laszlo
Fire Starter
Greetings from Australia - I have one of 6x8 AMNS's purchased from Todd's australian dealer (Andrea at Misty Gully). I've contacted Todd personally first, not knowing that he had a dealer in this remote part of the world.
Anyway, he pointed me to Andrea, got AMNS and couple of bags of dust suitable for AMNS and I was set. In the process I've become friend with Andrea, getting some very valuable tips and tricks regarding meat processing, smoking etc. Later on I bought new remote Maverick thermometer and some other bits and pieces of gear from MG.
AMNS had burned thru almost 50 full loads, so far no problems, it works like a charm. I mentioned in one of my posts that I considered my purchase of AMNS as my purchase of the year - performance/buck ratio is colossal.
After each smoking session I clean it with wire brush, soak it overnight in bleach solution bath and overnight bath in clean water. This thing looks like new, apart from light blue-ish discoloration around torch holes. I believe that with proper care AMNS could last for decades.
One more observation (and this thread may not be the right place, but while I'm on the rant...). I believe that 6x8 design could be made even better!
I’ve proven it to myself that it is quite important to have AMNS positioned that there is sufficient bottom draft. In one experiment (rainy, crappy day, nothing else to do, so lets play with the fire, right?) I've placed strips of AL foil on the bottom of the maze channels. After burn there was a layer of unburned dust all over the bottom. I noticed that unburned layer on the edge channels after every smoke, whereas the middle channel leaves only burned ash. See photo evidence (the middle is still unburned, but believe me, the middle channel leaves only black dust):
I think that this is caused by bottom feet obstructing perforated holes over the length of the channel. If the feet were welded parallel with short side, the fire will "jump" over the feet across, rather than traveling along the whole length of each foot. That extra metal also dissipates cherry heat plus obstructs the bottom holes. Second benefit is that (according to my friend, mechanical engineer), it will help to "stiffen the assembly" as 6x8 is prone to warp on long diagonal axis. Thirdly, there is possible cost saving on material.
Also, (I'm probably nitpicking here) if it would be possible to line up holes on bottom flange of maze partitions with bottom plate and then spot weld it, it would ensure better airflow thru the bottom plate. On my AMNS one channel has only one row of visible holes, the other channel has the flange aligned; has four or five rows of unobstructed holes.
I know, it sounds complicated, but look thru AMNS against light and you'd know what I mean.
All this to save a pinch of dust. Just kiddin'. It is about making already great product even better.
Cheers and happy smoking...
AMNS had burned thru almost 50 full loads, so far no problems, it works like a charm. I mentioned in one of my posts that I considered my purchase of AMNS as my purchase of the year - performance/buck ratio is colossal.
After each smoking session I clean it with wire brush, soak it overnight in bleach solution bath and overnight bath in clean water. This thing looks like new, apart from light blue-ish discoloration around torch holes. I believe that with proper care AMNS could last for decades.
One more observation (and this thread may not be the right place, but while I'm on the rant...). I believe that 6x8 design could be made even better!
I’ve proven it to myself that it is quite important to have AMNS positioned that there is sufficient bottom draft. In one experiment (rainy, crappy day, nothing else to do, so lets play with the fire, right?) I've placed strips of AL foil on the bottom of the maze channels. After burn there was a layer of unburned dust all over the bottom. I noticed that unburned layer on the edge channels after every smoke, whereas the middle channel leaves only burned ash. See photo evidence (the middle is still unburned, but believe me, the middle channel leaves only black dust):
I think that this is caused by bottom feet obstructing perforated holes over the length of the channel. If the feet were welded parallel with short side, the fire will "jump" over the feet across, rather than traveling along the whole length of each foot. That extra metal also dissipates cherry heat plus obstructs the bottom holes. Second benefit is that (according to my friend, mechanical engineer), it will help to "stiffen the assembly" as 6x8 is prone to warp on long diagonal axis. Thirdly, there is possible cost saving on material.
Also, (I'm probably nitpicking here) if it would be possible to line up holes on bottom flange of maze partitions with bottom plate and then spot weld it, it would ensure better airflow thru the bottom plate. On my AMNS one channel has only one row of visible holes, the other channel has the flange aligned; has four or five rows of unobstructed holes.
I know, it sounds complicated, but look thru AMNS against light and you'd know what I mean.
All this to save a pinch of dust. Just kiddin'. It is about making already great product even better.
Cheers and happy smoking...