In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Pellet smoker recommendations?

Discussion in 'The Smokehouse' started by Shawn Curry, May 10, 2018.

  1. MikeyB

    MikeyB

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2017
    Messages:
    1,447
    Likes Received:
    8,388
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    We gotta see this bad boy
     
  2. Shawn Curry

    Shawn Curry

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2014
    Messages:
    3,755
    Likes Received:
    22,691
    Location:
    Western NY
    DE43C4E3-3487-45E9-9CC8-EA03BB19BB7C.jpeg E9F8FA83-14FE-4C8A-8832-276D7780214D.jpeg 945B89F5-6F18-4E6C-B680-3A6881B77F84.jpeg 46CB4DFD-77F6-4956-9FB0-487D4F6F5CEC.jpeg BBEFACB3-B38B-408B-BD1D-6FF384C38C7E.jpeg

    Well they didn’t skimp on the packaging, or too much else it seems. It was 260# shipping weight. Seems very well made. MikeyB if you want any detail pics just let me know.
     
  3. MikeyB

    MikeyB

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2017
    Messages:
    1,447
    Likes Received:
    8,388
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    That looks awesome, as we speak I am working on convincing my bride that I need a new pellet smoker/grill. We have some tax money left over and I want it, lol.
    Grill Grills came out with a newer version of the Silver back, and I'm also looking at the Rec Tec Bull 700. But that 680 has my attention as well.
    What kind/brand of pellets are you thinking of using Sean?
     
  4. Shawn Curry

    Shawn Curry

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2014
    Messages:
    3,755
    Likes Received:
    22,691
    Location:
    Western NY
    I went with Lumber Jack pellets as they seemed to be a popular choice on the forum Eric VW linked to, and they’re supposed to be 100% the kind of wood they say it is.

    78C20780-5209-4CED-B134-7ED829FBF5A6.jpeg

    There was a lot of discussion on there about many brands being oak or alder blends; or even flavored with wood oils - apparently Traeger has a patent on that process. Cookinpellets were supposed to be another “genuine” brand, which also discloses their blend % right on the bag. In most other cases if they just call it a certain flavor with no % it’s probably a blend.

    The price was basically the same as other Amazon offerings at about $1/lb. I got free shipping on them from duck’s Sporting Goods.

    I really liked that RT700 too; I almost went with that one. I really like the stainless - hopefully I dont kick myself later on for not splurging the extra $200.
     
  5. MikeyB

    MikeyB

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2017
    Messages:
    1,447
    Likes Received:
    8,388
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Thanks Sean, can't wait to see you work some magic on that machine
     
  6. Shawn Curry

    Shawn Curry

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2014
    Messages:
    3,755
    Likes Received:
    22,691
    Location:
    Western NY
    Here’s some pics of the internals:

    C5679E8D-FE04-41DD-B7C0-70F656C0E2A7.jpeg BC18F117-F316-406B-A352-9BCA12165094.jpeg 4F0B95F7-967A-4DE9-B514-21F2F69E0AE8.jpeg 68E74CC8-EB3A-436A-B1EE-D3B1B07A85A9.jpeg 3DA1DBF1-5419-4782-8A05-59182089708D.jpeg E4559576-41F4-4B8A-BF28-45D27FF1BA22.jpeg 718F4843-1865-4563-AC46-BB6D965C9A2F.jpeg
     
    T.Jeff Veal, mat60, J. Dirt and 4 others like this.
  7. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2015
    Messages:
    23,560
    Likes Received:
    133,121
    Location:
    US
    Great pics Shawn Curry :thumbs:
    Thanks for the link in the PM:handshake:
     
  8. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    19,206
    Likes Received:
    98,381
    Location:
    KC Metro
    When get it going... can you snap a picture of the pellets? I’m curious on how the length of them are. One of the things that was mentioned on my issues was the pellets might be too long and clogging up the feeding screw...
     
  9. OhioStihl

    OhioStihl

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2013
    Messages:
    1,562
    Likes Received:
    9,207
    Location:
    Southern Ohio
    Congrats on the smoker. I have a Traeger that I run like a rented mule. It has been great but I have been looking at the Green Mountain grills and the RecTec. I’ve have heard nothing but good things about the customer service from RecTec.
    FYI: I was part of a bulk buy on pellets this last winter. I got Lumberjack pellets ( I think they are great ) for $7.35 a 20 pound bag. I had to buy 40 bags but it was worth it. The smoker forum guys will do a regional but sometimes.
     
  10. Shawn Curry

    Shawn Curry

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2014
    Messages:
    3,755
    Likes Received:
    22,691
    Location:
    Western NY
    I did get a pic for ya this weekend; forgot about it until just now. They seemed pretty consistent in size.

    AF9E26D6-507C-4BBD-A1C7-840CFB68B0EE.jpeg

    Thanks! It seems like an awesome grill so far. I ran it for 14 hours on Saturday and another 12 or so on Sunday. Used about 35 pounds of pellets; but that included a 400 degree break in for an hour, and a run of turkey at 325 + 375.

    For the initial burn it took 20 mins to reach 400, overshot by about 25 degrees, and once it came back down it didn’t budge by more than 1 degree after that. It did an excellent job maintaining the temp. The program even seemed to detect if I had the lid open for an extended time - I noticed that the fan would shut off after a few seconds, and then it managed to recover quickly once I closed it again.

    BF9CE9E8-61B8-4797-A866-91C4B0181B8B.jpeg A2D4FC84-DCC5-41CA-BD33-911E58C534CE.jpeg
     
  11. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    19,206
    Likes Received:
    98,381
    Location:
    KC Metro
    Did I read that right? The accuracy of that system you got is able to control the temperature that close?
     
  12. Chaz

    Chaz

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2018
    Messages:
    8,528
    Likes Received:
    60,018
    Location:
    Southwestern NY
    Well, as a spectator to the event, I can't say how closely the stove kept the temps, but between it keeping the temps well within range, and the thermocouple probe giving alarms at specific temps, the food was monitored at all times and came out terrific. Not a "set it and forget it" situation in the least, as Shawn Curry seemed to be moving all the time.

    It was interesting that it had the fan and all, it did sound like it was breathing/exhaling at times.
    But the smell was fantastic. :drool:
     
  13. bobdog2o02

    bobdog2o02

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2015
    Messages:
    3,004
    Likes Received:
    10,395
    Location:
    Drury Lane, PA
    Shawn Curry, i get your concern over alder and oak content..... But consider that you may wantto grill on this thing. Those supplement woods add BTU's without the cost of Smoking woods. I like the traegers for an all around pellet. I buy some straight hick pellets locally for smoke only stuff like salmon and jerky......
     
    NortheastAl, MikeyB, Chvymn99 and 2 others like this.
  14. don2222

    don2222

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    Messages:
    3,262
    Likes Received:
    4,419
    Location:
    Salem NH
  15. MikeyB

    MikeyB

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2017
    Messages:
    1,447
    Likes Received:
    8,388
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Shawn, I just got an email from Rec Tec today and they have the WiFi controller retrofit upgrade available for the RT-680. For $99.99. Sounds like a good deal, you get 2 probes and a readout of 4 temps and connection to your phone.
    Check out the website. How are you liking the new 680?
    I'm still looking to grab the Bull, I don't think they have the 680 available anymore?
     
  16. Shawn Curry

    Shawn Curry

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2014
    Messages:
    3,755
    Likes Received:
    22,691
    Location:
    Western NY
    Thanks for the heads up! That is tempting... Though the temp probe / alarm that my mom bought worked out quite well.

    AD6262CF-DA5D-4247-B65A-C02EA929E6E8.jpeg

    Yeah the only problem I’ve had with it so far is that now we’re planning to have a lot more BBQ’s so I have to play head chef more often.:) :chef:

    I don’t see the 680 listed anymore either but I don’t think you’d regret owning that 700 one bit.:yes:
     
    T.Jeff Veal, Eric VW, Chaz and 2 others like this.
  17. Ontario Firewood Resource

    Ontario Firewood Resource

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2021
    Messages:
    337
    Likes Received:
    1,164
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Lumber Jack Pellets are a good brand. I am an official dealer for that brand in Canada. I am not advertising sales of this product nor speaking for Lumber Jack on this post, just to make that clear. They are produced in Wisconsin so they are available in the US. I did my research and this is why I came to this conclusion. Not only that, Traeger pellet buyers often come to me looking for a switch.
     
    T.Jeff Veal and MikeyB like this.
  18. don2222

    don2222

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    Messages:
    3,262
    Likes Received:
    4,419
    Location:
    Salem NH
    Hello
    I ended up with a new GMG Daniel Boone prime grill with the new 12 VDC auger motor for better heat control!
    See all my pics and detail here :)
    Amber Beer Brats on a GMG Prime DBSSWF 250 Deg F for 3 hours
    1st thing I did was a 3 hour smoke of Amber Beer Brats! They came out perfect! Luv the WiFi App on the smartphone :)
     

    Attached Files:

    eatonpcat, Dakota Hoarder and MikeyB like this.
  19. MikeyB

    MikeyB

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2017
    Messages:
    1,447
    Likes Received:
    8,388
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Those look awesome.
    I am finally going to pull the trigger on the Rec Tec 700 (Bull) this spring.
    Looking forward to pellet grilling.
     
  20. don2222

    don2222

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    Messages:
    3,262
    Likes Received:
    4,419
    Location:
    Salem NH
    Pellet grilling is awesome!
    Once you smoke a 10 hour Pork Butt or a 15 hour Brisket on Fruitwood or Premium Gold Blend flavored wood pellets you will be totally hooked!
     

    Attached Files: