MES Mailbox Mod! for use with AMNPS

[chopsaw]

Once I make that connection . I leave it made up until the tanks empty . Never had a problem doing it like that .
Keeps dirt out of the connection , and with more use the pressure in the bottle drops which can cause the valve to leak .

Nice to see the tube burned good for you .

 

[raselkirk]

Once I make that connection . I leave it made up until the tanks empty . Never had a problem doing it like that .
Keeps dirt out of the connection , and with more use the pressure in the bottle drops which can cause the valve to leak .

Nice to see the tube burned good for you .

Yes, thanks! One of the best mods ever. The electric smoke box had dents all over the shell from my rubber mallet. I'd chip out the creosote buildup yearly, redid the (melted) wiring harness, and replaced the support grid at the bottom. Having to get up every 15 minutes to look for smoke, constantly banging on the sides and using a 2 ft rod to keep the chips from hanging up in the chute got old!

Russ

 

[M3 Pete]

I just created another mailbox mod thread with some minor tweaks to the standard mod.

Another mailbox mod | Smoking Meat Forums - The Best Barbecue Discussion Forum On Earth!

I put it in the electric smoker forum, maybe I should have put it here in the MES forum..

 

[Pompano]

Hello All, I'm new to this forum. Been really learning a lot from reading posts for the last month or so. I'm planning on installing the mail box mod to my MES30 1st Gen. smoker. Already have everything to do it with. I have read all the posts and REALLY appreciate the pics! (A picture is worth a thousand words!) I just need a little more guidance. My existing chip tray is rusted out, so I was planning on eliminating it anyway. Am I correct in thinking I need to keep the cover over the heating element? If so, do I need to cut the pipe part of it off (the part that mounts to the side where the wood chip dispenser fits)? And, if I cut that part off, how do I mount it? Hope this is not a stupid question that has already been answered. Thanks in advance!

 

[chopsaw]

do I need to cut the pipe part of it off (the part that mounts to the side where the wood chip dispenser fits)?

You can leave it in place or remove it completely by taking the screws out . You don't need to cut it .
Mine looks like this , but I ran it with the cover in place at first .

 

[Pompano]

You can leave it in place or remove it completely by taking the screws out . You don't need to cut it .
Mine looks like this , but I ran it with the cover in place at first .
View attachment 504937

Thanks Chopsaw! The chip tray in your pic is the part that is rusted out on mine. Just trying to come up with a cover for the element. I just didn't know if I would get enough draft I put the original cover back in. Is your chip tray just laying on top of the element?

 

[Bearcarver]

Thanks Chopsaw! The chip tray in your pic is the part that is rusted out on mine. Just trying to come up with a cover for the element. I just didn't know if I would get enough draft I put the original cover back in. Is your chip tray just laying on top of the element?

With that Generation #1 you have, it could be helpful if you put a heat deflector in the bottom right side (See Pic Below) above the heating element, but below the chip dumper hole.
The MES 30 isn't as bad as the MES 40, but on the Gen #1, the heat has a tendency to go straight up the right side & out the top Vent, without getting an equal amount of heat over to the left side.

Bear

 

[chopsaw]

Just trying to come up with a cover for the element. I just didn't know if I would get enough draft I put the original cover back in.

All kinds of ways to make a cover . Lowes sells small sections of cold rolled sheet metal . I did make a cover for mine , then took it out and just use the tray .
You'll get plenty of draft if you leave the original cover in place . I just took it out for room to hang sausage .

Is your chip tray just laying on top of the element?

I just slide it on . Works fine .