Cold smoking and mailboxmod

[wild west]

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• wild west
• Nov 1, 2016

I did my mailbox mod for the mes 30 a couple days ago and have done a couple test runs cold smoking with the cabinet empty and using the 12in tube about 1/3 full in the mailbox. Airflow is good there is no back flow of smoke it all seems to be coming out the top vent on the mes and I'm getting a full burn on the pellets. The smoke still seems to be pretty thick and when I open the cabinet door it's full of thick smoke and smells a little strong. Just wondering what is normal for the mailbox mod as far as smoke amount. Also this time of year I'm able to maintain Temps from 40* and up for cold smoking so what is the best temp to strive for. I've got bacon cureing and will be ready for smoke in about a week so I'm trying to get this dialed in before them. Thanks for any comments and suggestions.
Ron

 

[SmokinAl]

Anywhere between 40 & 90 is good for cold smoking bacon. Make sure the top vent is open all the way.

Al

 

[daveomak]

The AMNTS, you may find, puts out too much smoke for that small cabinet...  The AMNPS may be better suited in that situation...  

Also a note on ambient temperature,,,    The air flow may need some help when the outside temp drops...  periodic "turning on" of the heating element will drastically improve air flow..  keep condensate from forming...   and make a better finished product.. 

 

[wild west]

Thanks AL I should have no problems staying in that range.
Thanks Dave I have noticed from pictures posted by other members that the amount of smoke from the maze seemed to be alot less than I get from the tube. I can get a maze locally so I'm going to pick one up today and I'll use the tube in my gas grill. If I set the temp on the mes at 10* higher than the ambient temperature will that be sufficient to get get enough air flow

 

[daveomak]

Thanks AL I should have no problems staying in that range.
Thanks Dave I have noticed from pictures posted by other members that the amount of smoke from the maze seemed to be alot less than I get from the tube. I can get a maze locally so I'm going to pick one up today and I'll use the tube in my gas grill. If I set the temp on the mes at 10* higher than the ambient temperature will that be sufficient to get get enough air flow

Yes on the temp....  then you can turn the MES heater off...  keep an eye on the temp and if it needs a bump, turn the heat on for 10 minutes or so then off again...

I have a dimmer switch on my heating element in my MES...  I can turn the wattage down so the element barely heats...    If it's cold enough outside, I can leave the element on it's lowest setting and keep the MES at about 50-60 degrees...    

Total cost was about $100...  I can set the dimmer so the heater stays on all the time during smokes also...  If I want 140, I adjust the dimmer so the temp is always 140...  no on/off type thing.... 

In todays world, there are controllers out there that do the same PLUS a lot more for less than what I paid 6 years ago......

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• daveomak
• Aug 22, 2016

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• daveomak
• Aug 22, 2016

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• daveomak
• Aug 24, 2016

 

[wade]

Good looking setup Dave.