HELP! Need some advice

[rexster314]

The smoke fire is a fantastic smoker but I think the way they marked it as being able to smoke and then go to a high degree and grill is misleading. You really can’t do that unless you’re constantly cleaning it out or using drip pans to keep it clean and it just isn’t realistic for me. I use mine primarily to smoke and use my Weber gas grill for searing and things like that. I use mine a few days a week but I rarely go above 300°.

Well, I do both smoking and high heat grilling, sometimes both on a steak
I use the SF about twice a week, and go a couple of months before cleaning it out. When I first got it I was religious in cleaning it out after every cook, vacuuming and scraping. I decided to do a test and skipped the clean out a week, then two weeks, then a month then finally two months. Never a flameout, grease fire or any other anomaly. When I do briskets, I do have a catch pan, because I want to save the drippings.

 

[Dalwhinnie]

But. For every poster dissing the SF, there are many more happy satisfied users. I've been using one since November 2020. First several months were not real great, software and app would puke every so often. But since last spring, it's been rock solid, one flameout that was my fault, and an auger/chute that got replaced under warranty. I've gotten to where I will clean out the grill about every two months. Everything works as it should, and I'm happy. When this goes belly up I'm thinking of getting a Lone Star Grillz pellet smoker, but it's better than twice the price of the Weber.

Absolutly when you introduce ompuer management you increase computer issues Weber recognize that and support accordingly. I will never is my EX4. I love the way it cooks and the scope of cooks it covers.

 

[Goneincognito]

The smoke fire is a fantastic smoker but I think the way they marked it as being able to smoke and then go to a high degree and grill is misleading. You really can’t do that unless you’re constantly cleaning it out or using drip pans to keep it clean and it just isn’t realistic for me. I use mine primarily to smoke and use my Weber gas grill for searing and things like that. I use mine a few days a week but I rarely go above 300°.

In what way is cleaning the grill unrealistic for you?
It only takes 5-10min.

 

[Mr. X]

In what way is cleaning the grill unrealistic for you?
It only takes 5-10min.

It’s not causing any issues so I don’t know what the problem is? I use it as a smoker to reverse sear my steaks and do my high heat on the gas grill. I did try when I first got it to do a reverse sear but waiting for it to heat up was a pain.
If they made the top open like a clam shell and you could easily clean out ash and other debris that would be awesome. Hopefully in the smoke fire GEN 3

 

[Goneincognito]

It’s not causing any issues so I don’t know what the problem is? I use it as a smoker to reverse sear my steaks and do my high heat on the gas grill. I did try when I first got it to do a reverse sear but waiting for it to heat up was a pain.
If they made the top open like a clam shell and you could easily clean out ash and other debris that would be awesome. Hopefully in the smoke fire GEN 3

So you cant clean it because it's not a clam shell design?
Is that why it is not realistic for you to clean it?

 

[Mr. X]

So you cant clean it because it's not a clam shell design?
Is that why it is not realistic for you to clean it?

feel free to head out to the back deck and give it a nice cleaning.

 

[JpsBBQ]

The smoke fire is a fantastic smoker but I think the way they marked it as being able to smoke and then go to a high degree and grill is misleading. You really can’t do that unless you’re constantly cleaning it out or using drip pans to keep it clean and it just isn’t realistic for me. I use mine primarily to smoke and use my Weber gas grill for searing and things like that. I use mine a few days a week but I rarely go above 300°.

I just can’t disagree in any stronger terms. This is precisely wrong IMO. It is absolutely the ability to actually grill with a pellet cooker that makes this thing magic. It’s great at both and I’m not thinking of any others that can stack up.

To each there own I guess. I’ve been around the pellet cooker block and good luck funding a better more versatile unit. Good luck!

 

[Goneincognito]

feel free to head out to the back deck and give it a nice cleaning.

Im good. If you are too lazy to clean it that's your problem not mine. Just dont complain that it "isnt realistic" to clean.

 

[Hal4UK]

I have the EX6 and the extra space is nice for entertaining. Most of the time, I could honestly get by with an EX4, but I have the space when I need it with the EX6. I don't care that it uses a few more pellets. I do break it down before cooks and clean as needed. Sometimes, it just doesn't need it (depends on what you're cooking, whether you use use pans, etc.). But, I always check it. I want to see that everything looks good with the chute and fire pot. If a little grease is built up in the barrel, I use the scraper on it. Also, I check the ash/grease pan. It doesn't take much time. I have to clean my Backwoods FatBoy too. And my Weber gasser. And my Weber kettle. And my SUV... Heck, I even wash myself every other Thursday.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Love my EX6. I think that if there are windy conditions it does not matter what type of smoker you are using the wind will effect your cooking process.
As for Weber customer service not sure there is any better. Their response time and assistance is the best.

 

[Hispanicgamer]

UPDATE: EX6 ordered and coming this Friday from Amazon. Hope to post one of my cooks soon. Thanks for all of the input and it made it easy to decide on the EX6!

 

[Hal4UK]

Congrats! Enjoy!!

 

[Hal4UK]

Yowza... I just checked and Amazon ain't discounting the EX6 at all - but they've jacked up the EX4 price
Makes it an even EASIER decision!

EDIT -- wrong - that was just one seller. Both are MSRP.

 

[MackeyC34]

Question on cleaning - has anyone tried laying down some heavy duty aluminum foil in the 'belly' to help capture grease and soot? I'm used to doing a regular cleanout with my Spirit E330 but wonder if doing something like this might make cleanup even easier on my EX4.

 

[Goneincognito]

I think foil would cause issues with the grease drains. Using pans is probably the better way to go if cleanup was a concern.