I bought this smoker over 4 years ago. Let me start the review by saying that I am very hard on equipment. Here are the conditions this smoker has lived in for the last 4+ years.
1) Outside every day, all seasons, no cover. Florida rain and sun.
2) Cleaned before use and left nasty in between generally, sprayed down with over cleaner and then rinsed out. Usually hosing down all the electronics inadvertently or maybe indifferently is the word here.
3) Used a lot. Used in 20 degrees, used in the rain, used for brisket, butts, fish, jerky, everything.
I've abused this smoker. I've treated it about as poorly as you can treat a smoker.
I've decided to replace it this year. It still works and probably has plenty of life left in it.
I've used the internal probe but I ended up with a wireless one even before the LCD screen started having issues.
I will definitely be buying another of the same exact smokers. Issues I've had with it during the ownership:
1)The LCD screen has stopped showing the whole of the number about 6 months ago. I still use it, I generally run butts at 275, so I just start it, set the temp by hitting temp and then down while guessing what it says and then the same with the timer. I could probably replace the controls and be perfectly happy but they are so cheap it isn't worth my time. I might wait til Christmas as I get 25% off of whatever I want to buy then.
2) The seals are dying on the door. It doesn't really cause it any issue but this is due to abuse and overuse more than anything. I wouldn't bother replacing them and they pretty much will last the lifetime of the smoker if you take any sort of care of it.
3) The door is cracking. I'm guessing this is from UV damage of the Florida sun. This makes no difference to me. It still holds heat perfectly fine.
Things I believe could be better:
1) Sealing of the lcd controller on top. It doesn't seem it would be too hard to make it waterproof and I make give it a try on the new one. I think simply coating it in epoxy or silicone would take care of this and make it so the screen wouldn't go bad on the new one. Fingernail polish would work too. Seems like Masterbuilt would put the 10 cents in that this would cost but everyone doesn't abuse their stuff as much as I do. I'll probably give a shot to finding an appropriate LCD panel to replace the one on the old one so I have a spare.
2) Handles on the sides of it to carry it since it doesn't have wheels and I'd imagine most people don't really leave it in place all the time. I'll probably just strap the new one on a cheap dolly though. It isn't heavy or anything.
3) How the wood chip box is set up. I think it would be much easier to clean as a single layer instead of the U shape that it is. It seems like it would work the same without the bottom piece but I could be wrong.
4) Analog controls. I'd rather just have an analog temp and timer control to be honest. It could still be a controller, but I'd just as soon have numbers and a dial instead of an LCD screen. I am considering tinkering with the old one when I replace it and seeing if I can build manual controls for it.
The only way I'd consider a different smoker at this point is if they made an analog one with all stainless inside and out. Good job Masterbuilt.
1) Outside every day, all seasons, no cover. Florida rain and sun.
2) Cleaned before use and left nasty in between generally, sprayed down with over cleaner and then rinsed out. Usually hosing down all the electronics inadvertently or maybe indifferently is the word here.
3) Used a lot. Used in 20 degrees, used in the rain, used for brisket, butts, fish, jerky, everything.
I've abused this smoker. I've treated it about as poorly as you can treat a smoker.
I've decided to replace it this year. It still works and probably has plenty of life left in it.
I've used the internal probe but I ended up with a wireless one even before the LCD screen started having issues.
I will definitely be buying another of the same exact smokers. Issues I've had with it during the ownership:
1)The LCD screen has stopped showing the whole of the number about 6 months ago. I still use it, I generally run butts at 275, so I just start it, set the temp by hitting temp and then down while guessing what it says and then the same with the timer. I could probably replace the controls and be perfectly happy but they are so cheap it isn't worth my time. I might wait til Christmas as I get 25% off of whatever I want to buy then.
2) The seals are dying on the door. It doesn't really cause it any issue but this is due to abuse and overuse more than anything. I wouldn't bother replacing them and they pretty much will last the lifetime of the smoker if you take any sort of care of it.
3) The door is cracking. I'm guessing this is from UV damage of the Florida sun. This makes no difference to me. It still holds heat perfectly fine.
Things I believe could be better:
1) Sealing of the lcd controller on top. It doesn't seem it would be too hard to make it waterproof and I make give it a try on the new one. I think simply coating it in epoxy or silicone would take care of this and make it so the screen wouldn't go bad on the new one. Fingernail polish would work too. Seems like Masterbuilt would put the 10 cents in that this would cost but everyone doesn't abuse their stuff as much as I do. I'll probably give a shot to finding an appropriate LCD panel to replace the one on the old one so I have a spare.
2) Handles on the sides of it to carry it since it doesn't have wheels and I'd imagine most people don't really leave it in place all the time. I'll probably just strap the new one on a cheap dolly though. It isn't heavy or anything.
3) How the wood chip box is set up. I think it would be much easier to clean as a single layer instead of the U shape that it is. It seems like it would work the same without the bottom piece but I could be wrong.
4) Analog controls. I'd rather just have an analog temp and timer control to be honest. It could still be a controller, but I'd just as soon have numbers and a dial instead of an LCD screen. I am considering tinkering with the old one when I replace it and seeing if I can build manual controls for it.
The only way I'd consider a different smoker at this point is if they made an analog one with all stainless inside and out. Good job Masterbuilt.
