The Official Pellet Grill Smoker thread.

[SlowmotionQue]

No idea. I used LJ comp blend pellets, cooking temp was 250.

Did you recently change to using these pellets in your MAK?

I’m using the same LJ Comp Blend pellets now too.

Bought 20 bags during the big Rural King $4.99/bag sale.

I’ve noticed that they seem to burn hotter than my usual CookinPellets Perfect mix.

I’ve had to turn my feed rate down in my Rec Tec in order to use them and still maintain temps within that 5 degree window that I want to see.

Potential trouble is, if I turn the feed rate down too low, I could wind up with a flame out.

 

[GatorBeerGeek]

Since there is such a large contingent of MAK owners in here, can anyone tell me what would be the difference in a 2015 model 2 star general versus the current one they sell?

 

[BKING!]

Since there is such a large contingent of MAK owners in here, can anyone tell me what would be the difference in a 2015 model 2 star general versus the current one they sell?

4 differences I can think of.
easier to clean
new Mak gets hotter for grilling
redesigned flame zone for better fuel efficiency, more even temps, higher temps
can fit 3 racks in Mak now instead of 2 for more cooking capacity.

I can’t remember when they came out with their flash fire igniter but that may be an additional difference.

 

[GatorBeerGeek]

4 differences I can think of.
easier to clean
new Mak gets hotter for grilling
redesigned flame zone for better fuel efficiency, more even temps, higher temps
can fit 3 racks in Mak now instead of 2 for more cooking capacity.

I can’t remember when they came out with their flash fire igniter but that may be an additional difference.

Thanks for getting me close. After your reply with some more digging, it seems the flash fire was a 2016 addition. Also, based on pictures it apparently only has a slot for 1 upper rack instead of the 3 the new models have so the capacity is considerably different. The flame zone changes and corresponding differences I had found earlier.

Why is it easier to clean? Are they not the same type of stainless steel?

 

[BKING!]

Thanks for getting me close. After your reply with some more digging, it seems the flash fire was a 2016 addition. Also, based on pictures it apparently only has a slot for 1 upper rack instead of the 3 the new models have so the capacity is considerably different. The flame zone changes and corresponding differences I had found earlier.

Why is it easier to clean? Are they not the same type of stainless steel?

I’d pm rwalters. He mentioned a design change that made clean up easier. He has the new one.

 

[ice_mf_mike]

For the Mak owners. How is this thing in the rain? I have the mak 1. Haven’t run it in the rain yet. Any concerns?

Happy 4th y’all.

 

[ice_mf_mike]

I was looking at the Camp chef WW SG24 for the use of the sidekick/sear box attachment. I have discovered that the Yoder 640s makes it to where you can set up the left side of the lower shelf to cook directl over the firepot - it creates flame contact just like the Camp Chef sear box. And Yoder has a cast iron griddle that goes in that area also and has the same effect as the griddle on the Camp Chef "Sidekick" attachment. Camp chef has a lot of people with controller & probe issues; many of them are installing Rec Tec controllers in their grills. I got tired of waiting for Camp Chef to upgrade their controllers to wifi. Rec tec relies solely on heated grill grates for searing; I don't believe there's any direct flame contact.
Both Rec Tec & Camp chef smokers are supposedly easy to use, but all the parts are made in China & assembled here in the U.S. To me, this is a non-go. I'll pay more money to have 100% made in the USA.

I ended up going with the mak 1 star. So far so good.

 

[NYC ‘Que]

For the Mak owners. How is this thing in the rain? I have the mak 1. Haven’t run it in the rain yet. Any concerns?

Happy 4th y’all.

The official answer is keep it out of the rain. My real world experience; rain is no issue. It’s been outside, uncovered, full hopper, and a week of rain with no issues. I’ve cooked in two thunderstorms recently. No issues.


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[BKING!]

For the Mak owners. How is this thing in the rain? I have the mak 1. Haven’t run it in the rain yet. Any concerns?

Happy 4th y’all.

I’ve cooked in 3 really heavy down pours and no issue. I store it in my basement though

 

[PursuitSS]

Camp Chef XXL Vertical Pellet Grill and Smoker

Anyone have any experience with this smoker?

Ive pretty much narrowed it down to either this or the Pit Boss Series 7

Thoughts?

 

[BKING!]

Anyone have any experience with this smoker?

Ive pretty much narrowed it down to either this or the Pit Boss Series 7

Thoughts?

Looks nice. I didn’t know that had that model

 

[MilhouseBBQ]

Pit Boss Pro Series From Lowes (Vertical Pellet) - Review / Issues

Hopefully this is a good spot for this, picked this unit up back in April, mixed results, some ok smokes, but big issues on others. After some very helpful tips here on the Brethren I picked up a wireless temp gauge (see below), turns out the unit is defective, this time I can blame someone else. Was heating at 100-150 degrees higher than the digital gauge on the unit.

I called Pit Boss customer service, long wait time, but the pre-recorded service said I was calling on the busiest time, after a weekend and Monday before the 4th no issue there. Nice enough dude, he did a few trouble shooting things, and yep, bad unit, they're sending me a new board, but the rub is that its back ordered for like 7-8 weeks, which is like the entire Michigan summer. No more smoked BBQ other than indirect on my grill.

With that long of a backlog, my guess, others out there have bad units too, you should check yours if you have one.

The temp gauge is a ThermPro TP-08s, cheaper than the unit most recommended by ThermPro but this one had a low temp alert, the more expensive unit didn't, odd but that's what I wanted. When I first got the temp gauge, it took me about 15 minutes to figure how I could tell whether the new gauge was off, or if it was the PB. I ended up testing it in my oven and grill, and it was within 5 degrees on both, and i used the meat probe in a chicken breast matched the other unit I had, ThermPro thumbs up!

 

[RCAlan]

Pit Boss Pro Series From Lowes (Vertical Pellet) - Review / Issues

Hopefully this is a good spot for this, picked this unit up back in April, mixed results, some ok smokes, but big issues on others. After some very helpful tips here on the Brethren I picked up a wireless temp gauge (see below), turns out the unit is defective, this time I can blame someone else. Was heating at 100-150 degrees higher than the digital gauge on the unit.

I called Pit Boss customer service, long wait time, but the pre-recorded service said I was calling on the busiest time, after a weekend and Monday before the 4th no issue there. Nice enough dude, he did a few trouble shooting things, and yep, bad unit, they're sending me a new board, but the rub is that its back ordered for like 7-8 weeks, which is like the entire Michigan summer. No more smoked BBQ other than indirect on my grill.

With that long of a backlog, my guess, others out there have bad units too, you should check yours if you have one.

The temp gauge is a ThermPro TP-08s, cheaper than the unit most recommended by ThermPro but this one had a low temp alert, the more expensive unit didn't, odd but that's what I wanted. When I first got the temp gauge, it took me about 15 minutes to figure how I could tell whether the new gauge was off, or if it was the PB. I ended up testing it in my oven and grill, and it was within 5 degrees on both, and i used the meat probe in a chicken breast matched the other unit I had, ThermPro thumbs up!

I hope PitBoss gets things figured out for You with the Controller Board. Great thing that it comes with a 5 year warranty. I’ve read that the Vertical PitBoss Smokers really benefit from using a larger Aluminum Water Pan to help control the large temp swings. The stock water pan from what I’ve read is way to Small. If You have the time, I would buy a nice size Aluminum Water Pan that will fit in your Smoker, use 2 by putting the one filled with water inside of a empty one, fill it 3/4 way with water and give it a test run with your new ThermPro TP-08 and see if it solves/improves the temp issues with Your Smoker. Oh and always allow your grill to preheat for at least 20 mins. before setting your desired temp. Either way, Good luck.

 

[GatorBeerGeek]

Pit Boss Pro Series From Lowes (Vertical Pellet) - Review / Issues

The temp gauge is a ThermPro TP-08s, cheaper than the unit most recommended by ThermPro but this one had a low temp alert, the more expensive unit didn't, odd but that's what I wanted. When I first got the temp gauge, it took me about 15 minutes to figure how I could tell whether the new gauge was off, or if it was the PB. I ended up testing it in my oven and grill, and it was within 5 degrees on both, and i used the meat probe in a chicken breast matched the other unit I had, ThermPro thumbs up!

I bought that same model because I wanted all the alarms. It works great and the price was right. Ended up getting an instant read from them as well due to the coupon code that came with the TP08.

 

[BKING!]

So with me being low carb and all sometimes I eat strange.
I literally just took a pound of ground beef, shaped it into a patty, and smoked it. Did smoke mode till patty was 130 deg and seared until medium. I hardly ever use grill grates. I really like an even sear. I topped it with shredded cheese , lettuce, tomato, pickle, and mustard all not pictured obviously.
I also want to add I did my searing different. I let the grill preheat to 400 deg and then switched to grill mode. I then seared lid open. As you guys know grill mode is a constant auger feed. Temp of grill displayed around 330 deg on the controller the entire time but i still got all the intense radiant heat I wanted. Internal temp rose only 10-15 deg until I got the outside the way I wanted it.

 

[rwalters]

So with me being low carb and all sometimes I eat strange.
I literally just took a pound of ground beef, shaped it into a patty, and smoked it. Did smoke mode till patty was 130 deg and seared until medium. I hardly ever use grill grates. I really like an even sear. I topped it with shredded cheese , lettuce, tomato, pickle, and mustard all not pictured obviously.
I also want to add I did my searing different. I let the grill preheat to 400 deg and then switched to grill mode. I then seared lid open. As you guys know grill mode is a constant auger feed. Temp of grill displayed around 330 deg on the controller the entire time but i still got all the intense radiant heat I wanted. Internal temp rose only 10-15 deg until I got the outside the way I wanted it.

Beautiful hunk-o-beef!

 

[drunkenmeatfist]

Haven't used the Copperhead in several weeks. Busted it out today to smoke some bacon. Thing is running like a champ.

 

[gtsum]

Wife out of town getting our kids and worked from home this afternoon so tried a creekstone master chef ribeye (they were on sale awhile back). Little thin for me so cooked direct for 6 minutes...turned out medium...next time 5 minutes will be the ticket. Arrowood cab quite good for $28

Memphis Elite





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[smoke ninja]

hello fellow pellet cooks. it's been awhile and I'd like to tell my pellet journey.

it started with a treager tailgater. did some ribs, chicken, even a brisket. flameouts.wild temp swings. I only bought it because it was on sale, floor model clearanced 75%. then the Walmart clearance season hit. I sold the treager for what I paid for it and used the money to get a pit boss. the classic, 700 sq feet of cooking with a sliding grate for a sear zone. then I picked up a vertical copperhead for $200. great value. I was fully emerged in the pellet life. at the time I needed the ease of use they offered. I went all out even got some grill grates and filled up my trunk with a bulk purchase of lumberjack pellets.

i decided to sell the vertical to a buddy. i only bought it in case i needed to do a large cook and it was such a value. in the end I got what I paid for it and moved on.

the pellet grill now sits at its post on the front porch. it's my "gasser". quick cooks, overflow. the sear plate opens up and does a surprisingly good job on one or 2 pieces of meat. grill grates add to the searing real estate and gives another dimension to how it cooks. convection gives food great color and texture, stuff off my pellet grill is some of the best looking I've cooked.

I'm glad I entered into the pellet world. it's not my favorite way to cook but offers a different way to cook with unique results.

I've settled into a pretty good rotation of cookers with a drum, kettle and pellet grill.

 

[rwalters]

hello fellow pellet cooks. it's been awhile and I'd like to tell my pellet journey.



it started with a treager tailgater. did some ribs, chicken, even a brisket. flameouts.wild temp swings. I only bought it because it was on sale, floor model clearanced 75%. then the Walmart clearance season hit. I sold the treager for what I paid for it and used the money to get a pit boss. the classic, 700 sq feet of cooking with a sliding grate for a sear zone. then I picked up a vertical copperhead for $200. great value. I was fully emerged in the pellet life. at the time I needed the ease of use they offered. I went all out even got some grill grates and filled up my trunk with a bulk purchase of lumberjack pellets.



i decided to sell the vertical to a buddy. i only bought it in case i needed to do a large cook and it was such a value. in the end I got what I paid for it and moved on.



the pellet grill now sits at its post on the front porch. it's my "gasser". quick cooks, overflow. the sear plate opens up and does a surprisingly good job on one or 2 pieces of meat. grill grates add to the searing real estate and gives another dimension to how it cooks. convection gives food great color and texture, stuff off my pellet grill is some of the best looking I've cooked.



I'm glad I entered into the pellet world. it's not my favorite way to cook but offers a different way to cook with unique results.



I've settled into a pretty good rotation of cookers with a drum, kettle and pellet grill.

Those 3 cookers make for a great team! What type of drum do you have? A DIY or one of the big names (Hunsaker, Gateway, etc)?