Considering Buying a MES....

[quagmire38]

Whats up everybody. Whats up all MES owners. I am thinking about buying a MES. i currently own a 18" WSM that I love. My WSM stays at my lady's place. She has a fantastic yard. My place... Not so much. I am considering the MES because of its apparent easy use ( electric/set and forget qualities ). 

I live in NYC and the weather has been up and down. Its been everything from cold to warm to wind/rain. I am going to build a shelter for my WSM but have not made the time for it. 

My lady live a good distance from me. I dont always want to take the drive to do some smoking. So why not have one here. This is where the MES comes in.

How does the MES perform in cold weather?

How does the MES perform in windy/rainy weather?

Are there any other good things about the MES I should know?

Any bad things to consider about the MES?

Thanks in advance for your input and help.

 

[Bearcarver]

Whats up everybody. Whats up all MES owners. I am thinking about buying a MES. i currently own a 18" WSM that I love. My WSM stays at my lady's place. She has a fantastic yard. My place... Not so much. I am considering the MES because of its apparent easy use ( electric/set and forget qualities ). 

I live in NYC and the weather has been up and down. Its been everything from cold to warm to wind/rain. I am going to build a shelter for my WSM but have not made the time for it. 

My lady live a good distance from me. I dont always want to take the drive to do some smoking. So why not have one here. This is where the MES comes in.

How does the MES perform in cold weather?  Great---Very well insulated.

How does the MES perform in windy/rainy weather?  I keep mine under roof, but you need to use some type of wind block for the exhaust vent. Also Rain is not good for any electric unit.

Are there any other good things about the MES I should know? See Below:

Any bad things to consider about the MES? See Below:

Thanks in advance for your input and help.

MANY good things---Here are a few:

External chip dumper.

Wheels for moving.

Awesome insulation.

Ease of use.

Remote control for time, temp, on, off, all from anywhere in your house, or 300 feet away.

Built in meat probe.

Glass window for observation.

Digital readout.

Many other good things.

Bad things:

The chip burner that comes with it is not always working great, but they will give you a FREE replacement, if yours is a bad one. It takes 3 minutes to change. The AMNPS will be yours shortly after, anyway.

Only goes up to about 275˚ could be a problem for you---not for me.

Bear
 

 

[SmokinAl]

Bear knows his MES!

 

[michael ark]

I almost bought one but seen too many post on here with problems with their MES use the search bar and you'll see for your self .Put in mes troubles or not heating or no smoke or temps off.It won't  get above 275f so no crisp skin chicken no smoked pizza and no smoke ring.I spent  less money and got a gosm wide body and spent the rest on meat.I don't half to worry about rain.http://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Outdoors-Smoky-Mountain-25-Gas-Smoker/12429510  Don't get me wrong when they work you get results like bears.But he gets his smoke from Todd's AMNS. I didn't want to take the chance I got a bad one.Just my option.But it real just what you want out of your smoker.

 

[jc1947]

MANY good things---Here are a few:

External chip dumper.

Wheels for moving.

Awesome insulation.

Ease of use.

Remote control for time, temp, on, off, all from anywhere in your house, or 300 feet away.

Built in meat probe.

Glass window for observation.

Digital readout.

Many other good things.

Bad things:

The chip burner that comes with it is not always working great, but they will give you a FREE replacement, if yours is a bad one. It takes 3 minutes to change. The AMNPS will be yours shortly after, anyway.

Only goes up to about 275˚ could be a problem for you---not for me.

Bear 

I have the MES 40 and agree with everything Bears says!
 

 

[SmokinAl]

I almost bought one but seen too many post on here with problems with their MES use the search bar and you'll see for your self .Put in mes troubles or not heating or no smoke or temps off.It won't  get above 275f so no crisp skin chicken no smoked pizza and no smoke ring.I spent  less money and got a gosm wide body and spent the rest on meat.I don't half to worry about rain.http://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Outdoors-Smoky-Mountain-25-Gas-Smoker/12429510  Don't get me wrong when they work you get results like bears.But he gets his smoke from Todd's AMNS. I didn't want to take the chance I got a bad one.Just my option.But it real just what you want out of your smoker.

Michael,

I have 3 smokers an MES , a Smoke Vault ( gas ), and a WSM. They all 3 serve their purpose, but for an all around smoker that is very easy to use the MES is hard to beat. If you couple it with Todd's AMNPS, it just doesn't get any easier. You can put a brisket in at night with the AMNPS lit & the temp set on the MES & sleep soundly all night, waking up to a smoker that's still smoking & holding the temp you set it at. The MES was the first smoker I bought & I smoked everything under the sun on it before I ever heard of Todd's AMNS. It will do just fine with wood chips & a little piece of lump in the chip drawer does wonders. You really should see one in action. If you did, you may wish you'd spent the extra $ & bought one for yourself.

 

[eman]

Michael,

I have 3 smokers an MES , a Smoke Vault ( gas ), and a WSM. They all 3 serve their purpose, but for an all around smoker that is very easy to use the MES is hard to beat. If you couple it with Todd's AMNPS, it just doesn't get any easier. You can put a brisket in at night with the AMNPS lit & the temp set on the MES & sleep soundly all night, waking up to a smoker that's still smoking & holding the temp you set it at. The MES was the first smoker I bought & I smoked everything under the sun on it before I ever heard of Todd's AMNS. It will do just fine with wood chips & a little piece of lump in the chip drawer does wonders. You really should see one in action. If you did, you may wish you'd spent the extra $ & bought one for yourself.

Have to agree w/ bear and SA, The older units( like mine) did have a problem w/ burning out connectors on the element. The newer units seem to have that problem resolved. I don't eat much chicken so it really doesn't affect me that the max temp is 275.

 

[ptcruiserguy]

MANY good things---Here are a few:

External chip dumper.

Wheels for moving.

Awesome insulation.

Ease of use.

Remote control for time, temp, on, off, all from anywhere in your house, or 300 feet away.

Built in meat probe.

Glass window for observation.

Digital readout.

Many other good things.

Bad things:

The chip burner that comes with it is not always working great, but they will give you a FREE replacement, if yours is a bad one. It takes 3 minutes to change. The AMNPS will be yours shortly after, anyway.

Only goes up to about 275˚ could be a problem for you---not for me.

Bear 

I am with Bear on all of the above. Even the high temp problem.

I don't think I have cooked anything above 240 yet.

I think it speaks for itself.

Mike

 

[beer-b-q]

The MES is the best investment I ever made.  I have never had a problem with it and have used it now for 2 years.  Everything Bear said is the same thing I would have said but he beat me too it.  Couple the MES 40" with an AMNS or AMNPS and you will have an unbeatable combination.

 

[tjohnson]

I own (3) of them and they are pretty bulletproof.

Yes, there were a few that had issues, but I can't complain about mine at all

I use one or two of them almost every day, from 0° -100°+

I log most of my time, and have hundreds of hours smoking on the first two, and have not even broken in my new MES.

Good Bang for your Buck

Todd

 

[quagmire38]

thanks for the help guys. Do any of you own the electric anolog MES? Do they work just as well?

Hey TJohnson. Whats the coldest temp you smoked in?

 

[tjohnson]

I've smoked in the 20's, but warmed my smoker up in the garage first.

There must be something in the controller that does not allow it to start in cold weather.

The MES is so well insulated, that it performs very well in the cold weather.

Roller owns the Analog version.  He likes it!

I think it has double walls, but they are not insulated

The MES 30 and 40 are on sale at Cabellas right now and include "$5 Delivery"

I posted the sale on another thread.

$339 for the all stainless steel version is a pretty darn good deal

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Mast...d?categoryId=110647980&WTz_l=EML;cat110647980

Scan Craigslist for a deal on a smoker.  Who knows???

Todd

 

[Bearcarver]

I've smoked in the 20's, but warmed my smoker up in the garage first.

There must be something in the controller that does not allow it to start in cold weather.

The MES is so well insulated, that it performs very well in the cold weather.

Roller owns the Analog version.  He likes it!

I think it has double walls, but they are not insulated

The MES 30 and 40 are on sale at Cabellas right now and include "$5 Delivery"

I posted the sale on another thread.

$339 for the all stainless steel version is a pretty darn good deal

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Mast...d?categoryId=110647980&WTz_l=EML;cat110647980

Scan Craigslist for a deal on a smoker.  Who knows???

Todd

That's a great price for the "ALL Stainless MES 40" !!!!

I paid $399 (a year ago), and about a month later they went on sale for $349. I called Cabela's, and they gave me the $50 back.

Bear

 

[fpnmf]

I have a 30..it works just fine..

When it was cold where I used to live I put a bowl of hot water in it for 10 minutes and it cranked up every time.

Craig