Having smoke issues with A-Maze-N Smoker Tray - MES40

[HalfSmoked]

Hmm, that's a good question.
I can't remember if I gave that to Warren, or if I gave it to the other guy who took my Gen #2.5 first. It worked Awesome!

Bear

I don't think I have it. How are you going to use it with a cover on it?

Warren

 

[HalfSmoked]

Haha, I have all Bear's experience because I have his smokers.
Although I still use chips.

Warren

Thanks for the like guys I appreciate it.

Warren

 

[chopsaw]

How you going to use it with a cover on it.

It was a magnetic ring with a screen on it .

 

[HalfSmoked]

Got cha

 

[Mark W]

I have a MB, and tried the A-maze-n numerous times. In my experience it stays lit maybe 25% of the time. Tried everything with the chip drawer, tried microwaving the pellets, drying out the pellets in the oven, could never get it reliable enough to count on. Very frustrating. Just bought a camp chef pellet grill. Does the A-maze-n work better in pellet grills?

 

[smokerjim]

For the most part trays dont work in pellet smokers most of us use the tube in ours. But give it a shot maybe it will work in your.

 

[Mark W]

For the most part trays dont work in pellet smokers most of us use the tube in ours. But give it a shot maybe it will work in your.

Thanks for the info. Do you know why? What's the functional difference? Is there any one tube brand/model that is known to work well?

 

[smokerjim]

As I understand it tubes were made for low oxygen environments, as far as brands I dont think one is better then the other I forget what brand I have but I think I paid around 10 bucks for it off Amazon.

 

[Howard_A]

I have a MB, and tried the A-maze-n numerous times. In my experience it stays lit maybe 25% of the time. Tried everything with the chip drawer, tried microwaving the pellets, drying out the pellets in the oven, could never get it reliable enough to count on. Very frustrating. Just bought a camp chef pellet grill. Does the A-maze-n work better in pellet grills?

I had similar problems with the tray in my MB .. Went through all the same steps to get pellets to stay lit. No luck. Then I tried the tube smoker. Couldn't be happier. As someone else mentioned, a full tube will maybe give you a longer burn than you want. So far, I've used Camp Chef Competition and Traeger apple pellets. Good results with both. BTW, I sometimes open the MB chip hopper an inch or so to get a little more airflow.

 

[GatorAGR]

Add me to the list of frustrated users of the A-Maze-N tray. Thing won’t stay lit no matter what I’ve tried so far. Trying fewer pellets now. Maybe too dense if filled to top of the tray? Next step is to drill more holes in bottom of mailbox. Maybe needs more air flow? How can these things work great for some and almost not at all for others? So are they owned by PitBoss now? Couldn’t find their website.

 

[JckDanls 07]

So are they owned by PitBoss now?

Yes they are...

 

[tallbm]

Add me to the list of frustrated users of the A-Maze-N tray. Thing won’t stay lit no matter what I’ve tried so far. Trying fewer pellets now. Maybe too dense if filled to top of the tray? Next step is to drill more holes in bottom of mailbox. Maybe needs more air flow? How can these things work great for some and almost not at all for others? So are they owned by PitBoss now? Couldn’t find their website.

What pellets (wood and brand) are you using, and are what is your pellet drying/microwaving process like? Also what is your pellet lighting process like?

For example. I put my pellets in the microwave for 1min 25 sec. When done ai PULL THEM OUT ( to avoid steam build up) and stir them around and let them sit for 2 min.
Then I microwave 1 min 25 sec again.

My lighting process is to light with a propane torch at good blast for 55 seconds. I let burn for 10 min with a flame. I often have to restart the flame.
Before I put it in the mailbox mod I blow on it until it flames back up, give it sec and blow it out, then add it.

This whole process seems to be rock solid.

Also, nothing but 100% cherry pellets are a no go for staying lit. Cherry dust is reported to work much better but I have yet to run a 100% cherry dust.

I rock lumberjack pellets for my 100% mostly. Perfect pellets for my 100% hickory. Bitt Boss competition blend for my cheapo pellet I doctor up with more 100% hickory or other stuff as needed.

 

[GatorAGR]

I tried the microwave process tonight and it appeared to help. Maybe that’s the key. Also left it flamed up longer (10 min). Had to relight it a couple times within the 10 min.

 

[tallbm]

I tried the microwave process tonight and it appeared to help. Maybe that’s the key. Also left it flamed up longer (10 min). Had to relight it a couple times within the 10 min.

2 rounds of microwave and the 10 min good flame up solved everything for me. Also getting good airflow holes nailed in mailbox mod. Takes a little work to sort out but once u get it sorted it is consistent.

 

[normanaj]

Having the tray elevated can also help,this is a photo of what daveomak did to help with air circulation.

You could also use a u-bolt modified tube as I do.You can follow the link in my signature.

 

[GatorAGR]

Having the tray elevated can also help,this is a photo of what daveomak did to help with air circulation.

You could also use a u-bolt modified tube as I do.You can follow the link in my signature.

Good idea. I've seen the u-bolt mod for the tubes, but not this for the trays. Thanks for sharing.

 

[krooz]

I had to play around with my set up as well to get it to work properly. I dry the pellets in the oven for 20 minutes or so. Chip tray half way out in the dump position. Juice the end of the pellet line with a squirt of hand sanitizer and torch it then blow it out once I get a good cherry. I put the tray on the floor to the left on a little 1" wire lift, plus I did find cutting both ends off a 24oz can of baked beans and placing it over the vent helps get a good chimney effect.

 

[JckDanls 07]

My hack ...

I use my blow gun on the air compressor ... Blow on the embers (real lightly) and get a nice big cherry going... Blow a little bit... Let it burn a little bit... blow a little bit ...