decision made- i think...

[bob bramlett]

I am going with the MES 40" ( $299 at Sam's Club)  1200 w ,  meat probe , digital readout, front drip pan. 

Now....  i will need:

1. an 8 " iron skillet to keep wood chips/ chunks from burning.  ( does AMNPS work in this model?)

2. another quality meat probe maverick?

3. extension cord - 12gauge- i think?

what else would you guys recommend for a total newbie in east central Indiana?

 

[s2k9k]

I am going with the MES 40" ( $299 at Sam's Club)  1200 w ,  meat probe , digital readout, front drip pan. 

Now....  i will need:

1. an 8 " iron skillet to keep wood chips/ chunks from burning. Not needed

( does AMNPS work in this model?) Yes! That is your best bet for an MES!

2. another quality meat probe maverick? Yes! Todd has them on sale with free shipping!

3. extension cord - 12gauge- i think? I believe that is correct.

what else would you guys recommend for a total newbie in east central Indiana?

 

[bob bramlett]

thanks S2K9K.... if i don't get the AMNPS for a while should i use the 8" skillet?.

ALSO, i am looking at the New Generation MES 40" - i thought i saw somewhere on here that the AMNPS didn't work well on that model?

 

[smokinhusker]

You might PM Todd with the question on the AMNPS and the New Generation MES. 

Even without the AMNPS, where would you put the cast iron skillet? It's not needed, just use the chip loader and tray that's standard with the MES, yes you will have to load it more often.

 

[deltadude]

quote: bob bramlett

I am going with the MES 40" ( $299 at Sam's Club)  1200 w ,  meat probe , digital readout, front drip pan. 

Now....  i will need:

1. an 8 " iron skillet to keep wood chips/ chunks from burning.  ( does AMNPS work in this model?)

2. another quality meat probe maverick?

3. extension cord - 12gauge- i think?

• Good decision on the 40" model.

• As already pointed out the skillet isn't needed, that was only posted by one member as a possible solution to getting longer smoke out of wood chips in the MES.  I bought a 6x6 flat skillet and tried it, and there was no improvement.  I did NOT like the extra weight sitting directly on the heating elements.  People forget that heat/cold/heat/cold over time causes fatiguing, adding weight will accelerate that.

• The Maverick ET-732 is well worth the money, the added benefit of knowing what is going on inside your MES remotely is a huge ease on the mind.

• The heavy duty extension cord is a must if using an ext.cord.  If the distance is 10ft or less you might get by with a 14 ga, anything over that distance a 12ga works.  I used a 14 ga 50' construction extension cord and it caused problems, had to plug directly into wall to finish smoke.  I now have a 12 ga x 50' and it works fine.  Note: a lot of homes have 14ga in the wall and so you would think the 14 ga. cord would work, but for some there will be problems when they use a 14ga cord, I can't explain why.

• The AMNPS can be made to work in any smoker.  Most will tell you to put it on the bottom rack, personally I don't like giving up precision real estate that meat is suppose to be on.  The AMNPS has rails on the bottom,

amazenpelletsmokerrevie.jpg

• deltadude
• Nov 20, 2012

so if you set it in the drain pan at the bottom of the smoker it should be fine. If you are smoking stuff that has a lot of grease, then just set it on something that is sitting in the bottom pan.

I use a LPG torch (kind used for soldering plumbing) to light my AMNPS.  Keep a set of pliers handy to grab the AMNPS if it's hot when things go wrong.

I am not sure about the new Sam's club model to make any other recommendations. 

 

[bob bramlett]

THANKS DELTADUDE..... I may have been talking about the propane models and the 8" skillet. Everything you said makes sense.... 

so...1.  AMNPS a must.  not hard to figure out right?  rails give the AMNPS air to keep it goin?

       2.  Maverick probe a must

       3.  12 ga.  extension cord

       4.  torch for AMNPS?

       5. pliers, oven mitts, etc...

 

[s2k9k]

THANKS DELTADUDE..... I may have been talking about the propane models and the 8" skillet. Everything you said makes sense.... 

so...1.  AMNPS a must.  not hard to figure out right?  rails give the AMNPS air to keep it goin?

       2.  Maverick probe a must

       3.  12 ga.  extension cord

       4.  torch for AMNPS? Yes you can get one from Todd or if you have a propane torch like a Bernzomatic it will work fine.

       5. pliers, oven mitts, etc...Gloves or mitts are always a good idea.