MES 30 improvements on smoke consistency?

[bigd3077]

Test run

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• bigd3077
• Apr 5, 2015

 

[fa1321tx]

Cooked a brisket last night my AMNPS worked perfectly smoked for hours on end.

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Cooked a brisket last night my AMNPS worked perfectly smoked for hours on end.

 

[jimh64]

I'll give you my standard issue response because I have the same smoker you do: forget the wood chips and buy the A-MAZE-N Pellet Smoker (AMNPS) and use wood pellets whether you buy them from Todd Johnson (the inventor and owner of the company) or not. Todd does include a bag of his Pitmaster pellet mix with each AMNPS.

The AMNPS provides steady thin blue smoke over approximately an 11 hour period. Here's the website to check it out. http://www.amazenproducts.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=12

This might be a crazy question, but does the ampns go inside my mes30? How does it generate the smoke? That has been my problem. Once my mess gets to temp, the smoke quits, I guess because the burner isn't on to generate enough heat to ignite the chips.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Bearcarver]

This might be a crazy question, but does the ampns go inside my mes30? How does it generate the smoke? That has been my problem. Once my mess gets to temp, the smoke quits, I guess because the burner isn't on to generate enough heat to ignite the chips.

Thanks for the help!

Yes---If you have a Gen #1 MES 30, the AMNPS just fits on the rods in the bottom, to the left of your chip burner assembly.

You just fill the AMNPS with pellets, and get it properly lit on one end. Then you put it in. The AMNPS is like a Maze---The Pellets burn & smoke slowly through the maze, putting out a perfect amount of smoke for up to 11 hours without touching it.

Bear

 

[bmaddox]

This might be a crazy question, but does the ampns go inside my mes30? How does it generate the smoke? That has been my problem. Once my mess gets to temp, the smoke quits, I guess because the burner isn't on to generate enough heat to ignite the chips.

Thanks for the help!

The AMNPS works by pre-lighting it with a torch then placing it in the smoker. Your MES should not completely go out when the element cycles off as the chip tray is still hot (unless you are trying to cold smoke). 

 

[Bearcarver]

 
The AMNPS works by pre-lighting it with a torch then placing it in the smoker. Your MES should not completely go out when the element cycles off as the chip tray is still hot (unless you are trying to cold smoke). 

Actually all the MES I've used, have stopped smoking when the element shuts off, unless I had too many chips in. Then they would smoke too heavy.

Hence my 100% use of my Amazing Army.

Bear

 

[fa1321tx]

This might be a crazy question, but does the ampns go inside my mes30? How does it generate the smoke? That has been my problem. Once my mess gets to temp, the smoke quits, I guess because the burner isn't on to generate enough heat to ignite the chips.

Thanks for the help!

If you read through this hole tread you will find the answers you seek.

 

[daricksta]

This might be a crazy question, but does the ampns go inside my mes30? How does it generate the smoke? That has been my problem. Once my mess gets to temp, the smoke quits, I guess because the burner isn't on to generate enough heat to ignite the chips.

Thanks for the help!

Bearcarver gave a great answer. Also, you can watch videos on You Tube which show how to properly light the AMNPS. The key to keeping it lit is to ensure there is plentiful airflow inside your MES. A surefire sign that airflow is impeded is if the AMNPS goes out in your smoker when there's food in it but continues to burn after the food has been removed. Another one is if the AMNPS continues to burn for hours when on the ground outside the smoker. Both of those prove the problem is with the smoker and not the AMNPS.

The AMNPS operates independently of the heating element and that's why it's great for both hot and cold smoking.

Proper placement of the AMNPS depends on which generation MES 30 you have. I have the Gen 1 and I place it on the two rails to the left of the wood chip holder. With Gen 2 and 2.5 models it needs to be placed somewhere else but I don't have that info right now. Bearcarver would know!

 

[jimh64]

Ok, I checked my master craft 30 and I don't have a large vent hole like what has been shown in this thread. Also, Beside my current wood chip holder, I have my pan for water.

I attached some pictures. Does anyone have some suggestions?

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• jimh64
• Apr 13, 2015

image.jpg

• jimh64
• Apr 13, 2015

 

[tjohnson]

You have an "Analog Electric Smoker"

Not the Masterbuilt Electric Smoker or "MES"

Drill out the drain hole to 3/4" and add 1 or 2 additional 3/4" holes near the drain hole for more intake air

Some guys will add 1-2 holes for the exhaust too

 

[jimh64]

Thanks for the info! I will drill some holes and buy that amps unit. I am sure that will really increase my smoke!

 

[tjohnson]

Thanks for the info! I will drill some holes and buy that amps unit. I am sure that will really increase my smoke!

Don't go crazy with the holes

Just 1 at a time until you get the air flow you need

 

[stratmeister]

I have that same MES30 from Bass Pro, gen 2. To add the 3" elbow stack to the side vent do I take out the old vent? I don't have my smoker handy to check now, so how does the old side vent come out?

 

[twoalpha]

The side vent on my MES 30 had 3 small screws on the inside. Once removed the factory vent will come out inside the MES. The 3" elbow I bought fits nice with no sealant needed.

Hope this helps. 

 

[trish6103]

Seek and ye shall find.
I was having problems getting a good smoke with my MES, and got all the answers I needed right here. I should have known someone else had probably aid the same problem and asked about it here.
You guys are awesome!

 

[stratmeister]

So I did the 3" elbow vent mod on my MES30 gen 2. I removed the exhaust vent as mentioned, 3 screws, and stuck the elbow in place. The A-maze-N maze works great, lots of airflow. BTW the exhaust vent fits the three holes in place of the chip loader making a nice inflow damper.

But I seem to be losing a lot of heat through the open vent. Is anyone experiencing this also?

 

[Bearcarver]

So I did the 3" elbow vent mod on my MES30 gen 2. I removed the exhaust vent as mentioned, 3 screws, and stuck the elbow in place. The A-maze-N maze works great, lots of airflow. BTW the exhaust vent fits the three holes in place of the chip loader making a nice inflow damper.

But I seem to be losing a lot of heat through the open vent. Is anyone experiencing this also?

I never tried the exhaust vent damper in the dumper hole, but I would think it could allow too much air flow, especially with the top exhaust vent fully open. Add a little wind & all the heat will be leaving.

Bear

 

[stratmeister]

I originally tried it with the chip loader out 1-2" as Todd recommends and had the heat loss issue. The damper actually closes down pretty small, maybe 1/4" or so. I just did one change at a time to see effects. At least both changes are easily reversible...

Can anybody else who replaced the vent with tubing relate their experience or resolution?

 

[fa1321tx]

I never removed the original vent I just added the elbow tube and pointed it away from the wind. I did pull my chip loader & tray out to have about a 1" opening. My smoke was very consistent after those few things. Not crazy just a steady blue stream of smoke. Good luck!