re: Smoker recs?

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I’m a soft handed nerdy engineer, it didn’t take me very long to assemble my first 650. The 800 I got later wasn’t any trouble at all since I built the 650. I’m not sure what you found hard about assembly.

If you are capable of following directions, Masterbuilt is very good at replacing pretty much the entire grill under warranty if it warrants that much of a replacement through their customer service. People have no issues getting new switches, fans, even entire gravity chutes when they are damaged from purchase. The pretty much operate under a replace it with hardly any questions policy.

Longevity wise, I keep mine pretty clean and out of the weather. My 650 is on like year 4, it’s on its way out, got my 800 last year on deep discount. There are some stainless steel mods that will make it hold up better. I got a cover for the firebox and a fan protection screen. I didn’t bother with the fire brick covers, but had to replace the fire brick on the 650. I don’t think they will hold up well if you don’t take care of them. The charbroiler gravity is supposed to be made better if you don’t take care of your grill as well.

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Got a Weber Summit Kamado and a WSM and neither give me any trouble at all and are outside in the elements 24/7. They are about as set and forget as they come and can get up to 20 hours on a single load of charcoal. Plus they have zero motors and come with the Weber customer service. No idea why people go to such a lesser product that doesn't hold up very well.