Maybe I'm dumb. - MES. 40

dtcjem said:

Hi All -

I will admit I am not the sharpest tool in the box...... i have searched and haven't found my answer...so here is my question.

I purchased a MES 40 from SAMS club as well as an Amazin Smoke tray. i want to do a mailbox mod without ripping out the guts of the MES40. I want to keep the chip loader for short cooks. I am looking for help on what to buy. I get the fact I need a mailbox of some sort but what are the sides to fit into the smoker......without modification?

I love this MES40, but need more smoke and the ability to coldsmoke. I looked at the CS attachment, but still struggling after reading a million posts with the size of ducting to connect the two.

Thanks
Dave

Click to expand...

33fbwvn.jpg

• tallbm
• Jan 8, 2017

2j17cdd.jpg

• tallbm
• Jan 8, 2017

2zflemo.jpg

• tallbm
• Jan 8, 2017

• Basically you need a mailbox of some sort that is big enough, which most are unless you are getting some odd one.
   
• You need a 3-inch 90 degree adjustable elbow joint or some 3-inch diameter equivalent for your design.  They very very very likely have them on the shelf at home depot, it's where I got mine.
   
• You need the ability to cut the opening into the mailbox.  I have a dremel rotary tool with metal cutting wheels.  I didn't cut a whole I cut along the internal lines of this design below and then flipped one triangle up and the other down and repeated.  Then I made sure the upward and downward triangles would open wide enough for me to fit my elbow joint INSIDE the upwards triangles so that the upward facing triangles of metal were on the outside of my elbow joint.:

pie_01-08a_40582_sm.gif

• tallbm
• Jul 22, 2017

• Many use a dryer hose from the elbow joint to the mailbox or something equivalent
  
  

  u7aqunur.jpg

  • tallbm
  • Jul 30, 2017
  

  IMG_20151008_205352215_HDR[1].jpg

  • tallbm
  • Jul 30, 2017
  

  20130917_181734.jpg

  • tallbm
  • Jul 30, 2017
  I personally like the 3rd image above for the option of using a traditional mailbox.  It is one whole piece, as compact as can be with that style of mailbox, and has legs added on to be the perfect the height
• You will probably need some mechanism to fasten your joint/hose to the mailbox and make a seal between your mailbox and the joint/hose.  This could be high temp foil ducting tape, high temp RTV silicon seal/caulk, etc. etc.  Just use something strong enough to keep it all together and sealed.
  
   

TallBM said:

Hi there and welcome!

My mailbox mod is quite different from others because I wanted to go with a one piece removable design that was minimal and sleek while still doing the job 100% effectively.  I used a wall hanging mailbox mod to be as compact as possible and it is a fit with the AMPNS with just enough spare space in the box and no extra wasted space with the overall foot print.  I don't have a lot of space to work with in my smoking area.   After some tweaking, it turned out perfect!

I originally used magnets to hold it up and against the smoker but the magnets got too hot at some point and demagnetized so later I just took some bolts and used them as legs.  Easy fix.

33fbwvn.jpg

• tallbm
• Jan 8, 2017

2j17cdd.jpg

• tallbm
• Jan 8, 2017

2zflemo.jpg

• tallbm
• Jan 8, 2017

• Basically you need a mailbox of some sort that is big enough, which most are unless you are getting some odd one.
  
   
• You need a 3-inch 90 degree adjustable elbow joint or some 3-inch diameter equivalent for your design.  They very very very likely have them on the shelf at home depot, it's where I got mine.
  
   
• You need the ability to cut the opening into the mailbox.  I have a dremel rotary tool with metal cutting wheels.  I didn't cut a whole I cut along the internal lines of this design below and then flipped one triangle up and the other down and repeated.  Then I made sure the upward and downward triangles would open wide enough for me to fit my elbow joint INSIDE the upwards triangles so that the upward facing triangles of metal were on the outside of my elbow joint.:

pie_01-08a_40582_sm.gif

• tallbm
• Jul 22, 2017

• Many use a dryer hose from the elbow joint to the mailbox or something equivalent
  
  

  u7aqunur.jpg

  • tallbm
  • Jul 30, 2017
  

  IMG_20151008_205352215_HDR[1].jpg

  • tallbm
  • Jul 30, 2017
  

  20130917_181734.jpg

  • tallbm
  • Jul 30, 2017
  
  
  I personally like the 3rd image above for the option of using a traditional mailbox.  It is one whole piece, as compact as can be with that style of mailbox, and has legs added on to be the perfect the height
  
• You will probably need some mechanism to fasten your joint/hose to the mailbox and make a seal between your mailbox and the joint/hose.  This could be high temp foil ducting tape, high temp RTV silicon seal/caulk, etc. etc.  Just use something strong enough to keep it all together and sealed.
  
  
   

That's basically it.  If you have a few tools and a few inexpensive supplies you can make a mailbox mod in about 30-45min.

Best of luck to you :)

Click to expand...

CAM00734.jpg

• dr k
• Apr 27, 2016

Dr K said:

I like the bottom pic best. In the pic below I used a tomato cage and bolt cutters to make a stand since ithe Mes is on legs. There's a black strap holding it together.

CAM00734.jpg

• dr k
• Apr 27, 2016

-Kurt

Click to expand...

daRicksta said:

Your MM is really cool.

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Dr K said:

Something simple <$20. Mailbox for $14 and $2 for aluminum coil for 3"coupling. I had everything else. 2'x3" extensions are $3 for cold smoking or the alum. flex hose for $4.50. I hot smoke with the straight pipes (self supporting) to the Mes and cold smoke in my non insulated heavy steel charcoal grill with the flex hose. I run it up my deck stairs to the grill. It's a great heat sink when smoking cheeses.

CAM00880.jpg

• dr k
• Aug 28, 2016

20170301_104104.jpg

• dr k
• Mar 20, 2017

20170422_114437.jpg

• dr k
• Aug 4, 2017

-Kurt

Click to expand...