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  1. Does MES mailbox mod work OK without removing the inside chip assembly?

    Does MES mailbox mod work OK without removing the inside chip assembly?

    • hkeiner
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  2. hkeiner

    Does MES mailbox mod work OK without removing the inside chip assembly?

    Has anyone used the mailbox mod successfully on a MES40 without removing the wood chip assembly completely?  I ask because I am considering doing this project but I want to leave the assembly installed because I sometimes like to use the wood chip drawer instead of my AMNPS for short smokes or...
  3. Mailbox mod - Chip Tray.jpg

    Mailbox mod - Chip Tray.jpg

    • hkeiner
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    • Album: Does MES mailbox mod work OK without removing the inside chip assembly?
  4. Mailbox mod - Inside smoker.jpg

    Mailbox mod - Inside smoker.jpg

    • hkeiner
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    • Album: Does MES mailbox mod work OK without removing the inside chip assembly?
  5. hkeiner

    Bradley Smoker

    I support your decision to get an electric smoker as your first smoker over a propane, charcoal, or stick burner. I have had propane and charcoal smokers before and found that electric is much easier to use (for many reasons) and the results can arguably be just as good. Notwithstanding...
  6. hkeiner

    MES 40 Old Gen Vent Tube/Modification ?

    Rather than using an elbow, I use just a straight piece of vent pipe about 5" in diameter and about 1 foot long.  It sits on top of the smoker vent without any need to attach it with screws or similar. I  believe that a 1 foot length pipe is sufficient to get a 'chimney effect' to improve the...
  7. hkeiner

    Smoke issues with MES40

    I put the AMNPS filled with pellets and unlit on top of the chip tray assembly while the the MES is heating up to temp. This seems to dry out the pellets so that they burn quite well  when lit a little later just before I put the meat in the MES. I place the lit MES on the lower left rails...
  8. hkeiner

    Masterbuilt smoker vent position?

    Likely a Masterbuilt but not a MES model. The MES term typically refers only to certain models.
  9. hkeiner

    Bradley, to be or not to be

    Many object to the Bradlely because of the puck feeder situation for making smoke (reliability and high cost for the pucks) while others think it is great. For me, I got a MES to avoid the puck situation, but I understand you do not have the MES option. I say get the Bradley if that the the best...
  10. hkeiner

    Is it possible to do the MES mailbox mod without removing chip tray assembly?

    I was wondering if anyone has done the MES mailbox mod without removing the chip tray assembly (e.g., removing only the chip loader) and if so, how well it works this way. I would guess that connecting the vent pipe to the MES would be a problem and also that the chip tray assembly would...
  11. hkeiner

    A-MAZE-N Smoker -Is a single, double, or quad burn most recommended for hot smoking in MES 40?

    You do not indicate what  type of smoker you are using but the most common cause of not keeping the AMNS lit is lack of sufficent air flow. If you have an MES, there are several things you can do to  improve air flow. These include pulling out the chip tray and chip loader a few inches and...
  12. hkeiner

    MES 30 Analog Questions

    If I don't find enough info searching this forum (which is rare) I just google using various search terms for what I am looking for and see where it takes me. (e.g. smoked salmon, smoked whole turkey, buckboard bacon, pulled pork, smoked tri-tip, memphis dry rub, turkey brine, etc.). I haven't...
  13. hkeiner

    First smoke in my MES 30 with Q-View

    The mailbox mod would do the trick. Another choice is to put the chip tray assembly back and remove the flashing you placed inside the MES. The chip tray acts as a pretty good heat shield, minimizing the need for that big piece of flashing. A small tile or a much smaller piece of flashing placed...
  14. hkeiner

    MES 30 Analog Questions

    You should probably just ignore what the temp gauge on the door says. They are usually not calibrated well and their location on the door is not best for getting a good temp reading. A Maverick ET732 (or similar) is a better way to monitor temps if you place the probe near (but not too near) the...
  15. hkeiner

    MES30 and AMNPS Technique question

    The chip tray and the chip loader are both pulled out a few inches from their absolute closed positions. I was not quite sure what you meant by the "tray tube". The chip tray is the thingy (tray) that is pulled out from inside the smoker. The chip loader is the thingy (tube) that is pulled out...
  16. hkeiner

    Gas or Electric for my smoking needs

    I had a cheap inefficent bullet style gas smoker before and it was a pain to keep the temps correct and it used a heck of a lot of propane. I didn't smoke as often because of this. I switched to the MES40 a few years back and it has made smoking so much easier that I do it more often now...
  17. hkeiner

    Why oil ?

    It has always been my understanding that the reason for 'seasoning' something (whether it is a smoker, a cast iron frying pay, waffle iron, or similar) is to seal the surface of the metal so that moisture does not cause oxidation (rust) on the surface and to create a bit of a non-stick surface...
  18. hkeiner

    New Smoker from Santa

    I think that the MES is a better smoker than the analog model primarily because of the MES's (better) thermostat control and insulated body helping to keep the temps more stable at a desired temperature. The design differences in how you place wood chips/chunks in the two smokers is not that...
  19. hkeiner

    MES Help

    I think that Todd's expose on the weak/poorly designed door hinges on the 2012 MES40 is something to really consider before deciding between the old and new model. http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/131879/2012-mes-40-dissappointing-right-out-of-the-box
  20. hkeiner

    MES 40 can't keep AMNPS lit

     I have better luck putting the AMNPS in the center of the bottom rack, rather than putting in on the rails next to the chip box. This way the AMNPS is more directly in the air flow between the chip box and the exhaust vent. If the AMNPS starts burning too fast, I place a tile under the AMNPS or...
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