Old girl finally died! MES 40

bamafan · Jul 4, 2015

My old MES 40 finally gave up the ghost (while cooking 4 butts by the way)! She has worked well for the last 6 years and I have drug it all over the country for work. Broke down and bought the new 40" from Sam's today with the blue tooth. Hope it works as good. I've read some people has had a hard time keeping the amazing smoker burning in the new one.

The raised lags and wheels are really a nice idea.

Good bye old girl.

FullSizeRender.jpg

bamafan
Jul 4, 2015

Welcome to the family. Just couldn't go with out one. The 250 Bubba is just not practical for small family cooks.

FullSizeRender_1.jpg

bamafan
Jul 4, 2015

FullSizeRender_2.jpg

bamafan
Jul 4, 2015

IMG_1938_3.PNG

bamafan
Jul 4, 2015

brickguy221 · Jul 4, 2015

I've never seen the inside of the Generation 1, but was under the impression that the Gen 1 and the new BT are the same inside other than some rods running across just off the bottom. If that would be true, then the AMPS should burn the same in both the old one and the new one. I didn't do well the first time I used my AMPS MAZE, but from I have read since, I may not have had it lit well enough to start plus I should have pulled the chip loader out 1-2 inches with the dump side down to let air into the smoker. I think that is all I will need is a better fire (cherry) in the MAZE or Tube and air at the chip dumper as I had some chips that weren't working right the other day, and I did the chip dumper trick and within a few seconds the chips began smoking like crazy.

Will find out next week when I do pellets again.

bamafan · Jul 5, 2015

Well the Amazing smoker seems to work fine in the new model. Been doing a test run for 4 hours and it's burning fine. Just have the smoke tray about half way out. Was concerned about that. Several of my friends with the lowes model have had trouble keeping it lit. The bluetooth is ok but it seems to drop the connection if I get on the far end the house with it

dr k · Jul 5, 2015

Brickguy221 said:
I've never seen the inside of the Generation 1, but was under the impression that the Gen 1 and the new BT are the same inside other than some rods running across just off the bottom. If that would be true, then the AMPS should burn the same in both the old one and the new one. I didn't do well the first time I used my AMPS MAZE, but from I have read since, I may not have had it lit well enough to start plus I should have pulled the chip loader out 1-2 inches with the dump side down to let air into the smoker. I think that is all I will need is a better fire (cherry) in the MAZE or Tube and air at the chip dumper as I had some chips that weren't working right the other day, and I did the chip dumper trick and within a few seconds the chips began smoking like crazy.

Will find out next week when I do pellets again.

The Gen 1 has the grease drain opening in the middle back of the drip pan vs. the middle of the drip pan in Gen 2.5 BT. The Gen 1 heating element is surrounded by a chip tray housing and has three holes on the left side for the smoke to exit, directing the smoke/air to the center of the smoker. That's probably why the AMNPS on the rails works so well with air blowing on it with the Gen 1. The Gen 2.5 BT has an open element that is visible, allowing smoke/air to disperse anywhere after the chip tray.

-Kurt

brickguy221 · Jul 5, 2015

Brickguy221 said:
I've never seen the inside of the Generation 1, but was under the impression that the Gen 1 and the new BT are the same inside other than some rods running across just off the bottom. If that would be true, then the AMPS should burn the same in both the old one and the new one. I didn't do well the first time I used my AMPS MAZE, but from I have read since, I may not have had it lit well enough to start plus I should have pulled the chip loader out 1-2 inches with the dump side down to let air into the smoker. I think that is all I will need is a better fire (cherry) in the MAZE or Tube and air at the chip dumper as I had some chips that weren't working right the other day, and I did the chip dumper trick and within a few seconds the chips began smoking like crazy.

Will find out next week when I do pellets again.

I am smoking some Brats rolled in mustard and then rolled in a rub and wrapped with bacon right now. I will apply a sauce 30 minutes before they are done. I am using the 5 x 8 MAZE with Hickory pellets. Not knowing if it will put out enough smoke when lit from one end, I lit both ends this time and have chip loader pulled out 2" with dump side down. At the moment, it appears all is good with the amount of smoke. When done in approx 2 hrs, I will find out if it was enough smoke or too much smoke or etc etc. and go from there next time.

dr k · Jul 5, 2015

Brickguy221 said:
I am smoking some Brats rolled in mustard and then rolled in a rub and wrapped with bacon right now. I will apply a sauce 30 minutes before they are done. I am using the 5 x 8 MAZE with Hickory pellets. Not knowing if it will put out enough smoke when lit from one end, I lit both ends this time and have chip loader pulled out 2" with dump side down. At the moment, it appears all is good with the amount of smoke. When done in approx 2 hrs, I will find out if it was enough smoke or too much smoke or etc etc. and go from there next time.

I like the spiral cut hot dogs using a chop stick through the middle like Jeff Phillips method. It holds the toppings well and tastes close to bacon since there is more surface area to caramelize.

-Kurt

brickguy221 · Jul 5, 2015

Dr K said:
I like the spiral cut hot dogs using a chop stick through the middle like Jeff Phillips method. It holds the toppings well and tastes close to bacon since there is more surface area to caramelize.

-Kurt

I am doing the Jeff Phillips method right now for the first time. It is not the sprial cut one, it is a later one that came out in May of this year.

I am doing Johnsonville Brats, so don't know how they will taste. Five more minutes and I have to go put Jeff's sauce on, that is Jeff's sauce with my changes I made to improve the taste of his sauce ... for my famiily's taste anyhow.

daveomak · Jul 5, 2015

I noticed the aluminum pan in the bottom of the old smoker.... You probably burned out the electronics that are located below the floor, by overheating them.....

May I suggest you do not do that to the new smoker...

bamafan · Jul 6, 2015

Dave didn't think about the heat build up there. You may be right but I've ran it that way for 6 years using a foil pan as a grease trap. Will have to rethink that one. At least the new one has the drain in the middle instead of the back. And with the legs I can put an extra pan under it.

cmayna · Jul 6, 2015

Wish I lived close to you for I would come over and haul that nasty old Gen 1 away for free.

Search

Search

Old girl finally died! MES 40

bamafan

Smoking Fanatic

FullSizeRender.jpg

FullSizeRender_1.jpg

FullSizeRender_2.jpg

IMG_1938_3.PNG

brickguy221

Smoking Fanatic

bamafan

Smoking Fanatic

dr k

Master of the Pit

brickguy221

Smoking Fanatic

dr k

Master of the Pit

brickguy221

Smoking Fanatic

daveomak

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

bamafan

Smoking Fanatic

cmayna

Master of the Pit

Similar threads

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Our Second piece of Heaven, Little piece on the Atlantic Ocean

How Do I Get Rid of These Armadillos?!!

Non fat dried milk

Featured A couple thick strips please!

Getting to the bottom of what happens to cure in smoked sausage