New MES Bluetooth Digital smoker

[Bearcarver]

 
I never used it in my old one - I didn't buy it until I got the new one.

OK,

I can only give you options & suggestions:

I put my AMNPS on the right end of my bottom rack, above the chip dumper.

It works great there, but you want to use that rack for meat. I never use that rack for meat, because there's too much direct heat from a Heating element that is too close.

Actually even if you want to use that bottom rack for Meat, the AMNPS only takes up about 5" of space.

So the only things left for you are to elevate the AMNPS above the floor as high as you can on the bottom left. This should give it more air flow.

If it still goes out on you, try to get it lit better, with a good deep cigar-like Cherry in the pellets.

Link:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/140859/how-i-light-my-amnps-w-video-link

If it still won't stay lit, you can either get an AMNTS (Tube Smoker), or do a Mailbox Mod (Last resort--IMO).

BTW: You don't say where you live----What is your Altitude there?

Bear

 

[jdmarti1]

Oklahoma - not a place known for not having lack of oxygen in he air.  If I was in Colorado - I could see it.  This is driving me nuts.

 

[dr k]

My AMNPS just doesn't seem to stay lit.  I have had my Bluetooth since last Christmas, and have reverted to chips.  I have it on the bottom left side (below the racks) - no water ever, I have even taken the chip loader out.  Drives me crazy.  I like to use my bottom rack for things I want hotter.  I have elevated the AMNPS a couple of inches, tried different orientations, etc.  What to do - I want it on the bottom if at all possible.  Why was a rack?

You may have to get four pieces of stainless steel wire and hang it from the bottom rack. Lots of holes on the top edge of the Amnps to loop through. Or two long pieces of wire in a U shape with the ends tied/clipped to the bottom rack you can set the Amnps on so it hangs below the bottom rack for easy intalling/removal of the Amnps. I like the easy access and safety of the mailbox mod. With this mod you open the smoker once to foil, maybe once again to unfoil and the last time to remove to eat what your smoking. As basic as the pic below. $20. Plug mounting holes in the bottom of the mailbox, drill 3" hole in top back of mailbox, get 3"x2' aluminum pipe and done. You can make the pipe as long as you want or butt it up against the smoker. Plenty of air comes in the bottom of the door without drilling holes or leave the two holes on the bottom closes to the door open. Use magnets to seal holes before making them permanent. I would elevate the Amnps in the mailbox. It can't go out being directly in the draft. Now you can use the top vent damper the Mes came with to further regulate smoke/air flow. With my vent as far closed as it can go touching the leads of my probes is a super thin blue smoke. Adjust accordingly.

CAM00880.jpg

• dr k
• Aug 28, 2016

-Kurt

 

[wbf610]

You probably have this already, but just in case:

 Just click on "Bear's Step by Steps".
 
 
 
Bear
 

I've seen most of your stuff!!! Unfortunately, after delivery, my wife decided to let me know that her dad was looking for a smoker. He drops off and picks our son up from school daily. So, we gave him the MES 40" for Christmas. Now i'm left searching for sales again.

I'm actually thinking of a WSM 22.5" now.

 

[Bearcarver]

I've seen most of your stuff!!! Unfortunately, after delivery, my wife decided to let me know that her dad was looking for a smoker. He drops off and picks our son up from school daily. So, we gave him the MES 40" for Christmas. Now i'm left searching for sales again.

I'm actually thinking of a WSM 22.5" now.

Nothing wrong with them!!

I know a lot of guys LOVE them!!

Just too much work for me any more.

Bear

 

[remsr]

Bear,

Quick question: In your step by steps you are placing the pellet smoker on the bottom to the left. Didn't you say it works better on the bottom right?

 

[remsr]

Hi wbf610 I have a WSM 22.5" and love it especially now that I added the Pitmaster IQ 130 blue tooth temp controller. It holds steady temp until it runs out of fuel which is somewhere around 18 hours if you fill it and don't add any additional fuel. Hard wood and charcoal flavor is a good thing.
I also have the MES 2.5 40" and love it because of it is as Bear says they are less work than the MES. The MES gets more of a work out then my WSM because I don't have to load it with charcoal, lite the charcoal and empty the ashes when I'm done. I use the WSM for big cuts of meat and all beef because I like red oak smoke on all my beef and can't find it in pellets red oak is especially good on brisket and I just like the flavors of wood and charcoal on butts. I have a bunch of new red oak flooring never treated, that I am going to run through my planer for the dust that might burn like pellets? If it works I'll use the WSM even less.

 

[wbf610]

Nothing wrong with them!!
I know a lot of guys LOVE them!!
Just too much work for me any more.


Bear

I don't mind the work right now. I imagine I'll have a wsm and a MES at some point.

Hi wbf610 I have a WSM 22.5" and love it especially now that I added the Pitmaster IQ 130 blue tooth temp controller. It holds steady temp until it runs out of fuel which is somewhere around 18 hours if you fill it and don't add any additional fuel. Hard wood and charcoal flavor is a good thing.
I also have the MES 2.5 40" and love it because of it is as Bear says they are less work than the MES. The MES gets more of a work out then my WSM because I don't have to load it with charcoal, lite the charcoal and empty the ashes when I'm done. I use the WSM for big cuts of meat and all beef because I like red oak smoke on all my beef and can't find it in pellets red oak is especially good on brisket and I just like the flavors of wood and charcoal on butts. I have a bunch of new red oak flooring never treated, that I am going to run through my planer for the dust that might burn like pellets? If it works I'll use the WSM even less.

I like the charcoal flavor as well. I'm in no hurry to buy anything again. I could always just go use the father in laws MES if I need it.

 

[remsr]

You are a lot more patient than myself, when I am in the mood for some smoked foods (which is real often) I want the means to do so in my back yard and not across town or even next door LOL. I am thinking about adding one more smoker since I don't have the space for one of those big rig stick burners. I was thinking gas for that bacon flavor until Bear gave me recipes to bacon flavor vertically anything. Now I'm back to thinking, another MES 40 with a window. Did you here that Bear? A MES 40 with a window! LOL
Randy,

 

[Bearcarver]

You are a lot more patient than myself, when I am in the mood for some smoked foods (which is real often) I want the means to do so in my back yard and not across town or even next door LOL. I am thinking about adding one more smoker since I don't have the space for one of those big rig stick burners. I was thinking gas for that bacon flavor until Bear gave me recipes to bacon flavor vertically anything. Now I'm back to thinking, another MES 40 with a window. Did you here that Bear? A MES 40 with a window! LOL
Randy,

I just heard that----Try for the MES 40 Gen #2.5- with Window---Try for $279. Possibly less over Holidays, but I wouldn't wait too long for lower than $279---Could also go back up to $479. 

Bear

 

[remsr]

Thanks Bear!

 

[remsr]

I still have that question that you didn't answer yet. in your step by steps you were putting the pellet smoker at the bottom left, but didn't you say just tesetly bottom right works best?

Randy,

 

[Bearcarver]

I still have that question that you didn't answer yet. in your step by steps you were putting the pellet smoker at the bottom left, but didn't you say just tesetly bottom right works best?

Randy,

That's an easy one, Randy!

When I first got my MES 40 Gen #2.5 I put my AMNPS on the left, because it usually goes in the left in both the Gen #1 and in the Gen #2.

You must be talking about one of my first Step by Steps with my Gen #2.5.

But then it went out on me a couple times while on the left side, so I studied the situation, and since the Chip Dumper is just under the right end of the bottom rack, I tried it over there, so I can adjust the air flow by pulling the Chip Dumper in & out. I found it to work Awesome there, and have been putting it there ever since.

Make Sense now?

Bear

 

[remsr]

I thought that was the case, but I wanted to clear up any possible misunderstanding for new people reading older posts.
Incidentally those posts were awesome and filled with really good information. I haven't tried a dry brine yet, but I am going to give it a go on your spair rib step by step. They sure look good.

Randy,

 

[Bearcarver]

I thought that was the case, but I wanted to clear up any possible misunderstanding for new people reading older posts.
Incidentally those posts were awesome and filled with really good information. I haven't tried a dry brine yet, but I am going to give it a go on your spair rib step by step. They sure look good.

Randy,

You're gonna love that !!

That Bacon-on-a-Stick is definitely one of the best things I ever smoked !!!

Bear

 

[chitown smoker]

20070115 currently on sale by LG Outdoors on Amazon for $294, FYI.

 

[chitown smoker]

 
I keep mine outside all of the time with a cover on it and under a covered patio.

Same.  At least my 20070910

They do not recommend doing this since it's electric.  But just keep the cable wrapped and covered and I think it's OK.

 

[chitown smoker]

Special delivery today.  Dead sexy.

15443073_10154230160052039_1942833267005061676_o.j

• chitown smoker
• Dec 15, 2016

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Special delivery today.  Dead sexy.

15443073_10154230160052039_1942833267005061676_o.j

• chitown smoker
• Dec 15, 2016

Yup---That's a Beauty!!

Enjoy!

Bear

 

[chitown smoker]

welp.... it's blowing my circuit breaker.  I have my smoker setup on my balcony which uses the same circuit as all my electronics and plasma, along with some lights and plugs for our laptops.  Apparently 15A was not enough...  1200 watts is a lot

Not sure what to do.  I hope I have 12 gauge wire so I can put in a 20A breaker...