Beginning to hate my MES40

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pi guy

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
Dec 28, 2013
379
298
SE Michigan
Every time I smoke my experience gets worse and worse. The way this MES40 is set up is not conducive to productive smoking.

The tiny little chip tray holds enough wood to smoke for about 20 minutes. That's a lot of babysitting for a 4-16 hour smoke. (Yes I know I can hook some sort of mod to it, but then why don't I just build my own from the ground up?).

The chips keep going out because the temp reaches the set point and then the element turns off, but many times it doesn't give the fresh chips time to ignite. So it sits with no smoke until I check it. (Yes I know I can use my AMNPS, but what's the sense of having a chip tray?).

The stupid display is almost unreadable. The 7 segment display is down to about 4 segments each. Is it 240, 230, 250? I don't know. (Yes I know I can drop a probe through the top to monitor, but what's the point of having the MES controller?).

I'm trying to smoke a pork loin for Cuban sandwiches later tonight and I'm about ready to say screw it and throw it in the oven and take the MES40 to the curb for pick up.

Sorry, had to vent to someone, and the wife is sick of me complaining about it. So you all get to hear it LOL. Thanks for listening.
:emoji_angry::emoji_poop:
 
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take the MES40 to the curb for pick up.
Do the rewire and invest $150 in an Auber controller . No joke , it will be the best smoker for the money . You're not dumping money into the 40 , because the Auber can be used on other things , or a future smoker .
Seriously , makes it a great unit .
 
Do the rewire and invest $150 in an Auber controller . No joke , it will be the best smoker for the money . You're not dumping money into the 40 , because the Auber can be used on other things , or a future smoker .
Seriously , makes it a great unit .
I get the idea, but it doesn't solve the tiny chip tray issue. Thinking I may be better off with a whole new setup with an auger to feed pellets plus more reliable controller? If one exists for less than thousand$$?
 
Yeah . Not for everyone . I use a tube and have a mailbox setup . If that's not what you want I get it .
I actually burn wood chunks in mine ( MES 30 ) for higher temp cooks .
I mostly use mine for sausage and hams .

Should also say I have other options for stuff . Weber pellet grill gets the most use anymore .
 
I started using small chunks in mine and just ran it wide open for most cooks, sausages not but about everything else.
 
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I get the idea, but it doesn't solve the tiny chip tray issue. Thinking I may be better off with a whole new setup with an auger to feed pellets plus more reliable controller? If one exists for less than thousand$$?
A pellet also comes with it's own quirks. Smoke flavor is thin without smoke tubes and it will never match the flavor from a true wood fire.
 
Do what most have already done. Get an third party PID (ex auber controller) and do the mailbox mod. Temps will be steady and you won't have to feed the beast every 20 min. And Yes, you'll get good eats!
 
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I am actually looking at used 40s. SE Michigan huh? I'm NW Ohio. Coming to Halloweekends? LOL

I am a REALLY picky guy and the MES and tray/tube setup produced some great food for me. I was shocked. I posted this years ago but was sorta convinced the group was shilling the tray/tunes. Not so! I routinely got 12 hrs TBS with tray parked inside the smoker. I did later add an Auber wifi for the MES but was pretty happy with the stock controller for most stuff. That being said, got a Smokefire a few years ago and fell in love with it. MES is basically dedicated now for sausage/cured/long warm smoke stuff.
 
The tiny little chip tray holds enough wood to smoke for about 20 minutes. That's a lot of babysitting for a 4-16 hour smoke.

That's the reason people use the tray (or tube)... So they get hours and hours of smoke without babysitting..

(Yes I know I can use my AMNPS, but what's the sense of having a chip tray?).

Because it comes with it when purchased...
(Yes I know I can drop a probe through the top to monitor, but what's the point of having the MES controller?).

Again.. because it comes standard on the unit...

As chopsaw chopsaw says... Put a PID controller on it and use the tray (or tube) and quit whining (your wife will love it)... It will/could be an excellent, trouble free, set it and forget it, smoker ...
 
Yep, have done the 2 mods. Auber PID and mailbox for smoke tube or tray. I use this smoker way more than my RT pellet grill. Very accurate low temp control for sausage, jerky, fish, etc.
 
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A pellet also comes with it's own quirks. Smoke flavor is thin without smoke tubes and it will never match the flavor from a true wood fire.
That was my fear. I'm leaning towards a new rig that I can use charcoal and wood chunks maybe. I do want that true wood fire flavor!
 
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I am actually looking at used 40s. SE Michigan huh? I'm NW Ohio. Coming to Halloweekends? LOL

I am a REALLY picky guy and the MES and tray/tube setup produced some great food for me. I was shocked. I posted this years ago but was sorta convinced the group was shilling the tray/tunes. Not so! I routinely got 12 hrs TBS with tray parked inside the smoker. I did later add an Auber wifi for the MES but was pretty happy with the stock controller for most stuff. That being said, got a Smokefire a few years ago and fell in love with it. MES is basically dedicated now for sausage/cured/long warm smoke stuff.
LOL, my wife would kill me if I actually got rid of it. But don't think I'm not kinda serious about unloading it. Maybe. Someday.
I have the AMNPS tube and maze. I find the tube works best on my grill and the maze works best in the smoker. I guess I'll live with that for now, but I like the chips flavor better, and as JIMSMOKES JIMSMOKES said the flavor of pellets is diminished.
I guess I'm just lazy and want an all in one solution; but that probably doesn't exist. So I'll get more creative and make it all work for now.
 
I am actually looking at used 40s. SE Michigan huh? I'm NW Ohio. Coming to Halloweekends? LOL

I am a REALLY picky guy and the MES and tray/tube setup produced some great food for me. I was shocked. I posted this years ago but was sorta convinced the group was shilling the tray/tunes. Not so! I routinely got 12 hrs TBS with tray parked inside the smoker. I did later add an Auber wifi for the MES but was pretty happy with the stock controller for most stuff. That being said, got a Smokefire a few years ago and fell in love with it. MES is basically dedicated now for sausage/cured/long warm smoke stuff.
Where bouts in NW OH? I travel there somewhat frequently; have customers in Toledo, Bryan. IF I might think about trading up/over/whatever to a new rig...
Dammit, I wish you wouldn't have posted this. LOL!!
 
I find the tube works best on my grill and the maze works best in the smoker.
I ran a tube in my gas grill and was convinced that a pellet grill would get me similar results and be a lateral move. Not the case at all.

I guess I'll live with that for now, but I like the chips flavor better, and as JIMSMOKES JIMSMOKES said the flavor of pellets is diminished.
Swear there's a few guys running chips in the tube, might be worth trying. Also maybe a smoke generator, like a Smokedaddy.

I guess I'm just lazy and want an all in one solution; but that probably doesn't exist. So I'll get more creative and make it all work for now.
I would try some different woods for pellets or chips. I was never really happy with my results until I found "the one". I spent one spring smoking butts for daughters grad party. Ran one per week. I tried different woods and some blends each time. I ordered like 8 different. Decide to try oak simply to rule it out and could tell halfway it was it.

Where bouts in NW OH? I travel there somewhat frequently; have customers in Toledo, Bryan. IF I might think about trading up/over/whatever to a new rig...
Dammit, I wish you wouldn't have posted this. LOL!!
Sandusky. I will help you out. I refuse to pay more than $100 for a 40 and it has to have legs. LOL
 
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That was my fear. I'm leaning towards a new rig that I can use charcoal and wood chunks maybe. I do want that true wood fire flavor!

People say pellet grills don't have good smoke profile . Not true with a Weber SmokeFire .

I used to burn wood chips in the tube mixed with pellets way back when . I've since gutted the 30 and use wood chunks for higher temp cooks . Lower temp stuff gets the tube .
Works great . This is what it likes . Any more , or bigger and it doesn't
want to burn .
20201017_114556.jpg
Burns nice and clean .
20201017_133659.jpg

I'm leaning towards a new rig that I can use charcoal and wood chunks maybe.
Great idea , and put an Auber controller on the 40 . I resisted as it seemed not to make sense .
You have a diamond in the rough right now . The best part of an MES is the insulated Cabinet .
 
Talking about smoke flavor becomes a subjective discussion based upon the individual's preferences. Some prefer stronger smoke flavor other prefer smoke that allows the protein flavor to still be prevalent and there are levels to that as well. All of them are paths to getting it the way you like it. For me, I enjoy the aroma of smoked meat that also allows the protein flavor to shine through. Love the chunks Rich!
 
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