Mak 2 Star Question

[dpends]

Hi All,

I am looking for a pellet grill to replace my Klose offset. I have gotten a lot of good years out of the Klose, but have gotten busy with life and kids and don't ever have the time to use it. My first attempt was the Weber Smokefire, which I will be returning to Lowes this weekend. I am now narrowing in on the Mak 2 star and the Pitts and Spitts 1250 - which leads me to my question:

My biggest concern with the Mak is capacity - I've searched for fully loaded pictures and haven't seen much. However, piecing together various pictures, it appears that it could pretty easily hold two packers (~15lbs) on the bottom and 4 butts (~8lbs) on the top with a full rack. Is that accurate? If so, that is probably as much or more than I would ever cook at a time (I typically do two butts and one packer for larger gatherings at our house).

I'd also appreciate input from Mak owners as to whether the wifi is useful or if you more often just use controls on the grill itself.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rwalters]

Have had 20+ cookers go through my backyard over the years... gas, charcoal, sticks and pellets. My only grill/smoker today is a MAK 2 Star. Best all around cooker I have ever had. Yes, it will hold what you have mentioned. 4 butts on top, no problem. 2 average sized or 1 gigantic brisket below.

Here’s a pic of mine loaded down with 15 racks of St. Louis style ribs:

This was a mess of smaller butts with room for more:

Here’s another MAK owner with 4 15ish lb. briskets (older MAK).

 

[dpends]

Thanks RWalters - that is very helpful and exactly what I was looking for.

Do you use the wifi?

Also, your pictures got me thinking about one more question - can you add the smoker box after the fact or do you need to do so when ordering?

 

[rwalters]

Thanks RWalters - that is very helpful and exactly what I was looking for.

Do you use the wifi?

Also, your pictures got me thinking about one more question - can you add the smoker box after the fact or do you need to do so when ordering?

I have the WiFi and use it for 100% of my cooks. It is solid.

The smoker box can be added at any point

 

[dpends]

Thanks for your help - ordered one from Big Pappa

 

[rwalters]

Thanks for your help - ordered one from Big Pappa

Dang, you don’t mess around! Welcome to the MAK family

Did you create an account at BPS for their reward points? A 2 Star will easily score you enough points to get a free accessory. And those MAK accessories ain’t cheap.

 

[dpends]

Thanks. I've probably actually taken way too long to make the decision Been debating with myself for a week.

I did create an account and got the rewards. I wish I had thought of free accessories before ordering the door and shelf.

 

[WBDubya]

Thanks for your help - ordered one from Big Pappa

You'll love it!

 

[rwalters]

Thanks. I've probably actually taken way too long to make the decision Been debating with myself for a week.

I did create an account and got the rewards. I wish I had thought of free accessories before ordering the door and shelf.

Besides the door and shelf did you order anything else?

 

[Shadowdog500]

What is the length and with of the cooking grate?

You should be a MAK salesman!!

 

[rwalters]

What is the length and with of the cooking grate?

You should be a MAK salesman!!

22x19.5”. Not big, but with the pill shaped lid, you can fit a TON of protein under the hood. I’d love to work for MAK... great product/fantastic company

 

[Av8er]

Have had 20+ cookers go through my backyard over the years... gas, charcoal, sticks and pellets. My only grill/smoker today is a MAK 2 Star. Best all around cooker I have ever had. Yes, it will hold what you have mentioned. 4 butts on top, no problem. 2 average sized or 1 gigantic brisket below.

Here’s a pic of mine loaded down with 15 racks of St. Louis style ribs:

This was a mess of smaller butts with room for more:

Here’s another MAK owner with 4 15ish lb. briskets (older MAK).

How do you handle all the grease when cooking that amount? I have a one star and the grease catcher would be way to small for that amount and would overflow.

 

[Shadowdog500]

22x19.5”. Not big, but with the pill shaped lid, you can fit a TON of protein under the hood. I’d love to work for MAK... great product/fantastic company

Thanks! I usually do full slabs of ribs so that would be two full slabs per shelf or 8 full slabs total.

 

[4ever3]

Thanks for your help - ordered one from Big Pappa

Good call, when the time comes this spring it will be a MAK 2 Star sitting on the patio...

 

[rwalters]

Thanks! I usually do full slabs of ribs so that would be two full slabs per shelf or 8 full slabs total.

Or get 2 of MAK’s rib racks and do 8 per grate. Maybe 6 if they are monster slabs. So at least 12.

 

[rwalters]

How do you handle all the grease when cooking that amount? I have a one star and the grease catcher would be way to small for that amount and would overflow.

Interesting. Starting with an empty grease catch, I have never even come close to overflowing it on a large cook. Not sure what to say.

 

[KevinJ]

Good call, when the time comes this spring it will be a MAK 2 Star sitting on the patio...

BPS will probably have a Memorial Day sale, that's when I bought mine plus got 4x BPS points that weekend for grill/smoker orders, ordered the bottom storage shelf for the MAK 1 after I received the points which payed for a good portion of the bottom storage shelf.

 

[4ever3]

So you can get a better deal through BPS than MAK direct sort of?


Guess I’ll be signing up for BPS emails!

 

[dpends]

Besides the door and shelf did you order anything else?

I also got the WiFi controller and ordered the bps package that comes with a cover.

 

[rwalters]

So you can get a better deal through BPS than MAK direct sort of?


Guess I’ll be signing up for BPS emails!

Those BPS points are $$ in your pocket to spend on MAK accessories (or whatever).