I bought mine the week before Thanksgiving, and unfortunately will be returning it this Friday. Not sure if I got a defective smoker or not, but I have noticed that the front of the smoker in the fire cute area is extremely too hot too touch. I haven't measured the surface temp in this area, but I would estimate it at around 200 degrees or slightly more. The rest of the cooker is cool to touch, but this area is extremely hot to touch. This doesn't bother me too much, but the lack of airflow that I have experienced with this smoker is not acceptable. From startup to get up to 275 degrees takes 1-1/2 - 2 hours - even with the fire box door open. I can even deal with this as well, and just start it up earlier, as I really want to love this smoker. The real problem is the recovery time though. My second cook was some ribs, and after taking the ribs out to wrap and put back in the smoker, after an hour, the internal temp was just barely back over 200. Also, kept nice size chunks in the fire box the entire cook with very little smoke flavor at all.
I was just about to submit my order for a new Smoke X4 w/ Billows, and I am sure that this would help tremendously, but I just got to thinking that I am trying too hard to like this smoker. I feel that a temp controller should improve on temp consistency, and be an addition and NOT a requirement. If this smoker cannot get up to, and maintain temperature on its own I just don't feel like it is a smoker that I want to keep.
Academy said that they will return the smoker since I am within my 60 day purchase, so I am leaning towards a Hunsaker instead. I REALLY wanted to love this smoker, but after a very frustrating seasoning session, and 2 cooks, I just don't think this is the smoker for me.