Does anyone use the MES cold smoker attachment?

[donaltman3]

I know most people here are using the amazing tube or trays with their MES smokers. I am not loving the idea of another fuel type and having to use pellets. I produce a lot of my own wood shavings from my own trees. I have peach,pecan, oak and pear. I am interested in doing cheeses. Currently I make summer sausage,jerky and salami. I like to smoke peppers for dehydrating and grinding into spice powder. I could see a true cold smoker would be fun for me. Has anyone used the electric add on made by MES? The fact that it holds more chips and auto feeds seems like it would be handy even if I was hot smoking. Can you use the main heating element while also using the cold smoker? I know you can use just the cold smoker. I find them on sale for about 50 bucks but not seen anyone talk about them.

 

[R Blum]

I have one and I use it all the time and I like it. I don't even use the chip loader anymore. I have it set up with piping similar to a mailbox modification which makes for nice clean smoke. I also have it set up with a router speed controller which is basically a dimmer switch (see photo)so that once it gets smoking I can turn down the heating element to medium or low so it burns the chip more slowly. Without it the chips burn real fast. I use it for cold smoking and I use it for hot smoking with the main heating element.

 

[creek bottom]

I have one I use for doing cheese all the time. If you attach the cold smoker directly to the cabinet the way it is designed, it will generate some heat into the cabinet. I use a 2' long pc. of 3" duct to run between the cold smoker and the cabinet. This seems to dissipate any heat generated before it gets in the cabinet. I don't have a pic of the complete setup, but the pic below will give you an idea. Yes, you can use it with the main heating element turned on. It definitely will extend the time between filling the chips. It's not actually an auto feed. It's just a larger vertical hopper that is gravity fed. You do have to keep an eye on it. It will get jammed and you have to knock the chips down to keep feeding. Other than that, I think it works great...

 

[normanaj]

Mailbox mod with an Amazen tray or tube.Cheap and easy to do and you'll generate up to 12hrs of uninterrupted smoke.
Search mailbox mod here on the forums and you'll find plenty of pics and instructions on how to do it.

 

[browneyesvictim]

I'm feeling you. It was difficult for me to swallow buying pellets when I have access to unlimited and different varieties of smoke woods also... and a wood chipper! For me, I came to the conclusion that it was worth the convenience and reliability of using pellets with the tray or tube vs chips.

Now with that said... if you can get your homegrown shavings down to DUST size, then you can use that in the Amazen tray or tube. In fact I prefer using dust over pellets when cold smoking.

 

[Bearcarver]

I'm feeling you. It was difficult for me to swallow buying pellets when I have access to unlimited and different varieties of smoke woods also... and a wood chipper! For me, I came to the conclusion that it was worth the convenience and reliability of using pellets with the tray or tube vs chips.

Now with that said... if you can get your homegrown shavings down to DUST size, then you can use that in the Amazen tray or tube. In fact I prefer using dust over pellets when cold smoking.

^^^What He Said!!^^^

Bear

 

[dr k]

I have one I use for doing cheese all the time. If you attach the cold smoker directly to the cabinet the way it is designed, it will generate some heat into the cabinet. I use a 2' long pc. of 3" duct to run between the cold smoker and the cabinet. This seems to dissipate any heat generated before it gets in the cabinet. I don't have a pic of the complete setup, but the pic below will give you an idea. Yes, you can use it with the main heating element turned on. It definitely will extend the time between filling the chips. It's not actually an auto feed. It's just a larger vertical hopper that is gravity fed. You do have to keep an eye on it. It will get jammed and you have to knock the chips down to keep feeding. Other than that, I think it works great...

View attachment 396953

if your cold smoking and it's getting the cabinet too warm you can put a ziplock bag of ice on top of the pipe to absorb some heat before it gets to the smoker.

 

[creek bottom]

if your cold smoking and it's getting the cabinet too warm you can put a ziplock bag of ice on top of the pipe to absorb some heat before it gets to the smoker.

I was getting heat when I attached the cold smoker directly to the cabinet as designed. I use the duct pipe now and works beautiful....