Okay, it's official: I'm OUT! (But still happy to be here!)

[Dubs]

If Traeger, Rec-Tec and others are smart, they'll start advertising sales on their grills immediately. There is a lot of pissed off SmokeFire people out there.

I've been getting quite a few advertising emails from Traeger in the last few days, and before that it was maybe one a month.

 

[SmokeMeister]

Yeah, this was the biggest thing for me. I could let my GMG go all night on a brisket smoke and not have to worry. Never had any pellet feed problems. This thing just isn't reliable, and I can't trust it. (I can't even trust it to start!)

I just submitted my return to Amazon, and the freight company has a pickup appointment for Friday. In the meantime. I'm deciding which package I'm going with on my Rec Tec 700 (I've done a TON of homework on this, and decided that the Rec Tec is my best choice of an upgrade from my GMG DB, with killer customer service.)

I just wish I hadn't wasted most of my President's Day break dealing with a grill that doesn't work.

I know this is a Weber forum, but if you (or anyone for that matter) do decide to pick up another model, I know I for one and I'm sure many others would be interested in your feedback.

I was seriously considering the Rec Tec 700 before I preordered the Smokefire.

 

[arod757]

Since you guys are talking about replacements, I'll let you in on what I ended up doing when I returned the SmokeFire to Lowe's.... I turned around and bought an Oklahoma Joe's Rider DLX. The thing looked like a beast on the floor and didn't have what I consider "technologically advanced crap" that other pellet grills do.

I brought it home, wife and I put it together, threw in a bag of Pit Boss mesquite pellets, oiled it, burned it, and had some chicken and sausage cooked without a problem that same day.

Gave it a slow cook test yesterday to test temps, and everything was fine within the chamber -- left, right, middle all within 10 degrees of each other at 225. So I tossed on a few beef finger ribs for a test and smoked them for two hours, then wrapped in paper for another hour. They probably could have gone another wrapped hour to get them a touch more tender, but I was anxious to check them. Nice little smoke ring for only two hours, and they were delicious.

Point is everything worked right away without a single problem and with them price matching Ace Hardware and my veteran discount, it only cost me $584.

 

[SmokeMeister]

Since you guys are talking about replacements, I'll let you in on what I ended up doing when I returned the SmokeFire to Lowe's.... I turned around and bought an Oklahoma Joe's Rider DLX. The thing looked like a beast on the floor and didn't have what I consider "technologically advanced crap" that other pellet grills do.
...

Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it!

 

[Jesse749]

I know this is a Weber forum, but if you (or anyone for that matter) do decide to pick up another model, I know I for one and I'm sure many others would be interested in your feedback.

I was seriously considering the Rec Tec 700 before I preordered the Smokefire.

I ordered the Rec Tec RT700 earlier today. I will post results once I receive it.

 

[Brian Vallotton]

I ordered the Rec Tec RT700 earlier today. I will post results once I receive it.

I am leaning that way too. No disrespect to Weber.

 

[Brian Vallotton]

I am leaning that way too. No disrespect to Weber.

I have an email with a question to RecTec I just sent wanting to know more about their software and how they do their updates... I think you can see why that is a pertinent question!

 

[FredSC]

It looks like Weber suggests using a water pan on the flavorizer bars for long cooks. Maybe that is the fix for all of the concerns? If they were to give us a couple water pans to put on both sides of the smoker. This will help even the temperature and catch the grease preventing fire risks. I’d push them to the back to force the smoke through the front to escape on the back of the grill.

My EX6 gets delivered on Wednesday (FINALLY)... can someone give me the dimensions of the area between the flavorizor bars and the grill grates? I’ll likely try to find an aluminum pan like these: Mophorn Set of 6 Hotel Pan 2 Inch Steam Table Pan Full Size 20x12x2 Inch 9 Quart Stainless Steel Anti Jam Steam Table Pan https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PCJ1MF7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_s22sEbK1HF3SE

I used a foil pan that was 1 1/4 inch deep one between the flavorizer bars and grill grates last night. After speaking with weber rep on the phone today, I will use on on the bottom of the cooker under the flavorizer bars in the future.

 

[FredSC]

I have an email with a question to RecTec I just sent wanting to know more about their software and how they do their updates... I think you can see why that is a pertinent question!

Looking forward to hearing about your experience with the RecTec.

 

[doeweb]

I think that's where I'm at - I don't feel any better off (or at least not $1200 better off) with the Weber than with my stick burner. If I have to tend the hopper every couple/few hours, and watch for grease fires, it doesn't seem to really make my life much easier.

As far as other companies, I am looking at Yoder, Rec Tec, Blazin Grills, and Pitts and Spits. There is the possibility I just reach for a Memphis, but I haven't convinced myself to spend that kind of money. A lot of people also recommend Mak's, but to me at the price point I think I'd prefer Memphis.

I have a Rec Tec 680 and have owned it for 4 years, any questions you might have please let me know. I love my Rec Tec and was actually thinking of selling it to buy the Weber. Meh, not so much at this point. I still think that Weber will eventually fix their issues and continue to make great products. It's realistic their going to have issues with their first attempt of a pellet grill. It's a matter of how they go about dealing with the issue.

 

[Brian Vallotton]

I have a Rec Tec 680 and have owned it for 4 years, any questions you might have please let me know. I love my Rec Tec and was actually thinking of selling it to buy the Weber. Meh, not so much at this point. I still think that Weber will put out eventually fix their issues and put out a great product. It's realistic their going to have issues with their first attempt of a pellet grill. It's a matter of how they go about dealing with the issue.

I like the RT700 so far... but one reviewer pointed out that the I think it is called 304 Stainless is not what it is supposed to be. He referred to a magnet being able to still stick to what they are built with, and that they do pit and can rust. I am not sure about what to think about that. It was just an online reviewer so I have no idea of the worth of his point. Any thoughts on that subject? Thanks.

 

[gchristian3]

I like the RT700 so far... but one reviewer pointed out that the I think it is called 304 Stainless is not what it is supposed to be. He referred to a magnet being able to still stick to what they are built with, and that they do pit and can rust. I am not sure about what to think about that. It was just an online reviewer so I have no idea of the worth of his point. Any thoughts on that subject? Thanks.

304 stainless is magnetic, and it can and will rust when scratched by a non-stainless metal.

 

[depends]

I like the RT700 so far... but one reviewer pointed out that the I think it is called 304 Stainless is not what it is supposed to be. He referred to a magnet being able to still stick to what they are built with, and that they do pit and can rust. I am not sure about what to think about that. It was just an online reviewer so I have no idea of the worth of his point. Any thoughts on that subject? Thanks.

So I googled what type of stainless steel is in a Rec Tec and got this result, which is hilarious:

How Its Made | recteq

Attention to detail is what separates recteq from the crowd. This fact is apparent all the way down to our micro polished stainless steel logo. Companies that build cheap grills use cheap plastic logos to save money. At recteq we use top quality materials in the construction of every grill we...

www.rectecgrills.com

 

[Brian Vallotton]

304 stainless is magnetic, and it can and will rust when scratched by a non-stainless metal.

I don't see that as much of an issue then... do you?

 

[Brian Vallotton]

So I googled what type of stainless steel is in a Rec Tec and got this result, which is hilarious:

How Its Made | recteq

Attention to detail is what separates recteq from the crowd. This fact is apparent all the way down to our micro polished stainless steel logo. Companies that build cheap grills use cheap plastic logos to save money. At recteq we use top quality materials in the construction of every grill we...

www.rectecgrills.com

Is it in a foreign language that's funny or that "some grills use plastic"... or both? hehe