Problem with AMAZEN SMOKER MAZE

journeyman

Newbie

Original poster

Dec 12, 2015

14

11

minnesota

• May 7, 2016

• #1

Did my first bacon today on MES 30 2nd gen. Had problem keeping amazen burning. Dried pellets in microwave first, ground them slightly in spice mill,placed amazen on bottom next to chip tray, then tried to move it to bottom rack with chip tray loader out in hopes to create a draft all to no avail. Am I missing something. First time I used aamzen, it worked perfectly with same bag of pellets, & placed next to chip tray. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

smokerjim

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Jan 14, 2014

7,457

4,112

Northeast pa

• May 7, 2016

• #2

is vent wide open, did you try pulling your chip loader out some,is there a reason you grind your pellets,you might really want to look into a mailbox mod,i have a mes 30 and had some trouble keeping pellets burning for duration,went to mailbox mod now there is no problems,if your cold smoking you can try and crack your door alittle that may help.

 

journeyman

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Dec 12, 2015

14

11

minnesota

• May 7, 2016

• #3

Yes, I tried removing the chip loader. Forgot to mention that. I believe you are right about the mailbox mod. Great suggestion. Also thought about putting a small computer cooling fan outside smoker where chip loader goes for some additional draft. Thoughts? Thanks so much for the suggestion & reply. Appreciated.

 

GaryHibbert

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Jun 20, 2013

10,099

3,751

Drayton Valley, AB, Canada (Heavy Duty Oilpatch co

• May 7, 2016

• #4

I have a real problem keeping my AMNPS burning in my MES too. I've finally given up and am doing the mailbox mod.

Gary

 

journeyman

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Dec 12, 2015

14

11

minnesota

• May 7, 2016

• #5

sounds like mailbox mod is what I'll be trying next. Thanks for the reply. Bacon turned out ok but had to keep on relighting amazen 3 row. 

 

canuck38

Smoke Blower

Feb 21, 2016

98

21

Peterborough, Ontario

• May 7, 2016

• #6

Hey, Gary....think'in about those poor souls north of you...can't imagine what they're goin through 

 

bauchjw

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Aug 3, 2015

4,793

4,235

Alexandria, VA

• May 7, 2016

• #7

I highly recommend the mailbox mod, but there is more to it than the AMNPS burn. If you are planning on the mailbox mod I recommend reading through this thread.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/139474/understanding-smoke-management-updated-12-08-14

Good luck!

 

Last edited: May 7, 2016

wade

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Apr 12, 2013

3,863

279

Kent, UK

• May 8, 2016

• #8

You may find this post helpful when it comes to keeping your AMNPS burning reliably.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/245709/cold-smoking-bacon-with-a-mailbox/20#post_1559944

 

GaryHibbert

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Jun 20, 2013

10,099

3,751

Drayton Valley, AB, Canada (Heavy Duty Oilpatch co

• May 8, 2016

• #9

bauchjw said:

I highly recommend the mailbox mod, but there is more to it than the AMNPS burn. If you are planning on the mailbox mod I recommend reading through this thread.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/139474/understanding-smoke-management-updated-12-08-14

Good luck!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. Some amazingly good info there, both from MrT and the links he provides. I found it all a great read.

Gary

 

Last edited: May 8, 2016

tbrtt1

Smoking Fanatic

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Mar 16, 2014

694

417

The Woodlands, TX via South Louisiana

• May 8, 2016

• #10

I had problems in m SmokinIt#2. I started using dust and it worked much better.

FWIW- I think these sealed electric boxes trap so much moisture that it becomes nearly impossible to keep pellets lit. I tried a jerky fan on my exhaust hole to pull a draft, drilled extra holes in the bottom, blew the fan below through the extra holes; nadda. Wouldn't work. Dust does fine. Lite both ends for heartier smoke as it does put out quite as much smoke as he pellets.

One other thought is using the tube. I have the new expandable tube to use in my pellet smoker to enhance the smoke. I have not tried it in the electric but she smokes like a champ in the pellet smoker.

 

Last edited: May 8, 2016

cmayna

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Jun 23, 2012

3,971

1,697

SF Bay Area, CA

• May 8, 2016

• #11

I use a AMNTS in my mailbox mod when using the MES40.   Works like a champ.

 

daveomak

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Nov 12, 2010

27,123

4,979

Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• May 8, 2016

• #12

Did  you have water in the smoker ??   Did you have the exhaust wide open ??  What were the temps...   Cold meat inside a smoker will create a cold air dam and stop the air flow....  turn the heater on to get the meat temp above ambient and the smoker temp up there also, then turn the heater off.... 

The heat inside the smoker will start the air flow through convection.....

I have had moist cold meat stop air flow...   I have had brined meat start to create steam which stops air flow and chokes out the pellets....

If the pellets worked the first time, they could have absorbed moisture...   Mine do... I dry them at 275 for 2  hours and then they work perfect....

EDIT>>>>>   

See post 36...

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/...t-dry-brined-bacon-aug-2015-8-23-money-update

 

Last edited: May 8, 2016

desertsubi

Fire Starter

Mar 12, 2016

61

54

Tennessee

• May 8, 2016

• #13

Yup mailbox mod and a exhaust vent and I can't stop the smoke...

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

smokerjim

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Jan 14, 2014

7,457

4,112

Northeast pa

• May 8, 2016

• #14

glad you got it working, happy smoking