cook. Those fears went away when I understood that there is a thermal overloads switch wired into the smoker. Every one should know the control temp probe is the toggle switch looking thing in the center of the box, several inches over to the left is the temp overload switch. It simply breaks the hot circuit if it gets too hot. Night cooks should be no problem if reasonable care is taken. But that is only my opinion. Jted

susieqz · Jan 24, 2015

thanks guys. i'd feel better if i understood what happened in that old post willie gave me.

thatwas a total melt down that would have ignited a house.

i guess the poster never found out why it burned. if i knew that, i could avoid it.

timberjet · Jan 24, 2015

I think better safe than sorry. If there is one in a million chance, my luck I would be the 1. 12 bucks worth of durarock and your all set. piece of mind and a good nights sleep are worth a fortune.

susieqz · Jan 24, 2015

timber, no question i'm getting the durarock. i'd never be able to sleep without it.

gonna try an overnight smoke today, but the machine will be 12' from the house.

putting it on speaker cabinits that were going to be trashed to keep it out of the snow n wet.

for today, i'll cold smoke the steak for 1/2 hour before sauteing in the house, just to see what happens.

hoping for at least a campfire taste.

timberjet · Jan 24, 2015

Go for it lady. Have fun and eat well.

how safe is the MB30??

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