Did some sausage over the last couple weeks , and noticed my old MES 30 was lookin' pretty rough . Then seeing all the talk about electric smokers , and guys getting new ones , I was thinking about getting something myself . Before I put the controller on mine I was looking at the Snoopy smoker from TSM , and the Smokin Tex type . I really liked both , but at that time they were not PID controlled . So I decided to buy the Auber and add it to the MES , knowing I could use it on a newer / different smoker if needed .
Bought this thing in 2013 for $149.00 on a black Friday sale . Been sitting outside since . Under a roof , but never covered . Added a mailbox , and replaced the element . Other than that and the Auber , I've done nothing but use it . Has a lot of hours on it too .
I started thinking I would just retire it . In a conversation with another member he said " You could make that last forever " .
Been sitting in this spot since I bought it .
So I decided to just see if it would clean up some .
The door was the only part that was getting rusty . The rest was just dirty / neglected . Cleaned the sides and top , then hit those with some Mothers car wax .
Knocked down the surface of the door with a sanding sponge and hit it with some Rust-oleum .
Didn't want to paint anything that didn't need it . No sense in creating a problem that didn't exist ,
but it made the sides and trim look dingy . That's OK .
Did some scraping and brushing on the inside . I burn actual wood chunks
at higher temps . All gutted , and angles added at the top .
I can hang 20" from the angle .
All back together and ready for the ham I have in the fridge .
Day 13 of the injection cure . Gonna pull it out and rinse , then back in the fridge uncovered until tomorrow .
She almost looks proud . Now I need to sand down the table and reseal it .
That base is re-purposed from my old Char Griller Pro . The stack on the exhaust is from the Char griller
also . Gives it great draft .
The dog sniffed me out a snack . Frog jerky .
So guess I'm not getting a new smoker . Outside of the opinions of these ,
they really work good with just a few upgrades .
Bought this thing in 2013 for $149.00 on a black Friday sale . Been sitting outside since . Under a roof , but never covered . Added a mailbox , and replaced the element . Other than that and the Auber , I've done nothing but use it . Has a lot of hours on it too .
I started thinking I would just retire it . In a conversation with another member he said " You could make that last forever " .
Been sitting in this spot since I bought it .
So I decided to just see if it would clean up some .
The door was the only part that was getting rusty . The rest was just dirty / neglected . Cleaned the sides and top , then hit those with some Mothers car wax .
Knocked down the surface of the door with a sanding sponge and hit it with some Rust-oleum .
Didn't want to paint anything that didn't need it . No sense in creating a problem that didn't exist ,
but it made the sides and trim look dingy . That's OK .
Did some scraping and brushing on the inside . I burn actual wood chunks
at higher temps . All gutted , and angles added at the top .
I can hang 20" from the angle .
All back together and ready for the ham I have in the fridge .
Day 13 of the injection cure . Gonna pull it out and rinse , then back in the fridge uncovered until tomorrow .
She almost looks proud . Now I need to sand down the table and reseal it .
That base is re-purposed from my old Char Griller Pro . The stack on the exhaust is from the Char griller
also . Gives it great draft .
The dog sniffed me out a snack . Frog jerky .
So guess I'm not getting a new smoker . Outside of the opinions of these ,
they really work good with just a few upgrades .
