c2500
Newbie
The following is my opinion on the Members Mark Smoker (2006) from Sam's...
I had been looking at them for a while and finally convinced the wife that I had to have one. I bought it, got the monster onto my deck via an appliance dolly and neighbor, and got it assembled. Before I smoked with it for the first time, I set it on low to see what the temp would be. It Was close to 300 at the chimmney. I called Grand Hall, and they ask if I had water in it...which I did not. (I may be wrong here, but I cannot imagine that water in the pan would have reduced the temp by 100 degrees.) They said it should be reading around 190. They also wanted me to try a different thermometer to see if the one in the chimmney was off. I ran it again, and the temp did the same thing and my thermometer read 280...slightly less than the chimmney. I called back and the new rep I got said they had some problems with the gas valves resulting in high temps. So I waited for them to send the new valve. After I received it, I went to install it.
Thats when the fun began. I spent 30 minutes disassembling the unit, and realized I had a whole lot more disassembly time ahead of me. (I am mechanically inclined) The gas valve is not easy to replace. I figured since it was new, I should not have to battle with it. So I called Sam's and they said to bring it back. So I carried it back and got a refund.
Then bought the Big block.
I think the Members Mark smokers are neat, but they do not seem user friendly when it comes to maintenance.
My 2 cents worth....
c2500
I had been looking at them for a while and finally convinced the wife that I had to have one. I bought it, got the monster onto my deck via an appliance dolly and neighbor, and got it assembled. Before I smoked with it for the first time, I set it on low to see what the temp would be. It Was close to 300 at the chimmney. I called Grand Hall, and they ask if I had water in it...which I did not. (I may be wrong here, but I cannot imagine that water in the pan would have reduced the temp by 100 degrees.) They said it should be reading around 190. They also wanted me to try a different thermometer to see if the one in the chimmney was off. I ran it again, and the temp did the same thing and my thermometer read 280...slightly less than the chimmney. I called back and the new rep I got said they had some problems with the gas valves resulting in high temps. So I waited for them to send the new valve. After I received it, I went to install it.
Thats when the fun began. I spent 30 minutes disassembling the unit, and realized I had a whole lot more disassembly time ahead of me. (I am mechanically inclined) The gas valve is not easy to replace. I figured since it was new, I should not have to battle with it. So I called Sam's and they said to bring it back. So I carried it back and got a refund.
Then bought the Big block.
I think the Members Mark smokers are neat, but they do not seem user friendly when it comes to maintenance.
My 2 cents worth....
c2500