Masterbuilt QA issues?

ncage · Aug 21, 2013

Has masterbuilt fixed their qa issues. I'm looking to purchase a masterbuilt smokers. It seems from reading that they definitely have had some QA issues. It seems like a lot of people are reporting their heating elements burning out. I'm looking a few smokers.

1. MES 40 IN New Generation (Either sams or amazon).

2. Masterbuilt Gen II

3. My local lowes had a master forge 40 in electric smoker that isn't available on their website. You can tell this has been built by masterbuilt. It looks EXACTLY like the masterbuilt gen II.

I haven't heard much about the Masterbuilt Gen II smokers. Just cause they are new don't mean their improved :). Hopefully though masterbuilt have fixed QA issues which is my main concern. If they just fixed their QA issues recently is there any way to ensure i don't get a unit thats been sitting in a warehouse for over a year and still has the issues?

thanks...

ncage · Aug 22, 2013

Well i went to lowes tonight and decided to pick up the master forge unit. If its not made by masterbuilt then i must be a donkey :P. Its has to definitely be there gen II smoker. Anyways i took a pic:

IMG_0769[1].JPG

ncage
Aug 22, 2013

IMG_0771[1].JPG

ncage
Aug 22, 2013

As you can see its a monster compared to the 30. Why not go with the 40 when its just $80 more. I actually didn't pick it up though because the didn't have one in stock. I did pay for it though. They are supposed to be in next Wednesday. Unless anyone can convince me that i made the wrong choice between now & then. To be honest i prefer no window. A window is just going to release more heat.

Anyone have any comments? I did finally find the 40 on their website. Their website search sucks through and i had to actually find it through google:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_416468-58355-20070513_?productId=4459487

chef jimmyj · Aug 22, 2013

I agree the window is a waste as it requires constant cleaning but I have 2 Old Gen MES 40's and the glass does not get all that hot. If you are interested Academy Sports still carries the Old Gen MES for $350 plus $15 shipping Fedex...JJ

geerock · Aug 22, 2013

Take chef jj's advice and get the gen 1. I've had both one and two and I had to give up on masterbuilt as I had three sent to me since decembet and all three failed in short order. Then when the last one croaked after 5 weeks they said the original receipt from december was out of warranty so tuff ____! As much as I would never deal with them again.... the gen 2's still suck......get the gen 1. It puts out some pretty good bbq.

ncage · Aug 22, 2013

The guys at lowes was trying to sell me an extended warranty (of course) at first i thought no but i might end up getting one when i pick it up. 3 year is about $40 & 4 year is about $60. I found out they only warranty a lot of these electric smokers for 90 days....wow i was more than surprised. What ever happened to the standard 1 year warranty. I even looked at some masterbuilt units and it was the same. I don't usually get extended warranties but with a high percentage of people reporting problems i think i might bite.

geerock · Aug 22, 2013

Ncage said:
The guys at lowes was trying to sell me an extended warranty (of course) at first i thought no but i might end up getting one when i pick it up. 3 year is about $40 & 4 year is about $60. I found out they only warranty a lot of these electric smokers for 90 days....wow i was more than surprised. What ever happened to the standard 1 year warranty. I even looked at some masterbuilt units and it was the same. I don't usually get extended warranties but with a high percentage of people reporting problems i think i might bite.

Ncage
Jump on the warranty.....you'll use it. At the very least if it fails after a year or two they will maybe have a new model that has the bugs worked out for a replacement.

ncage · Aug 22, 2013

geerock said:
Ncage
Jump on the warranty.....you'll use it. At the very least if it fails after a year or two they will maybe have a new model that has the bugs worked out for a replacement.

If you were going to get this unit which one would you go with 3 or 4 year? If it last 3 years then probably its not one of the buggy units and its not worth the extra $20?

geerock · Aug 22, 2013

Ncage said:
If you were going to get this unit which one would you go with 3 or 4 year? If it last 3 years then probably its not one of the buggy units and its not worth the extra $20?

Let me just say that the controller problems (among other issues) are well known by masterbuilt customer service. I have emails from them verifying that the set temp tends to be 25 to 35 degrees off. Sometimes the temp is higher, sometimes its lower. But consider this.... since the max set temp on the controller is 275 and you have a 30 degree differential on the low side, that means your max cook temp can be 245. You make the decision on the warranty.

ncage · Aug 28, 2013

Well anyways. I just got it put together and am in the process of seasoning it. I think for the price its decently built. The only thing i don't like about it is the small air vent on the side is all the airflow you have. I just ordered an AMNPS today along with 20 pounds of cherry pellets. I decided to go with the 4 year extended warranty from lowes.

Oh yes and very important for people looking it was built by masterbuilt. its stamped with masterbuilt on the back of the unit

geerock · Aug 28, 2013

Its made for masterbuilt specs in china

ncage · Aug 28, 2013

geerock said:
Its made for masterbuilt specs in china

I think 99% of what we buy is made for specs for companies in china (unfortunately).

geerock · Aug 28, 2013

I wasn't sure what you meant by its built by masterbuilt. but now i remember that "cabelas sportmans elite" thing.

smoking b · Aug 28, 2013

Ncage said:
Well anyways. I just got it put together and am in the process of seasoning it. I think for the price its decently built. The only thing i don't like about it is the small air vent on the side is all the airflow you have. I just ordered an AMNPS today along with 20 pounds of cherry pellets. I decided to go with the 4 year extended warranty from lowes.

Oh yes and very important for people looking it was built by masterbuilt. its stamped with masterbuilt on the back of the unit

Did you order some oak pellets to go along with the cherry? Cherry pellets won't stay burning on their own - you need to put a layer of easy burning pellets down first & put the cherry on top of them. Oak is a great choice because it won't take away from the flavor of the cherry & will keep it burning good. A 50/50 mix will work great for you

ncage · Aug 28, 2013

Smoking B said:
Did you order some oak pellets to go along with the cherry? Cherry pellets won't stay burning on their own - you need to put a layer of easy burning pellets down first & put the cherry on top of them. Oak is a great choice because it won't take away from the flavor of the cherry & will keep it burning good. A 50/50 mix will work great for you

No i didn't :(. So i need to order oak now too :(. Cherry is very hard to keep lit? I do have some sawdust if that would help a little bit between the pellets.

smoking b · Aug 28, 2013

Ncage said:
No i didn't :(. So i need to order oak now too :(. Cherry is very hard to keep lit? I do have some sawdust if that would help a little bit between the pellets.

Yes - cherry pellets will keep going out & frustrate you to no end if you try to burn them alone. I'm not sure about the sawdust & I may be wrong but I don't think it will work anywhere near as good (if at all) as oak pellets. I would shoot Todd a PM or give him a call - he'll be able to tell you

ncage · Aug 29, 2013

Smoking B said:
Yes - cherry pellets will keep going out & frustrate you to no end if you try to burn them alone. I'm not sure about the sawdust & I may be wrong but I don't think it will work anywhere near as good (if at all) as oak pellets. I would shoot Todd a PM or give him a call - he'll be able to tell you

Well apparently one place started carrying pellets in my area. Today i was able to find a bag of traeger hickory pellets (they didn't have oak). Hopefully hickory will work? For my future knowledge what other woods are like cherry being very difficult to burn? Apple?

smoking b · Aug 29, 2013

Ncage said:
Well apparently one place started carrying pellets in my area. Today i was able to find a bag of traeger hickory pellets (they didn't have oak). Hopefully hickory will work? For my future knowledge what other woods are like cherry being very difficult to burn? Apple?

Hickory pellets will work but oak is recommended because it doesn't interfere with the flavor profile provided by the cherry. Apple pellets will burn fine. Cherry, wine barrel & bourbon barrel are the only pellets that I am aware of that have trouble burning on their own...

ncage · Aug 29, 2013

Smoking B said:
Hickory pellets will work but oak is recommended because it doesn't interfere with the flavor profile provided by the cherry. Apple pellets will burn fine. Cherry, wine barrel & bourbon barrel are the only pellets that I am aware of that have trouble burning on their own...

I definitely glad you said something otherwise i would have just been frustrated with my first smoke. Thanks for that. Eventually i will get oak but i want to smoke tomorrow for the first time when AMNPS is delivered.

smoking b · Aug 29, 2013

Ncage said:
I definitely glad you said something otherwise i would have just been frustrated with my first smoke. Thanks for that. Eventually i will get oak but i want to smoke tomorrow for the first time when AMNPS is delivered.

You're quite welcome - Have fun with your first smoke & make sure you take some pics to show us

stovebolt · Aug 31, 2013

Not sure but I think all Todd's units come with a pound of oak pellets.

Chuck

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