MES 30 Sportsman Elite Non Window Chip Question

heymirth

Fire Starter

Original poster

Jul 3, 2015

33

14

Detroit MI

• Jan 17, 2016

• #1

So I got this MES 30 Black insulated electric smoker. I have seasoned it and used it yesterday with a digital 733 thermometer.
One thing that I can't understand is my little bit of wood chips do not burn. They turn black like coal, maybe 1 or 2 burn up, but that's it. The smoker smokes for over 2 hrs on just a 1/2cup chips. Also my smoke is white, not blue like my old LANDMANN.
Why won't these chips burn and give me blue smoke. I just opened it and dumped the black chips yesterday and added new ones when the smoke quit.
Also. I know about AMPS. This is not the discussion
Pics for ref.

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• heymirth
• Jan 17, 2016

 

L

lamar

Smoking Fanatic

Sep 17, 2013

486

95

Bridgton Me

• Jan 19, 2016

• #2

bump

 

gotarace

Limited Mod

Jan 27, 2011

1,081

25

northern wisconsin

• Jan 19, 2016

• #3

I have seen people who can't get their chips to smoke well having to bend the tabs holding their smoking tray down to get the tray closer to the heating element. As far as white smoke i believe that comes from using too many wood chips and lack of airflow. A few chips goes a long way and I'm a firm believer in the top vent wide open while smoking. Some have increased the hole size on the end of the chip loader while others pull the chip loader out a bit to increase airflow. A good steady airflow is the key to thin blue smoke. 

 

heymirth

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 3, 2015

33

14

Detroit MI

• Jan 19, 2016

• #4

Thanks for the reply. I will try less wood chips. I used 1/2 cup like the book says
On my old LANDMANN with only a 700 watt element I could use 2 cups of chips that ended like dust.

 

lowandjoe

Newbie

Dec 31, 2015

17

12

Baltimore MD

• Jan 19, 2016

• #5

Whenever I use my chip tray, I only put enough chips in to cover the bottom of the tray.  Also, I've been adding this other kind of wood chip. It's very uniform in size, not quite as big as traditional wood chips, more like the size of your pinky fingernail.  They have been like little bangers and really put out some good smoke and help light the larger wood chips.

 

daveomak

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Nov 12, 2010

27,123

4,979

Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Jan 19, 2016

• #6

If you can get the chip tray ON the element and maybe more air flow somehow, you should be golden...

I have heard some folks have been able to remove the exhaust air flow adjuster and increased the air flow....   It seems to be pretty restrictive...