New Masterbuilt Gravit Feed

RCAlan said:
I know every bbq device and equipment has its pros and cons... There’s still possibly some good service life in your Camp Chef pellet grill, if you’re willing to do some upgrades to it. I like the fact that I can Set and Forget my Pellet Pro Austin XL and also enjoy Charcoal/Hardwood smoke from it with the SD Magnum P.I.G. upgrade. Every upgrade/investment comes at a price $$ though. That MB 560 GF sales for about $499.00 which is a pretty good price. I hear in a few months, Masterbuilt is coming out with a larger model as well. The more you see it and read about it, the greater the chances that you’ll eventually get one. Also, how is that DigiQ working out for you on your kettle/Slow N Sear configuration?
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I actually have only gotten to try it once, just for a small test run. I got it on December 25. Messed around and didn't get it installed on the kettle for a couple weeks and then the wife had our second child on January 20th. So my time for goofing off at the moment is next to nothing. Hopefully once the Spring really gets here I can get some more time to put it through its paces. Just from the one test run I can tell it's going to take some fine tuning but the prospect of success is there in abundance.


Would still be interested in the Masterbuilt though. I really like that it could hold that much charcoal and the simplicity of the whole setup to go from cold to cooking quickly. I'll probably wait until my existing equipment wears out in a few years before pulling the trigger. By then there should be sufficient evidence of whether the 560 had staying power or whether it was a flash in the pan.
 
Blue Kettle said:
I actually have only gotten to try it once, just for a small test run. I got it on December 25. Messed around and didn't get it installed on the kettle for a couple weeks and then the wife had our second child on January 20th. So my time for goofing off at the moment is next to nothing. Hopefully once the Spring really gets here I can get some more time to put it through its paces. Just from the one test run I can tell it's going to take some fine tuning but the prospect of success is there in abundance.


Would still be interested in the Masterbuilt though. I really like that it could hold that much charcoal and the simplicity of the whole setup to go from cold to cooking quickly. I'll probably wait until my existing equipment wears out in a few years before pulling the trigger. By then there should be sufficient evidence of whether the 560 had staying power or whether it was a flash in the pan.
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Congratulations on your 2nd child... I completely understand not having enough time for the hobbies, but family always comes first. I think Masterbuilt has a winner with MB 560 GF... Long term though, only time will tell. Good luck
 
At that price I'd look at the Old Country GF if your Academy carries them.

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Finally seen one of these in person........was Not Impressed - thing is Thin/Light Gauge - even the chute and burnbox - makes the 14 gauge Old Country stuff seem Heavy Duty 1/4”.......and the capacity is small

I’m not gonna fault anybody or dog them for buying one - but for the price of the bigger one I would go to the Old Country Gravity Fed for sure - add an ATC to it if you want but it does not need one. If your main use would be smoking - if your main use is grilling I would still buy another grill. Many of the mid grade pellet grills (Pellet Pro, Rec Tec etc) are better built than this thing -I’ve had better built cheap gas grills - my Cheap Chinese Charbroil Kamander is Better Built/Heavier Duty.

Just my Honest Opinion - which don’t mean nothing......
 
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Despite Mister Smitty's thoughts, I would not mind having one to mess around with. I think it is a VERY cool concept and Master Built looks to have done a decent job hitting the price point and still delivering. How long will they last? Hard to tell, but I bet as they start laying down or having issues, we will hear of it.
In all honesty, I have too many cookers and not enough weekend- one more taking up my space would not help my situation. I would not consider the upcoming bigger one- at the higher cost, tho. All my cookers are either low cost or home made- the bigger one is probably getting into what I'd call "real money".
 
I've owned one since November and agree with some of smitty's points BUT this sucker puts out great Que with little effort.
 
Hinds15 said:
I've owned one since November and agree with some of smitty's points BUT this sucker puts out great Que with little effort.
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I’m Glad you like it. They should’ve gone a little heavier/sturdier - mainly with the chute, burn box and fire grate - esp for $500 and $1099 . Concept is Good if the controller is Good. Being as it doesn’t have to feed pellets it’s just an ATC so Probally no issues.
Old Country is 14 gauge with 1/4” for bottom half of chute and rebar firegrate.
 
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I'd advise anyone who is interested in the 560 to check out masterbuilt gravity series fan facebook page. The good and the bad is posted.
 

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I realize that Masterbuilt doesn’t have a great reputation & I’ve seen their typical models in stores but I’m really liking this one. Sure it’s a shame that it’s not a thicker metal or weighs a couple of hundred lbs but it is what it is. Still for the money it looks like a great cooker, as long as it works, does what it’s supposed to do & last for a few years I’d be happy. I wish I could see one in person, I might be tempted to pull the trigger.
 
SmittyJonz said:
I’m Glad you like it. They should’ve gone a little heavier/sturdier - mainly with the chute, burn box and fire grate - esp for $500 and $1099 . Concept is Good if the controller is Good. Being as it doesn’t have to feed pellets it’s just an ATC so Probally no issues.
Old Country is 14 gauge with 1/4” for bottom half of chute and rebar firegrate.
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I agree, wish the charcoal zone was heavier gauge. It does seem to be porcelinized (there I made up a word) though like a Weber kettle. That should significantly increase longevity.

I think that’s $1099 Canadian. I thought the 1050 was supposed to be $799 according to the video with the Kamodo Joe rep.

Rex, you seem to have had one of these the longest and have shared many cooks. How well is the chute, charcoal grate, and ash bin holding up?
 
jlrichar said:
I agree, wish the charcoal zone was heavier gauge. It does seem to be porcelinized (there I made up a word) though like a Weber kettle. That should significantly increase longevity.

I think that’s $1099 Canadian. I thought the 1050 was supposed to be $799 according to the video with the Kamodo Joe rep.

Rex, you seem to have had one of these the longest and have shared many cooks. How well is the chute, charcoal grate, and ash bin holding up?
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Well, I got mine January 14. Usually cook something on it at least 3-4 times a week. According to M/B, there are varying thicknesses of metal used in the 560. Don't recall the exact measurements, however. The charcoal chute is insulated with a type of fiberglass firebrick around the area where the actual burning takes place. It's held in place by user replaceable steel plates when/if they burn out. I'm not showing any signs of rusting or excessive burning. The charcoal grate is made of stainless. The ash catcher/bin is porcelain coated steel that shows no wear and tear on it. Most owners are complaining about the paint burning off of the chute and top lid, but in my case, is not paint burning off, but a buildup of creosote on the lid and surrounding edges that I use a steel brush to knock off about once a week so the silicone gasket can do it's work of sealing the top of the chute
 
Fishwater2002 said:
I realize that Masterbuilt doesn’t have a great reputation & I’ve seen their typical models in stores but I’m really liking this one. Sure it’s a shame that it’s not a thicker metal or weighs a couple of hundred lbs but it is what it is. Still for the money it looks like a great cooker, as long as it works, does what it’s supposed to do & last for a few years I’d be happy. I wish I could see one in person, I might be tempted to pull the trigger.
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Go for it, I say. After the first couple of weeks of ownership of the 560, I sold my PK360 and haven't looked back. One thing to know is that all the parts are user/owner replaceable. M/B has a fairly good record of parts that are reasonably priced.

The only drawback to this grill is for Android device owners. The app is hit or miss. Some Androids work, a LOT of them don't including me. B/T works ok, not a great range, but it does work. Wi-fi is a joke. Some of the owners, myself included, bought a Fireboard controller with the DRIVE cable, and are totally satisfied. Solid wi-fi connection, and can be monitored and controlled through an app, and using the Fireboard website, do the same thing on any computer anywhere. Can't do that with the M/B app
 
rexster314 said:
Well, I got mine January 14. Usually cook something on it at least 3-4 times a week. According to M/B, there are varying thicknesses of metal used in the 560. Don't recall the exact measurements, however. The charcoal chute is insulated with a type of fiberglass firebrick around the area where the actual burning takes place. It's held in place by user replaceable steel plates when/if they burn out. I'm not showing any signs of rusting or excessive burning. The charcoal grate is made of stainless. The ash catcher/bin is porcelain coated steel that shows no wear and tear on it. Most owners are complaining about the paint burning off of the chute and top lid, but in my case, is not paint burning off, but a buildup of creosote on the lid and surrounding edges that I use a steel brush to knock off about once a week so the silicone gasket can do it's work of sealing the top of the chute
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That’s great. Any idea how even the temp is side to side and bottom to top? I think the 1050 is supposed to be same depth and height only wider. I wonder if it will be same with temp side to side?
 
jlrichar said:
That’s great. Any idea how even the temp is side to side and bottom to top? I think the 1050 is supposed to be same depth and height only wider. I wonder if it will be same with temp side to side?
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Checking with my infrared found a variance of 6 degrees side to side
I didn't check front to back
 
Can anyone describe the smoke profile from this unit? I’m a little concerned with the fire being dirty due to it being a small fire similar to a Kamado vs a cleaner blue smoke fire if that makes sense?

The wife is super sensitive to oversmoked bbq which is why she loves everything that comes off my pellet cooker. I’m considering trying the MB as mostly a grill for weeknight cooking & smoker on the weekend when I want to do low & slow overnights.
 
Fishwater2002 said:
Can anyone describe the smoke profile from this unit? I’m a little concerned with the fire being dirty due to it being a small fire similar to a Kamado vs a cleaner blue smoke fire if that makes sense?
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In my case, I use the B B Char Logs. No smoke from them whatsoever. For smoke, I'll add whatever flavor I want, staggering it with the charcoal in layers; oak, pecan, hickory, mesquite in the charcoal hopper and if I want more I'll add some in the ash bin below the fire grate. Totally adjustable. In your case, you'd need to play around with it to find the flavor you want.
 
Fishwater2002 said:
Can anyone describe the smoke profile from this unit? I’m a little concerned with the fire being dirty due to it being a small fire similar to a Kamado vs a cleaner blue smoke fire if that makes sense?

The wife is super sensitive to oversmoked bbq which is why she loves everything that comes off my pellet cooker. I’m considering trying the MB as mostly a grill for weeknight cooking & smoker on the weekend when I want to do low & slow overnights.
Click to expand...

I strictly use lump with wood chunks and have thin blue or no smoke for most of the cook. You can get a pretty heavy smoke profile or not so much depending on the amount of wood chunks.
 
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