Recent content by cekkk

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
  1. cekkk

    MES30 Thermostat Problem

    My unit has been off around 25 degrees from Day 1, but that's no problem.  This problem is more of a wag the dog problem.  If the unit thinks it's 275 degrees and the max setting is 275, it's not going to allow the element to come on.  
  2. cekkk

    MES30 Thermostat Problem

    I'm smoking some ribs today and have run into a problem keeping the temperature up.  Actually, the termostat seems to work properly but the temperature reading is showing temp in the 270s, although the Maverick shows 219 right now.  So I have to set the temp to 275 to get the element to go on...
  3. cekkk

    MES 30 Smoke Problem

    I forgot to follow up.  On that smoke I set the smoker temp to its max while preparing the ribs, and my maverick showed it well over 300.  In the past I've just used a few chips thinking I wouldn't smother them.  But for the first time I completely filled the wood chip cup with commercial chips...
  4. cekkk

    MES 30 Smoke Problem

    Will try it, Foamy.
  5. cekkk

    MES 30 Smoke Problem

    I really appreciate all the comments guys.  I just pulled the chip tray and took a picture of the remains.  If I can figure it out I'll post it.  Some was burned black, some was not completely burned.  But I didn't have any more than would cover the bottom of the tray.  I may not have used...
  6. cekkk

    MES 30 AMNPS

    Thanks, Foam.  So much to learn and not all that much time left!!! 
  7. cekkk

    MES 30 Smoke Problem

    So far I'm doing a lot of slow cooking and very little smoking!  I consistently have difficulty getting my chips to keep producing smoke and at the end of a smoke I never have just ash in the pan but mostly half charred chips.  It does not matter whether I'm using store bought or twigs.  I was...
  8. cekkk

    MES 30 AMNPS

    I'm still pretty new but I thought the draft was supposed to be fully opened all the time.  Elsewhere I read that holding the smoke back will cause an unfavorable flavor.  Comments please.
  9. cekkk

    Using "Real" Mesquite Question

    Thanks for the info.  This stuff was a booger to cut, even with a very sharp hand axe I carry.  Dead or dormant, it's dry now.  It will be used lightly on ribs.  I'm anxious to see how it works, so I'm going to smoke some brats today after all this thinking about it.  Yesterday I broke out the...
  10. cekkk

    Using "Real" Mesquite Question

    Not a leaf on it, so I'm assuming it was dead, possibly dormant.  I wouldn't know the difference.  It was not the shrub kind but an older tree, at leasst 15 feet tall as I recall.  The common kind in the Sonoran between Phoenix and Tucson.
  11. cekkk

    Using "Real" Mesquite Question

    I brought a few branches back from AZ and wonder if there's anything I should know before cutting off some chips to use tomorrow.  This is from the desert, nothing that's ever been subjected to city pollution or bug spray, etc.  Still pretty new at this.  Up to now I've just used apple, cherry...
  12. cekkk

    How Many Mes Owners Here?

    My MES 30 has been really good to me as a newbie.  My biggest problem with it has been temperature control and taking forever to recover after opening the door.  But yesterday I filled the water pan with granite rocks, covered it with foil and even at 50 windy degrees the recovery was real fast...
  13. IMG_0029.JPG

    IMG_0029.JPG

  14. IMG_0028.JPG

    IMG_0028.JPG

Clicky