Charcoal powered MES40 ? What do you think ?

mike johnson

Master of the Pit

Original poster

OTBS Member

Mar 9, 2012

1,051

59

Lacey, WA.

• Apr 24, 2016

• #1

I was thinking about buying an offset charcoal smoker but for way less I think it might be possible to build a fire box to heat my old and broken MES40. Do you think that this might be possible? Or should I just fork out the bucks and buy one?

 

jasper7

Smoking Fanatic

Mar 14, 2013

385

32

just a little bit south of cape caution

• Apr 25, 2016

• #2

I've been thinking of doing the same thing with my grill pro gas smoker, that I'm not really using any more.  So you could say I think its a good idea, I was wondering what were you thinking for a fire box?  Mine had a stainless steel box for chips/chunks, that I could drill holes in, but its kind of thin.  Just curios if you had a better solution.

 

mike johnson

Master of the Pit

Original poster

OTBS Member

Thread starter

Mar 9, 2012

1,051

59

Lacey, WA.

• Apr 28, 2016

• #3

I am thinking about using a 15 x 15 x 24" long firebox that will hold a 12 x 12 x 20 charcoal basket using a fan to monitor the heat inside the MES 40. They run about 160$

 

jasper7

Smoking Fanatic

Mar 14, 2013

385

32

just a little bit south of cape caution

• Apr 29, 2016

• #4

Yeah I like that, if you get a chance post a pic when your done. 

 

chef jimmyj

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

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★ Lifetime Premier ★

May 12, 2011

22,172

7,150

• Apr 29, 2016

• #5

Mike, Watch your Temps. The Foam insulation in the MES does not handle high heat. About 5 years ago, a Ceramic Tile over the Coil Box was all the rage to distribute even heat. Guys soon found the concentrated heat on the right wall, at the tile, was melting the insulation and warping the wall inside and out. I don't know if Fumes will be an issue or not. Think of a way to do it where no part of the MES will see more than 350°F...JJ