New 40" MES

boiseque · Mar 23, 2010

Well I found a 40" MES on sale at Cabelas so I went ahead and ordered it. I figured it would be the 1200w one, but sadly when I unpacked and checked it last night it was not. Its the 800w model with a window. I am a bit bummed but it still seems like a very nice smoker so I will give it a go and if it doesnt perform like I thought then I will do the 1200w element upgrade that I have seen here on the forums. I do have some questions though.

Is this thing ok to keep outside? I plan on having it covered and taking the control panel in the house.

The manual says no chunks, but I have noticed that some of you do use them. Just run them or chop them up a little smaller with a hatchet?

Soak or no soak on the chips or chunks?

Do you have to program a time or can you just set the temp and no time?

I may have more questions as I use it but I think that covers them for now. Thanks in advance for the advice and help its much appreciated.

ronp · Mar 24, 2010

No problem. How much did you pay for it?

boiseque · Mar 24, 2010

I knew you would be the one to answer my MES questions Ron, thanks I really do appreciate it. It was on sale for 350 but like I said I thought it was the 1200w model, so I am still debating returning it and finding the 1200w model but I am on the fence. Thanks again!

ecto1 · Mar 24, 2010

Man if you have a Sams club near you you can get the 1200w at a better price than that.

boiseque · Mar 24, 2010

There are some here, maybe I will return it and go there and pick one up.

boiseque · Mar 24, 2010

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...421&pCatg=3997
I found this at Sams Club, but short of going a checking it to see if its the 1200w model how do I know it is? Looks just the same as what I have right now. Can you tell if it is the 1200w from the outside of the box? No where on the box on the one I bought does it say the wattage.

harleyguy · Mar 24, 2010

Look on the display model, it will say on the spec plate on the back of the smoker.Hope this helps as this is what I did when I bought mine @ Sams. Just remembered that I still had the box, the model # 20070810.

insight · Mar 24, 2010

Hey Boyzeeque!

Personally I would get the 1200 watt deal.....and the one shown at Sam's MUST be the new one.

I also keep my unit covered with Masterbuilt's own cover (fits fairly snug...snugglier than the aftermarket stuff I have seen out there).

I also take the controller inside because frankly there is no reason for it to be exposed to Florida moisture unless it is out there working for me.

Hope this helps and enjoy your new beast when you get it!

boiseque · Mar 24, 2010

Thanks harleyguy, I did a google search for Sams Clubs here earlier and found some, but my fiancee just told me they have closed them all here close to us and Sams Club website confirms that as well. So going and checking the display wont be an option for me, would hate to return this one just to have the same thing happen again.

boiseque · Mar 24, 2010

Good to know Insight thanks for the help.

mossymo · Mar 24, 2010

If you are a member, I believe you can order and have it shipped. But, I do not think you can purchase the extended warranty from SAM's Club unless you purchase at the store.

boiseque · Mar 24, 2010

Thanks MossyMo I will have to look into that if I go that route. I appreciate the help man!

ronp · Mar 24, 2010

Try ordering online. One caution is their website is being updated and you may want to call customer support for help.

Good luck, and I would return it also since there are other upgrades besides the 1200 watts. I have listed them on one of my threads.

Good luck.

boiseque · Mar 24, 2010

Thanks again Ron, I will deliberate with the fiancee and see what she thinks. I will look for that thread too to see the upgrades. Thanks again for your help!

beer-b-q · Mar 24, 2010

BoiseQue I talked to Sam's corporate today because yesterday I was trying to order one online and when I found it and tried to buy it the site kept telling me to login... Then I couldn't find it.

They are upgrading the site and not all products have been loaded yet. The rep sent a message to the People doing the work and requested that the MES 40 be place on the site so that I could order one. She said it may take 2 days to get it done but it should be on there soon.

I would definitely go with the 1200 watt unit.

I am getting one to replace the piece of S**t Bradley I bought last fall and putting the Bradley on Craig's list in Kansas City.

boiseque · Mar 24, 2010

Thanks for the heads up Beer-B-Q, so when you were on the phone with them did you confirm it was the 1200w unit they were selling online?

ronp · Mar 24, 2010

I can't answer for Paul, but I am sure it is. They don't keep old models, when they sell out for the year they are out.

tjohnson · Mar 24, 2010

I had $500 in Cabelas Gift Cards, and in December, I stopped by Cabelas to get an electric smoker. The guy pitched me on a Bradley, but I wanted the new 40" MES. I had them check inventory for the new model # 20070710, and he said "We have "Thousands of the Old Models in the Warehouse". The sales guy said they would have to burn up all the old ones before they would get any new ones in. I looked closely at the batch they just got in and put on the floor. They were the new 1200 watt models #20070710, so I grabbed one! It has a black case with Stainless Steel door, and an inspection plate on the back to get at the wiring for the replaceable 1200 watt element.....Model# 20070710!!!

The 40" MES units at SAMS are the new 1200 watt models. They don't keep "Old Stock" from last year. Not every SAMS carry the 40" MES, but It's worth the extra time to find a new model with a replaceable 1200 watt element. I would have purchased mine at SAMS, but my local SAMS did not get their stock until February.

Here's the model# off the back of my 40" MES - Model # 20070710

Todd

deltadude · Mar 24, 2010

Yo BoiseQue,

I completely understand and agree that if possible getting the newer 1200 watt MES 40" is the preferred way to go. However if you can not get a 1200 watt either due to price or geographics, don't feel you are a loser. A lot of us MES 40" owners have the 800 watt model and we are very happy owners. 800 watts is more than enough btus to easily cook a full load. However there will be issues with recovery to set cooking temp if you open the door when the outdoor ambient is low. You live in a cold climate state, so you may have even more issues with recovery than I do because I live in Sacramento Calif, and our climate is mild by comparison.

To combat recovery, preheat your MES before use. The manual says don't preheat, but I am almost a 2 year owner and believe me it improves the performance dramatically. Preheating allows all the metal to get completely heated through, thus when you initially load your meat, it will achieve set temp faster, and recover faster after a door opening (absolutely keep the door closed, NO PEEKING!). I used the MES last weekend for 3 racks of ribs, outdoor ambient was 57º, I preheated for 1 hour temp was 270º, loaded the boiling water and meat, temp dropped to 187º, in 15-20 minutes it was at 220º. I did several smokes with the outdoor ambient around 32º and one hit 27º, I preheated the MES for over 2 hours. Two smokes were pork butt, one with ribs, the average time from load to achieve set temp 225º was 20-30 minute. One of those smokes was two 9lb pork butts, load to set temp was 30-40 minutes, yet later when I opened the hatch it recovered in less than 10 minutes.

As for wet or dry wood chips, each has a different opinion. Ronp likes dry, I like wet. I have done it both ways, and I feel I get to TBS easier with wet than dry. Try it both ways....

Here are few more things learned about MES

boiseque · Mar 24, 2010

Thanks Ron thats good to know, I would really hate to return this one and just end up with the exact same one again. LoL!
Thanks Todd i really aprreciate the info!
Thanks very much for all the info deltadude, lots of good info in that post! I appreciate it!

New 40" MES

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