Hi All -
Been away for a while but I have been checking the forums. During this time I recently picked up a 2nd MES 30" smoker. I got great deal on it. $25 from a church warehouse. It was barely used. It is missing the remote but I downloaded the Android app and got my mobile to operate it. Have used it a few times and so far no problems.
Anyway, for the past 6-9 months I have been researching pellet smokers. I'd like to take this step up mainly because of lack of cooking surface area. I have smoked whole packer briskets in my MES' but I have to separate the round from the flat which kind of defeats the point (same with ribs). Cooking times become extremely long. Also anything involving direct flame or searing has to go to my Weber or gas grill. That being said I still love my MES' and plan on keeping both.
I am leaning towards the 680 because I like the 6 yr. warranty. If I purchase from Amazon, I can get an additional 2 years for like $78. The firepot is in the middle of the pit which to me seems like you would get more even temps across it. Metal seems to be better quality too.
However, I like the JB because of the increased over head space and it's lighter. I'd be moving it back and forth from garage to patio. Local dealer I talked with was real nice and expertly answered all my questions so I know if I have any issues he'd resolve them too. Price is hard not to take into account as well. I want the JB non-wifi. I have wifi on both my MES' and keeping a connection is sometimes hard to maintain. Don't want the hassle.
Not going to go more into detail regarding the 680 or JB because I've read a lot of good stuff here and over at PH forum (awaiting admin to approve membership). So does anyone know if GMG is going to have another Black Friday sale like last year. I know they have a Fall Sale going on now. I'd really be hard pressed to pass up on a deal like that. Only thing preventing me from pulling the trigger on either unit is the possibility of another GMG Black Friday sale.
Thanks for any input or insight into either unit.
Cheers!
Been away for a while but I have been checking the forums. During this time I recently picked up a 2nd MES 30" smoker. I got great deal on it. $25 from a church warehouse. It was barely used. It is missing the remote but I downloaded the Android app and got my mobile to operate it. Have used it a few times and so far no problems.
Anyway, for the past 6-9 months I have been researching pellet smokers. I'd like to take this step up mainly because of lack of cooking surface area. I have smoked whole packer briskets in my MES' but I have to separate the round from the flat which kind of defeats the point (same with ribs). Cooking times become extremely long. Also anything involving direct flame or searing has to go to my Weber or gas grill. That being said I still love my MES' and plan on keeping both.
I am leaning towards the 680 because I like the 6 yr. warranty. If I purchase from Amazon, I can get an additional 2 years for like $78. The firepot is in the middle of the pit which to me seems like you would get more even temps across it. Metal seems to be better quality too.
However, I like the JB because of the increased over head space and it's lighter. I'd be moving it back and forth from garage to patio. Local dealer I talked with was real nice and expertly answered all my questions so I know if I have any issues he'd resolve them too. Price is hard not to take into account as well. I want the JB non-wifi. I have wifi on both my MES' and keeping a connection is sometimes hard to maintain. Don't want the hassle.
Not going to go more into detail regarding the 680 or JB because I've read a lot of good stuff here and over at PH forum (awaiting admin to approve membership). So does anyone know if GMG is going to have another Black Friday sale like last year. I know they have a Fall Sale going on now. I'd really be hard pressed to pass up on a deal like that. Only thing preventing me from pulling the trigger on either unit is the possibility of another GMG Black Friday sale.
Thanks for any input or insight into either unit.
Cheers!
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