What to buy?

dmcfarlan

Newbie

Original poster

Nov 17, 2009

19

10

Woodstock, Georgia

• Feb 22, 2010

• #1

I currently have a Royal Oak Electric Smoker that I purchased back in September. My last few smokes the temp. has gone crazy, and I keep having to unplug and reset the unit. Called customer service, and they said there is no real fix, but he would send me a Visa card for the cost of my unit, if I send him the receipt. Well, I always keep receipts, but for the life of me, I can not
find it. So, I am thinking about just going out and buying something else that I might be able to control the temp a little better. I have a budget of $200. I have heard pretty good things about the 30 inch MES. Anyone have any suggestions? I want to stay with electric.
Thanks.

 

acemakr

Smoking Fanatic

Nov 23, 2009

436

10

Las Vegas, NV

• Feb 22, 2010

• #2

I'm afraid I can't help you but someone will be by. There are a lot of happy MES owners here at SMF.

btw, welcome to the forum.

 

dmcfarlan

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Nov 17, 2009

19

10

Woodstock, Georgia

• Feb 22, 2010

• #3

Not sure if there is a better option in my price point.

 

beer-b-q

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

May 1, 2007

10,099

40

• Feb 22, 2010

• #4

The MES would be the way to go, for $299.00 you can get the MES 40 at Sam's Club.and an additional 3 yr warranty for $39.00... If you could swing it that would be my choice.

 

chainsaw

Smoking Fanatic

Aug 5, 2009

538

11

Ponca City OK

• Feb 22, 2010

• #5

Ron will see this and he has huge experience with MES. I have had one since last summer, and for the money I wouldn't look farther. The new one is 40" i think, but great reviews so far, and it has a bigger heating element, and I believe they addressed some design issues as well. MES has very good customer service, which I found out about first hand. You can read many reviews in the electric smoker section of this forum too.
Good luck!

 

xsists

Smoke Blower

Nov 24, 2009

83

10

Waukesha, WI

• Feb 22, 2010

• #6

I just bought a 40" MES from Sams on Saturday. Did my first smoke on it yesterday. Really easy to use and I was watching the temps (with the control unit because I didn't have a thermometer handy, just ordered a Maverick ET-73) during reheating times after opening the door and they went up pretty quick. It held temps really well too. I had some fluctuation but that can be blamed on the extension cord I was using, I think. I'm happy with my choice and am already planning my smoke for this next weekend.

 

mballi3011

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Mar 12, 2009

14,477

58

• Feb 22, 2010

• #7

I would switch to a propane after all they are easy to control and they are almost a set it and froget it type of unit too.

 

mr mac

Master of the Pit

SMF Premier Member

Oct 19, 2009

1,324

522

Doniphan MO

• Feb 22, 2010

• #8

Having owned the Royal Oak I too was happy to move away from the electric and over to the gas side of smoking. Talk about easy to control! No, it isn't as cheap but, IMHO, the gasser is so much closer to stick/charcoal in flavor and appearence that the electrics.

As for me, I now own my Masterbuilt gasser and my ECB and am a much happier man.

 

new vision

Smoke Blower

Dec 31, 2009

95

10

South Central Iowa

• Feb 22, 2010

• #9

I own an Old Smokey basically it is a pressure cooker/smoker, but my next will be either a MES or a GOSM.

 

chainsaw

Smoking Fanatic

Aug 5, 2009

538

11

Ponca City OK

• Feb 22, 2010

• #10

Except for remembering to fill the tanks-not a worry with electric units

 

ronp

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Apr 27, 2008

5,433

21

• Feb 22, 2010

• #11

Masterbuilt 40 ' here from Sam's $338 with 3 year warrantee.

Almost set and forget. No clunky tanks to go empty and very cheap to operate.

 

kaiser

Smoke Blower

Feb 21, 2010

118

10

Austin, TX

• Feb 23, 2010

• #12

This was my thinking... I almost went for the MES but decided on a propane GOSM instead based on reviews etc - plus it was substantially cheaper.

Now to be fair, I just ordered yesterday and I haven't used either unit... so my opinion is just based on what I've read from other people.

 

dmcfarlan

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Nov 17, 2009

19

10

Woodstock, Georgia

• Mar 5, 2010

• #13

On a long 8 to 10 hour smoke, how much propane do you burn with a gas smoker?