Komodo Kamado...Anyone Have One?

darita · 03-04-2012, 08:00 PM

Does anyone actually have one of these? They are gorgeous, but how good are they? Sour grapes tells me that my XL is every bit as good a cooker, but I'd love to hear from an owner, just what I'm missing. All kidding aside, I already told the wife, if I ever hit the lotto, I don't need a bigger house or a fancier car, but this thing I gotta have!

The Pup · 03-04-2012, 08:34 PM

I have one, it works as advertised.

They are well built and insulated. I have had it up to ~1100F during burn-in and was able to place me bare hands on the outside with no problem.

I have been a dedicated smoker/griller for close to 50 years and it is an absolute joy to use.

Sly-one · 03-04-2012, 08:52 PM

Yeow, that's a thing of true beauty!

The Pup · 03-04-2012, 08:54 PM

...just before shipment:

Nomo4me · 03-04-2012, 08:59 PM

Beauty!

Is 'sour grapes' even a color option for those things?

darita · 03-04-2012, 09:14 PM

I'm beyond jealous and heading toward obsessed. I keep hearing, "How can I get one of these...how can I get one of these...". Scary!
They are beautiful though and i am glad to hear that they work as good as they look. Maybe if I sell my car...

darita · 03-04-2012, 09:18 PM

What are the insides like? Anything like a BGE. Or Primo? Options?

The Pup · 03-04-2012, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darita

I'm beyond jealous and heading toward obsessed. I keep hearing, "How can I get one of these...how can I get one of these...". Scary!
They are beautiful though and i am glad to hear that they work as good as they look. Maybe if I sell my car...

I have never had much trouble making good eats; whether on a fancy offset, a $35 cooker or the much maligned gasser or pellet popper. If you are making good Q on your BGE, you should relax and make the most with what you have got.

Just breath-in-and-out...this too shall pass.

The Pup · 03-04-2012, 09:28 PM

It was three levels (here are the top two):

Upper/ Sear Grill............274 Sq"..........18 m2
Lower Grill....................329 Sq"........ .21 m2
Main Grill......................375 Sq"........ .24 m2
Total Grilling Area...........978 Sq"........ .63 m2

It also works with a rotisserie set up (I have used both 8" and 6" cages).

troytime · 03-04-2012, 09:40 PM

a friend of mine has one and loves it.
but he's a millionaire and doesn't really know how to use it :)

darita · 03-04-2012, 09:56 PM

I'd love to see more of the insides of this thing, but the website doesn't show it. I'd like to see things like the firebox and vents and things like that. Are there options for a split direct/indirect cook? How's the warranty?

Baby Back Maniac · 03-04-2012, 10:19 PM

Pup,
Is this the bigger one or the smaller one?

Darita,
There are 3 videos on youtube that show a lot of it. When I first saw the price tag I thought it was outrageously overpriced but the more I researched it, the more I feel like it's actually UNDER-priced for what you get.

Someday...

The Pup · 03-04-2012, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darita

I'd love to see more of the insides of this thing, but the website doesn't show it. I'd like to see things like the firebox and vents and things like that. Are there options for a split direct/indirect cook? How's the warranty?

Except for grilling, I do exclusively indirect cooking (via the supplied refractory stone); you could also use foil on the lower grate too I suppose. You could modify the firebox for "split" cooking (some folks on the manufacturer's forum have a few easy approaches), but I just keep it simple and use it like a big ~600lbs dutch oven. You should contact the manufacture, Dennis Linkletter, he can answer all of your questions and provide photos.

Here's a video link from a user.

Here it is on YouTube.

The Pup · 03-04-2012, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hogsfan

Pup,
Is this the bigger one or the smaller one?

Darita,
There are 3 videos on youtube that show a lot of it. When I first saw the price tag I thought it was outrageously overpriced but the more I researched it, the more I feel like it's actually UNDER-priced for what you get.

Someday...

It's the big one, I am a tall guy so the camera angle may make it look smaller than it is.

Baby Back Maniac · 03-04-2012, 10:29 PM

Thanks for posting this information. I've got two questions I've always wondered about if you don't mind.

1) Is there a way to tell how open the top vent is without closing it completely down and re-spinning it to where you need it? Like if you get close, can you see threads or is it marked somehow or something?

2) Also, is it hard to bring the temps DOWN in such a heavy cooker? Also, any issue maintaining low temps?

Thanks.

03-04-2012, 08:00 PM	#1
darita is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-01-10 Location: Roseville, CA	Komodo Kamado...Anyone Have One? Does anyone actually have one of these? They are gorgeous, but how good are they? Sour grapes tells me that my XL is every bit as good a cooker, but I'd love to hear from an owner, just what I'm missing. All kidding aside, I already told the wife, if I ever hit the lotto, I don't need a bigger house or a fancier car, but this thing I gotta have! __________________ NorCal Smoker...MAK2, Masterbuilt 560 GF, WSM 22, SnS Grill, Weber Kettle, Weber Summit Charcoal.

03-04-2012, 08:52 PM	#3
Sly-one Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-15-11 Location: Nocatee, Fl	Yeow, that's a thing of true beauty! __________________ Tim, A Big Green Egg, 1 Butt Ugly UDS, and yes, a gasser for the quick and dirty.

03-04-2012, 09:14 PM	#6
darita is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-01-10 Location: Roseville, CA	I'm beyond jealous and heading toward obsessed. I keep hearing, "How can I get one of these...how can I get one of these...". Scary! They are beautiful though and i am glad to hear that they work as good as they look. Maybe if I sell my car... __________________ NorCal Smoker...MAK2, Masterbuilt 560 GF, WSM 22, SnS Grill, Weber Kettle, Weber Summit Charcoal.

03-04-2012, 09:18 PM	#7
darita is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-01-10 Location: Roseville, CA	What are the insides like? Anything like a BGE. Or Primo? Options? __________________ NorCal Smoker...MAK2, Masterbuilt 560 GF, WSM 22, SnS Grill, Weber Kettle, Weber Summit Charcoal.

03-04-2012, 09:56 PM	#11
darita is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-01-10 Location: Roseville, CA	I'd love to see more of the insides of this thing, but the website doesn't show it. I'd like to see things like the firebox and vents and things like that. Are there options for a split direct/indirect cook? How's the warranty? __________________ NorCal Smoker...MAK2, Masterbuilt 560 GF, WSM 22, SnS Grill, Weber Kettle, Weber Summit Charcoal.

03-04-2012, 08:34 PM	#2
The Pup Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 12-08-09 Location: None	I have one, it works as advertised. They are well built and insulated. I have had it up to ~1100F during burn-in and was able to place me bare hands on the outside with no problem. I have been a dedicated smoker/griller for close to 50 years and it is an absolute joy to use.

03-04-2012, 08:54 PM	#4
The Pup Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 12-08-09 Location: None	...just before shipment:

03-04-2012, 08:59 PM	#5
Nomo4me On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-16-12 Location: Salt Lake City, UT	Beauty! Is 'sour grapes' even a color option for those things?

03-04-2012, 09:28 PM	#9
The Pup Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 12-08-09 Location: None	It was three levels (here are the top two): Upper/ Sear Grill............274 Sq"..........18 m2 Lower Grill....................329 Sq"........ .21 m2 Main Grill......................375 Sq"........ .24 m2 Total Grilling Area...........978 Sq"........ .63 m2 It also works with a rotisserie set up (I have used both 8" and 6" cages).

03-04-2012, 09:40 PM	#10
troytime Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-05-10 Location: Orange County, CA	a friend of mine has one and loves it. but he's a millionaire and doesn't really know how to use it :)

03-04-2012, 10:19 PM	#12
Baby Back Maniac is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-20-10 Location: Dallas, TX	Pup, Is this the bigger one or the smaller one? Darita, There are 3 videos on youtube that show a lot of it. When I first saw the price tag I thought it was outrageously overpriced but the more I researched it, the more I feel like it's actually UNDER-priced for what you get. Someday...

03-04-2012, 10:29 PM	#15
Baby Back Maniac is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-20-10 Location: Dallas, TX	Thanks for posting this information. I've got two questions I've always wondered about if you don't mind. 1) Is there a way to tell how open the top vent is without closing it completely down and re-spinning it to where you need it? Like if you get close, can you see threads or is it marked somehow or something? 2) Also, is it hard to bring the temps DOWN in such a heavy cooker? Also, any issue maintaining low temps? Thanks.