MES Generation Number Recognition Pictures & Info (Digital Units)

[Bearcarver]

 
Hey Bear,

I forgot to ask you about the pellets I need to order.  As I understand it, you're only supposed to generate smoke for half of the cooking time????  That being said, if I smoke a Boston Butt for 8 hours, I would need enough pellets to last 4 hours.  How many pounds would I need to do that?  I guess that as a rule of thumb a pound of pellets lasts how long?  I'm trying to figure out how much to buy along with the maze.

Backpacker

Yup---Yours is a Generation #2.

The best thing seems to be to do the following:

Remove the little water pan from that slanted drip plate.

Then set your AMNPS over that hole left by the missing water pan (you don't need the water pan anyway---Ever).

Then you can put a throw-away foil pan under the water pan hole in case any drips show up.

I make smoke as long as the meat is in the smoker, unless the food is in the foiling stage.

Get plenty of Pellets & some Dust. The more you get the less shipping you pay per pound. IMO

Bear

 

[frankly]

Hi Bear - great info as always!

Now a side question: On this thread and your "Boston Butt Pulled Pork (Step by Step)" thread I have noticed that your pics in the initial post of the thread do not show up for me, but all other pics in the thread seem to (I can see backpacker's pic in this thread).  Any thoughts?

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Hi Bear - great info as always!

Now a side question: On this thread and your "Boston Butt Pulled Pork (Step by Step)" thread I have noticed that your pics in the initial post of the thread do not show up for me, but all other pics in the thread seem to (I can see backpacker's pic in this thread).  Any thoughts?

Hi Frankly!!

Sorry to hear that----I think maybe you're just too far on the other side of Allentown for those Pics to reach you!!

Just Kidding.

I've had that happen already when I tried to open pics. Sometimes I just refresh the screen & they come up, and sometime I just wait a little longer, and they come up. Sometimes it takes awhile if there are a lot of Pics on one Post. Backpacker only has two small pics on this page.

Do you have trouble with anybody else's pics?

I think "Backpacker" uploaded his pics directly through the forum, and I ran mine through Photobucket, and then Copied & Pasted them.

Maybe your system needs something to be able to use Photobucket.

These are just guesses, because I'm pretty much of a Computer Dummy.

Let me know how you make out.

Bear

 

[frankly]

Hi Bear - must be this particular locked down work laptop and the Photobucket use...  Everyone else's pics come up fine and I am able to see yours on another laptop and phone now that I tried that!  Now back to looking at threads and figuring out what to smoke this weekend!

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Hi Bear - must be this particular locked down work laptop and the Photobucket use...  Everyone else's pics come up fine and I am able to see yours on another laptop and phone now that I tried that!  Now back to looking at threads and figuring out what to smoke this weekend!

OK---I thought that might be.

I got a Retired Buddy who is a guard at a big Nursing Home, and there are things that he can't open on the work computer.

Bear

 

[larrymac]

Bear carver
Where would you put a 5 X 8 AMNPS on a 40" Gen. 2.5? lower left?

 

[Bearcarver]

Bear carver
Where would you put a 5 X 8 AMNPS on a 40" Gen. 2.5? lower left?

I have found the best place in my Gen #2.5 to be:

I put the bottom rack in, and put the AMNPS on the right side of that bottom rack.

Then if it's not smoking too good, I give it more air by pulling the chip dumper out a couple inches.

If it gets to smoking too heavy, I push the chip dumper back in.

Bear

 

[thebig1]

Can anyone tell me what model this MES is, I can't place it.  I'm thinking that it's a Gen #2 only they reconfigured the exhaust to be on top instead of on the side.

https://scranton.craigslist.org/grd/d/40-cubic-inch-electric-smoker/6259731820.html

Is it worth the price? 

Is it a good model to have?

Or should I just spend the $329 at Sam's for the 2.5 model?

Chad

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Can anyone tell me what model this MES is, I can't place it.  I'm thinking that it's a Gen #2 only they reconfigured the exhaust to be on top instead of on the side.

https://scranton.craigslist.org/grd/d/40-cubic-inch-electric-smoker/6259731820.html

Is it worth the price? 

Is it a good model to have?

Or should I just spend the $329 at Sam's for the 2.5 model?

Chad

Looks like a Gen #2. (Late model)

The only bad model Masterbuilt makes.

Not worth $250.

I would pay the $329 for the Gen #2.5, or wait for one of it's $289 sales.

Bear

 

[thebig1]

 
Looks like a Gen #2. (Late model)

The only bad model Masterbuilt makes.

Not worth $250.

I would pay the $329 for the Gen #2.5, or wait for one of it's $289 sales.

Bear

Thank you very much Bear.  That's quite unfortunate.  My mouth was beginning to water as I was thinking about some prime rib this weekend.

Even the model #2's that they're still making are bad?  Like I said, I can see that they moved the vent to the top left and made that change from the one you tested.  He says that he bought it about a month ago so it's brand new.

Chad

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Thank you very much Bear.  That's quite unfortunate.  My mouth was beginning to water as I was thinking about some prime rib this weekend.

Even the model #2's that they're still making are bad?  Like I said, I can see that they moved the vent to the top left and made that change from the one you tested.  He says that he bought it about a month ago so it's brand new.

Chad

It's a little better, since they moved the top vent from the side to the top, but as long as that full width slanted drip pan is in there, I wouldn't want it.

The slanted drip pan can be removed, and the bottom rack can be put in place with a full size water pan or a Foil pan on that bottom rack, but that's just my theory. I haven't actually tried it.

Bear

 

[thebig1]

Again, thank you for your expertise Bear, it's always appreciated.  I think that I'll take your advice and wait to get the 2.5

Chad

 

[soapshoes]

Pictures are gones :(

 

[Rings Я Us]

Pictures are gones :(

Oh snap! my bad! I have out the link to this and it's half missing.

 

[Bearcarver]

Sorry about that guys. Nearly all of my Pics went away during the platform switch.
Photobucket is the culprit.
I'm working on it, so give me a few days & I'll get all the ones on my Step by Steps restored.
Bear with The Bear.

Bear

 

[Rings Я Us]

Lol.. I shoulda looked 1st

 

[Bearcarver]

OK Guys!!
Since you're nice guys, I got on it right away & fixed it up.
The Pics are there now!!

Bear

 

[GaryHibbert]

Nice job John.
Unless it dies I can't see replacing my MES 30 GEN 1. But........after seeing that sunshade on the new model I have to admit to a wee bit of envy. I want one---just the sunshade. LOL
Gary

 

[Bearcarver]

Nice job John.
Unless it dies I can't see replacing my MES 30 GEN 1. But........after seeing that sunshade on the new model I have to admit to a wee bit of envy. I want one---just the sunshade. LOL
Gary

Ha-Ha Gary!!
Actually that Sunshade is nice, although not important.
The reason I pointed that out is when looking at the Gen #2.5 and the Newer Made Gen #2 from the outside, that shade is the easiest way to tell them apart. Also---I don't think the Gen #2 has the slots to accept the Sunshade.

Bear

 

[Capsaicin Burn]

MES Generation Number Recognition Pictures & Info (Digital Units)


I got these Pictures together in the hopes of helping people to be able to tell the various MES Generations apart, when buying or discussing the MES units.
A lot of people ask, “Which is the best one, How can I tell which one is which, etc, etc”.
This Thread should help with the identification of the MES Units.

For my Thoughts & Findings on the various Generations, and which I consider the best, go to:
Masterbuilt Smokers (Bear's Thoughts & Findings)

Hope this helps,

Bear


Note: I sold my MES 30, so I will have to use internet Pics for the MES 30:



This is an Early model of the Gen #1 MES 30 (Note the square corners on the Control Box on top).
The Top Vent is on the back right corner of the Top. The door is hinged on the right side:
View attachment 340536



This is the inside of a Gen #1 MES 30. Note the Large Water Pan.
The AMNPS was designed specifically to fit on the support rods to the left of the Chip burner assembly:
View attachment 340537



Here are 2 MES 40 units. The one on the Right is a Gen #1. The one on the Left is a Gen #2:
Note the Window in the Gen #2 is larger than to Window in the Gen #1:
View attachment 340538



This is the top of a Newer MES 40 Gen #1. Notice the rounded corners on the Control Box on top:
The top Vent is on the back right corner of the top:
View attachment 340539



This is the inside of the MES 40 Gen #1.
The Water Pan is nearly full width.
Note the Aluminum plate setting on the right side of the Water Pan. I use that to push heat from the right to the left in the Smoker.
This is needed because the heat comes from the bottom right, & the top vent is in the back right corner of the top.
Without the Heat deflector the heat rises from the heating element, and goes directly to the Top Vent, and out:
View attachment 340540



This is an MES 40 Gen #2. Note the Controls are built into the front of the top of the Smoker:
View attachment 340541



Inside of the MES 40 Gen #2. Note the Slanted Drip Plate, higher on the Right, with a hole on the left end for a small Water Pan.
I removed the small water pan & put a foil pan under the hole. Then I can set my AMNPS over the hole in the Drip Plate:
View attachment 340542



The Top Vent on a Gen #2 MES is on the Left side wall, instead of in the top:
View attachment 340543



Generation #2.5 MES 40. The strap is just to keep it from blowing over in a strong wind.
The Door is the same as the door on the Gen #2:
View attachment 340544



Inside of the MES 40 Gen #2.5. Note the Split level Water Pan (Deeper left side than right side).
Note: I have since found the right side of the bottom rack to be a better place for the Amazing Smoker: (In the Gen #2.5)
View attachment 340545



Top of the MES 40 Gen #2.5. Note the top vent has been moved to the back left corner of the top.
View attachment 340546



Closeup of the Control panel of the MES 40 Gen #2.5. Note the Sun shield that snaps on to reduce sun glare on the panel.
View attachment 340547

I think I'm making this harder than it needs to be but I don't see reference to my smoker nor is it even on the masterbuilt.com web site. I still am not positive what Gen it is. It is an MES 30" Model # 20071317