How Many Mes Owners Here?

[xmoon]

I bought the 30-inch MES with Window and RF control and I'm loving it.

I'd recommend it to anyone who is unsure about whether it is good or not. 

 

[tromaron]

Just got my MES40 last week.  Smoked a great pork butt in it so far.  I'm loving it & can't wait to cook more!  Only downside is that my actual temp is 35 degrees lower than what controller says.

 

[Bearcarver]

Just got my MES40 last week.  Smoked a great pork butt in it so far.  I'm loving it & can't wait to cook more!  Only downside is that my actual temp is 35 degrees lower than what controller says.

Get a little more used to your MES.

Move an accurate thermometer around to different heights & lefts, rights, and centers, and find out for sure how the real temps compare to the controller read out. Keep notes on that.

If you are really getting 35˚ less actual temp than the controller, call Masterbuilt, and tell them the readings you are getting. Tell them it keeps you from getting to the 275˚ that you are supposed to be able to get to. If they don't send you a new controller, contact Darryl "MBTechguy" on this forum.

Bear
 

 

[tromaron]

Will do.  

Thanks for the advice!

 

[tromaron]

Tested again, it was still off 30-35 degrees.  Placed a call to MB customer service, & they're shipping me a new control panel.  Very helpful & quick.  Thanks for recommending I call them.

 

[ben franklin]

Count me in on the MES. It was my first "store bought smoker". I grew up with pits in NC and GA -- so the idea of a little bitty electric cabinet sitting on the patio of my townhouse in Chicago was pretty far fetched for me. Darned if it didn't work pretty well -- although I did have to warm up the heating element to get it cranking when temps were below 40 degrees outside. Also doesn't seem like it wants to make smoke much below 230 - 250 and that's a little higher than I like to smoke. Finally started using dry chips vs. soaking them -- but then you have to watch out for the evil white smoke! I'm getting my first pellet pooper this week. Can't wait!

 

[Bearcarver]

Count me in on the MES. It was my first "store bought smoker". I grew up with pits in NC and GA -- so the idea of a little bitty electric cabinet sitting on the patio of my townhouse in Chicago was pretty far fetched for me. Darned if it didn't work pretty well -- although I did have to warm up the heating element to get it cranking when temps were below 40 degrees outside. Also doesn't seem like it wants to make smoke much below 230 - 250 and that's a little higher than I like to smoke. Finally started using dry chips vs. soaking them -- but then you have to watch out for the evil white smoke! I'm getting my first pellet pooper this week. Can't wait!

If yours doesn't want to smoke much below 230˚, you probably need the FREE Retro-kit.

Bear
 

 

[sloat]

I bought mine recently (MES 30" w/window) at Atwoods here in McAlester, OK.  They had it and the black 30" on sale.  Mine was $249 w/window/stainless door/remote & I just LOVE it.  Always wanted a smoker, just never could find one that seemed full featured enough to allow me OR my wife to use it.  This thing is INCREDIBLE.  I've, so far, done pork but, brisket and chicken.  Getting ready to do a turkey.  I am told I really need to do a ham.  New to this, so I love this forum and the info and contacts here.  Lookin' forward to more smoking adventures !!

 

[sloat]

Bear, tell me about the "Free" retro kit.  I also notice not much smoke out of mine until 225+.  Is it through Masterbuilt or other source?  I had read a post on this forum from someone the other day that was trying to get the 1200watt element for theirs that came with 800watt (as mine did) and Masterbuilt wouldn't sell it to them.  Is this what you are referring to, or is there something else or another fix??  Any suggestions appreciated.  I REALLY like this thing, but this is definately a weak spot I have seen thus far.  (but I am enjoying smoking none-the-less)

 

[fpnmf]

Mr Sloat and Mr Franklin...

You guys need to get an AMAZEN. Search it ..

Also please put what part of the country you live in yer profile.

A public service message from the sunny panhandle of Florida!!

  Craig

 

[Bearcarver]

Bear, tell me about the "Free" retro kit.  I also notice not much smoke out of mine until 225+.  Is it through Masterbuilt or other source?  I had read a post on this forum from someone the other day that was trying to get the 1200watt element for theirs that came with 800watt (as mine did) and Masterbuilt wouldn't sell it to them.  Is this what you are referring to, or is there something else or another fix??  Any suggestions appreciated.  I REALLY like this thing, but this is definately a weak spot I have seen thus far.  (but I am enjoying smoking none-the-less)

Sloat,

On some models there is a problem getting it to smoke at temps below 180˚ or so. It is a model with the half chip drawer that has a separate plate between the heating element & the bottom of the chip drawer. If yours is one of those problem models, and you do have that problem, you can call Masterbuilt, and tell them you need the "FREE" retro kit.

Here is a video that shows what I'm talking about, and how easy it is to change it:

http://www.masterbuilt.com/video/sept2010/smokeretrokit.wmv

Bear

 

[coloradosmoker]

I was at Sams Club yesterday I saw that they had MasterBuilt ---------

 Smoker 40" model # 20070810 with the chrome finish has window

  and has wheels on bottom rear of smoker---Cost was---$299.86

 I have seen masterbuilt 30" smoker for more than that----I have seen

  them over $350.00 and--------------------

 MasterBuilt---40" smokers as much as $465.00 I had the

  automatic temp.-you set temp. & remote  I thought I would pass

   on this Info. for anybody that looking to buy one---------Soon

       Keep on smoking-----the Colorado---Smoker

 

[Bearcarver]

I was at Sams Club yesterday I saw that they had MasterBuilt ---------

 Smoker 40" model # 20070810 with the chrome finish has window

  and has wheels on bottom rear of smoker---Cost was---$299.86

 I have seen masterbuilt 30" smoker for more than that----I have seen

  them over $350.00 and--------------------

 MasterBuilt---40" smokers as much as $465.00 I had the

  automatic temp.-you set temp. & remote  I thought I would pass

   on this Info. for anybody that looking to buy one---------Soon

       Keep on smoking-----the Colorado---Smoker

You saw this with your own eyes, out of the box?

The Model #20070810  is supposed to only have a SS door/with window, black body, 1200 watt heating element, with heating element access door, small wood chip tray.

Bear

 

[rjp123]

These MES smokers are too easy!  I feel like a pro when using mine!

 

[smoker of meat]

I have the 30 and i must say I smoked a Brisket and two racks of Ribs over the weekend and it turned out INCREDIBLE!

 

[coloradosmoker]

I bought  my masterbuilt 40" yesterday from sams club

  I called masterbuilt today because the wood chip tray seems a little small it only holds 1 cup of chips there sending me a bigger one

   free of charge

 

 

[Bearcarver]

I bought  my masterbuilt 40" yesterday from sams club

  I called masterbuilt today because the wood chip tray seems a little small it only holds 1 cup of chips there sending me a bigger one

   free of charge

 

Yup---That would be the FREE retro-kit in the video below.

However the size of the chip drawer is not the problem.

The way that half drawer assembly is constructed is the problem.

They don't smoke properly. I have never used more than a half cup of chips at one time.

Here is a video that shows it:

http://www.masterbuilt.com/video/sept2010/smokeretrokit.wmv

Bear

 

[coloradosmoker]

Bear, would you just keep the smoke tray that came with

 masterbuilt--or put the new one in----when you put chips

  in about long to they last---when do you know when it's time

    to add  new one's---------Thanks---Ken

 

[Bearcarver]

Bear, would you just keep the smoke tray that came with

 masterbuilt--or put the new one in----when you put chips

  in about long to they last---when do you know when it's time

    to add  new one's---------Thanks---Ken

They all seem to be a little different.

If you can't get it to smoke under 100˚ (in cool weather), I'd get the FREE retro-fit from Masterbuilt.

I rarely use my MES chip drawer, since I have my AMNS, but when I do, I only put a few chips in or one chunk, because I don't want a lot of billowing white smoke. If it smokes too much when you only have a few chips in, it will burn out before you get creosote on your meat. If you have a lot of chips or chunks in, & it smokes too much, you would have to open the door, and pull the smoking wood out of your chip drawer to keep from causing creosote to form. This is how I look at it.

I only use it when my AMNS burns out, and I don't plan on keeping it smoking much longer. Then I throw a few chips in. If I'm gonna want more than another hour of smoke, I'll refill my AMNS, or have another one ready to go in, when the first one burns out. That doesn't happen often, because even burning both ends of an AMNS give you at least 4 hours of good smoke. 

When I used to use my Chip drawer more, I would add a few chips when it stopped smoking.

Bear

 

[coloradosmoker]

Bear-Thanks but what is AMNS & how do you use in the

   masterbuilt & where do you put it in the smoker or

   where do you get it------Thanks---Ken