Masterbuilt 30 inch digital smoker

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 I would think if you bought a Gen #1 Water Pan, if it didn't fit in the wire holders of the Gen #2, you could just set it on the bottom rack, and pull the slanted drip plate out completely. That was one of the suggestions I gave them. I said to lose the goofy slanted plate & put the same guts in as is in the Gen #1. And move the top vent from the side wall to the back left corner of the top (which they did).

Yes!  This is what I just posted a few minutes ago before I got your notification above.  I'm confident the oval water pan of the Gen 1 or 2.5 will hang at any level in the Gen 2.  I guess a call to MB would solve this.  Voila!  A Gen 2.5 with RF remote.

-Kurt
Sounds good to me. When I gave them my list of suggestions, I fully thought they would make a new Generation #3, and quit the production of the Gen #2 entirely. That's why I didn't give much thought to how to improve the Gen #2 itself.

Bear
 
Thanks Bearcarver and daRicksta! Probably going to get one as I also think the price is pretty damn good. I think I paid 170 something for my propane one a few years ago. Not going to get rid of the old one, so if the electric one doesn't work, I can always go back to propane.
Tex--you gotta check out that Ace Hardware deal. I saw the ad in the weekly circular. If you have an Ace Rewards card the price is $129--including smoker cover, sausage rack AND rib rack! Man, if I didn't already own one...

No idea what the sausage and rib racks cost. I know I had to buy my MB cover separately on Amazon when I bought my smoker.
 
 
I no longer put my oval water pan on the bent wires it was designed to hang from (right on top of the heating element.)  I bring it up and hang it from the second from the bottom level and still use all top three racks.   The rack holders on the side wall aren't centered so the oval pan is much closer to the door when hanging in it's intended location off the bottom bent wires, allowing more heat to go up the back wall.  I can center the oval water pan on any straight wire holders for the racks.  Just another level so the heat has to work it's way around more evenly.  I think sensor locations are different  from generation to generation.  My buddy has an unseasoned  two year old 30 inch Mes Gen 2.   I helped him set it up.  I'm thinking if the slant tray and small water pan assembly came out and putting MB's 30 inch Gen 1 flat bottom oval pan on the second from the bottom rack (not even hanging, if it couldn't, would be better for those that don't like the gen 2.0 heat distribution issue.)  I think it would then be a preferred or acceptable model compared to the Gen 2.5 with the top left vent.  It's got to be pretty close to the Gen 2.5.  I guess a call to MB would solve the oval pan fitting in all generation models.

-Kurt
I keep the water pan a-hangin' from the 4th rack the way the supreme being and Masterbuilt intended. That bottom rack is just too close to the heating element and the AMNPS which means any meat placed there would be easily subject to overcooking or at least be done on the outside but undercooked on the inside.
 
 
So it is indeed a Gen 1 even though the part number is not 20070910? Ace also has 20070910 with the square control panel, but that is priced at $229 and I'm not going to pay that much for a 30-incher. http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3931663

This is pretty much the only thing I've found about the 20071814 other than Ace's website. http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/159828/hello-im-steve-and-i-know-nothing-about-smoking
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I've been eyeing also 40-inchers, but even though bigger is always better 
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I really don't need bigger. I've had the 30" propane for a few years and it's always been enough.

I'm sure either one will be fine, as long as it is Masterbuilt, and can't go too wrong with 130 buck, but still wanted to know what that particular one is about. Maybe I'll go in and take a look at it already today... Could even buy it already for $149 with $20 mail-in-rebate. On BF it is straight $129 without any rebate hassle.
But to get that $129 price you need to have an Ace Rewards card, which just takes a few seconds to sign up for at the cash register.
 
 
I keep the water pan a-hangin' from the 4th rack the way the supreme being and Masterbuilt intended. That bottom rack is just too close to the heating element and the AMNPS which means any meat placed there would be easily subject to overcooking or at least be done on the outside but undercooked on the inside.
Hanging the water pan on the second from the bottom rack keeps grease from vaporizing as much, being a little farther from the heating element.  I can see the entire AMNPS through the window on the rails with the pan up one level.  Going one rack higher and hanging the water pan from the second from the top rack and also cooking on the second from the top rack may be synonymous with those that cook in a foiled pan.  As long as the water pan is under the food your cooking everything should be acceptable.  The only reason I can imagine cooking on the bottom rack is to finish poultry for crispy skin.

-Kurt
 
 
But to get that $129 price you need to have an Ace Rewards card, which just takes a few seconds to sign up for at the cash register.
I'm already Ace Rewards member, so problems there. Actually, you can also get the price even without being a member. You just need to go through the old-fashioned mail-in-rebate hassle to get your 20 bucks back.

Hopefully they will still have them on Friday. A couple of days ago I had several stores close by that showed it in stock, but now supposedly none of them have it. Pretty sure they just cleaned the availability in anticipation of Friday. We'll see...
 
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just picked up one of the ace hardware deals today, took the only one from my store, seasoned it already and now looking up recipes for smoking a turkey tomorrow!
 
 
Hanging the water pan on the second from the bottom rack keeps grease from vaporizing as much, being a little farther from the heating element.  I can see the entire AMNPS through the window on the rails with the pan up one level.  Going one rack higher and hanging the water pan from the second from the top rack and also cooking on the second from the top rack may be synonymous with those that cook in a foiled pan.  As long as the water pan is under the food your cooking everything should be acceptable.  The only reason I can imagine cooking on the bottom rack is to finish poultry for crispy skin.

-Kurt
This might predate you but the Firesign Theater once released an album titled "Everything You Know Is Wrong" and that applies to the cold smoking of cheese I'm doing today. I've got 3 racks of cheeses in my MES 30. Since the heating element is off I removed the water pan from the smoker. I removed the top rack because I'm using the 2nd-4th racks to get everything down closer to the AMNPS.

As for hot smoking, I leave the water pan under the empty 4th rack because it's easier that way and it's worked fine for over 3 years.
 
 
I'm already Ace Rewards member, so problems there. Actually, you can also get the price even without being a member. You just need to go through the old-fashioned mail-in-rebate hassle to get your 20 bucks back.

Hopefully they will still have them on Friday. A couple of days ago I had several stores close by that showed it in stock, but now supposedly none of them have it. Pretty sure they just cleaned the availability in anticipation of Friday. We'll see...
I didn't read the small print. I imagine that with as small as ACE Hardware stores are they'll only stock a few of these smokers. They limit 2 per person. Someone would have to call their area stores to find out if the smokers are in stock.

If you look at the store flyers the smokers went on sale two days ago and the sale ends on 12/24--if they last that long.
 
 
This might predate you but the Firesign Theater once released an album titled "Everything You Know Is Wrong" and that applies to the cold smoking of cheese I'm doing today. I've got 3 racks of cheeses in my MES 30. Since the heating element is off I removed the water pan from the smoker. I removed the top rack because I'm using the 2nd-4th racks to get everything down closer to the AMNPS.

As for hot smoking, I leave the water pan under the empty 4th rack because it's easier that way and it's worked fine for over 3 years.
You don't have the Gen 1 Mes 40 heat distribution problem with your Gen 1 Mes 30.  If you did have the 40 you'd probably be more apt to consider heat deflection or water pan relocation or both.  I am completely satisfied with the heat distribution set up after trial and error. 

I used to cold smoke cheese in my insulated Kamado but not the insulated Mes since I've only had it since May.  I've been cold smoking in my grill that's not insulated, keeping temps cooler longer.  I have cold smoked when it's been 55*F outside and the insulated smokers would be getting close to 90*F in under four hours with the AMNPS.  Usually when I break 80*F I'm shutting down the cheese cold smoking till the next morning/evening.

-Kurt
 
 
This might predate you but the Firesign Theater once released an album titled "Everything You Know Is Wrong" and that applies to the cold smoking of cheese I'm doing today. I've got 3 racks of cheeses in my MES 30. Since the heating element is off I removed the water pan from the smoker. I removed the top rack because I'm using the 2nd-4th racks to get everything down closer to the AMNPS.

As for hot smoking, I leave the water pan under the empty 4th rack because it's easier that way and it's worked fine for over 3 years.
I'm wondering why you want the cheese close to the AMNPS.

The closer the Cheese gets to the AMNPS, the more heat the cheese will get.

But the Cheese will get the smoke no matter where it is.

Bear
 
I didn't read the small print. I imagine that with as small as ACE Hardware stores are they'll only stock a few of these smokers. They limit 2 per person. Someone would have to call their area stores to find out if the smokers are in stock.

If you look at the store flyers the smokers went on sale two days ago and the sale ends on 12/24--if they last that long.

Yeah. It might be a bit crapshoot w/Ace, but I guess I could always order online and do the mail-in rebate thing.
 
 
You don't have the Gen 1 Mes 40 heat distribution problem with your Gen 1 Mes 30.  If you did have the 40 you'd probably be more apt to consider heat deflection or water pan relocation or both.  I am completely satisfied with the heat distribution set up after trial and error. 

I used to cold smoke cheese in my insulated Kamado but not the insulated Mes since I've only had it since May.  I've been cold smoking in my grill that's not insulated, keeping temps cooler longer.  I have cold smoked when it's been 55*F outside and the insulated smokers would be getting close to 90*F in under four hours with the AMNPS.  Usually when I break 80*F I'm shutting down the cheese cold smoking till the next morning/evening.

-Kurt
Yeah, Bear's explained the differences with heat distribution between the MES 30 and MES 40. Someday I might buy a 40 to experience it first hand.

The cold smoking started off great for the first 1-2 hours but then the wood pellets started going out like they usually do with me. It never got about the 50s inside the smoker which I think is too cold. I began turning on the heating element to goose the interior temp up to around 100° (frequently shooting past it) and then turning it off when it hits around 130°. Of course now that it's dark and I'm at the 6.5 hour mark the pellets are again going full bore while I let the smoker cool down again.

This will be my last cold smoke of the year. Next year I'll be trying it with dust.
 
 
I'm wondering why you want the cheese close to the AMNPS.

The closer the Cheese gets to the AMNPS, the more heat the cheese will get.

But the Cheese will get the smoke no matter where it is.

Bear
You're bloody right. But on a really cold day like this there was minimal heat output from the AMNPS. The cheese remained fairly hard so I'm not sure how much smoke it absorbed over the first 3 hours, hence my decision to occasionally turn the heating element on for short periods of time and extend the total smoke to 6 hours. For most of the day the interior temp of the MES with the heating element turned off was around 57°. That's too cold.
 
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Yeah. It might be a bit crapshoot w/Ace, but I guess I could always order online and do the mail-in rebate thing.
The store ad says this: the it's in-store only: "This item can be purchased on-line, however, due to shipping restrictions, ITEM PICKUP IS ONLY AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL ACE STORE." 
"Save on this item through November 29th, plus additional mail-in savings. Above price includes savings before mail-in."

Here's the fine print: "Save on this item for a limited time only! Sale prices are valid November 25th through November 29th on acehardware.com and may vary in-store. Limited quantities are available. While supplies last. See Additional Mail-in Savings. Free pickup available at your local Ace. Find my Ace."

"Limited quantities available and while supplies last" tells you up front that there will be no rain checks. But what's confusing me is that the ad says sale price is good through Dec. 24 but the fine part says the sale price is vaild from Nov.25-29 and may vary in-store. This is most likely a generic disclaimer but still which is it?
 
^^^ Yup, also realized that. Kind of confusing. Oh well... I'm gonna get one. One way or another. At least Cabela's has the same thing for $139, so I'm sure I'll find one somewhere. Not gonna worry about 10 bucks, that's for sure.
 
^^^ Yup, also realized that. Kind of confusing. Oh well... I'm gonna get one. One way or another. At least Cabela's has the same thing for $139, so I'm sure I'll find one somewhere. Not gonna worry about 10 bucks, that's for sure.
I just got that Cabelas flier.

$139 for the Gen #1 with the cover.  (Nov 27 until Dec 2)

But mine is only for Hamburg, PA, and Christiana, DE.

Bear
 
^^^ Yup, also realized that. Kind of confusing. Oh well... I'm gonna get one. One way or another. At least Cabela's has the same thing for $139, so I'm sure I'll find one somewhere. Not gonna worry about 10 bucks, that's for sure.
If I was buying my first smoker this is what I would've bought especially since there are at least two Ace Hardware stores in my area. But I've already got an MES 30 and I'm thinking my next one (someday) will be a MES 40 since that will still be within my budget.
 
Since it looked like getting the one from Ace was going to be a crapshoot due to availability, I picked up one from Cabela's.

The only difference seemed to be the rib/sausage racks. Model # on the one I got is 20071914. Haven't opened it yet. That'll have to wait till later.

Had almost $7 in Cabela's bucks, so there wasn't much of a difference left in price after all
 
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