tempted by this Kamado K7

[Attjack]

They are asking $450.

[Thunder77]

Looks pretty. What are the particulars?

[Attjack]

Kamado K-7 Charcoal Grill & Smoker. $450. Beautiful Blue Tile. Classic Design.

Stainless steel bands and pneumatic spring-loaded top. Stainless steel 18” main grill. Secondary 15” stainless steel grill for double layer grilling and smoking. 15” x ¾” pizza stone. Wheels. Good condition.

Buyer responsible for loading, hauling and unloading. Buyer may want a $49.95 Stainless Damper Top Collar from Kamado, since the steel screw mechanism on the cap is frozen open. (Seller uses tin foil, when dam

[Attjack]

I assumed incorrectly this was a Kamodo Kamado. Can anyone tell me about this brand?

http://kamadocompany.com/products/

[Spinaker]

I would pass on this. These are pretty much knock offs of the KK. The workmanship is far far far below a real KK. I have heard various stories of shotty workmanship etc. Tiles coming off in cold weather, lid not matching up, or having a serious under or over bite.

$450- is not a bad deal, maybe.......but I would pass.

[Histrix]

The K7 models/company existed before the Komodo Kamado company so technically not knock offs. Actually, one could say that the KK's are the knockoffs since KK came into existence from the ashes of the K7 company when it failed.

[Spinaker]

You might be right. I guess, in this case, the knock off is far better far better than the original. Histrix

[Craigar]

Attjack it looks like this thread saved you about 19 years worth of AR membership dues.

[Max Good]

Highly suspicious. The Facebook site mentions the notorious Richard Johnson.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/kamadocompany/about/

http://kamadocompany.com/

[Max Good]

More on Richard Johnson: http://kamadofraudforum.org/viewforu...a7e46227dd0abd

[Troutman]

Is he related to the late Notorious B.I.G. ???

[Troutman]

Wait...there's such a thing as the "Kamado Fraud Forum". LOL. Is it a bunch of whiners exposing the deep underbelly of the kamado world .....

[Max Good]

FireMan Here is a very brief review of Richard Johnson's Kamado Grills aka Kamado.com

https://amazingribs.com/grill-smoker-egg-or-kamado-style-combination-grill-smoker/kamado-grills-aka-kamadocom-out-business

[Grill Dog]

Don't walk away.....................Run away as fast as you can!!!!!! Many horror stories on the KK site from former owners!!!

[JerryH]

[HawkerXP]

They do look nice.

[Attjack]

His is nicer looking than the one in the craigslist ad. I like the handle.

[JerryH]

That looks very similar to my custom built Kamato Rocket. Custom built here in Las Vegas. I have a lot of money in it. Over $3,000.00 with all the goodies. Built in gas starter. tile made to order. All stainless steel and neumatic shocks, Love every aspect of it. Great temp control with the CyberQ. Heavy as it weights probably 500 pounds.

[Attjack]

Pics?

[JerryH]

Picture is in front of my comments. A bit new at posting.

[Attjack]

Not sure how I missed it. No doubt about it that is a pretty kamado.

[JerryH]

I was going to buy a Green Egg but thought they were too expensive. Seen these and had weak moment and went way over budget. I do not regret the decision. I can put a brisket on in the evening, set the temp at 225 and go to bed. Temp will stay within 5 degrees. A lot different that staying up and drinking beer all night. Getting too old!!

[Attjack]

I hear you! I bought a Primo XL and it was my first kamado. I have a controller and fan for it too and it makes for stress-free low and slow BBQing. I even point a cheap WiFi camera at it so I can monitor temps from the bar.

So you haven't had any issues with it that required you to contact the manufacturer?

[JerryH]

No issues from the manufacture. Had issues getting my CyderQ Cloud snyc'ed but Chuck helped me thru it. I can check the web site from the golf course and see how its doing Adjust the temp if necessary. Doing a small chuck tomorrow. Anybody interested in looking at the site here it is: Galaxy Outdoor

https://www.galaxyoutdoor.com

[Jim White]

I'm so confused by the history and ongoing saga of the original Kamado Company and Richard Johnson. It's clear that there was a huge quality problem and customer service problem with them. I purchased my Kamado #9, the largest model they made, back in 2005. I've haven't dug into all the details, but it looks like the complaints were already piling up around this time. But my cooker and the drum table I bought with it have remained perfect. Not a single tile has fallen off, all welds look fully intact and the shocks on the lid still function. The damper opens and closes with no difficulty.

I have a vague recollection that around the time I purchased it that although the company was located in San Diego, they outsourced construction to Mexico. I have no idea why my cooker has been so robust over the years when so many others have had huge issues. One factor may be that I did exclusively low and slow cooking for at least the first ten years with maybe a burger cook or three at a bit higher. I also wonder if they poorly supervised the builds and only the rare cooker was to spec.

Now that I'm trying to embark on higher temperature cooks, I wonder if I'll see structural problems develop or if all those years of low and slow did an incredible job of finishing curing that may have been a part of the problem.

Stay tuned, I'm getting ready to light the fire in a few minutes for my first pizza cook in it, so I'll go up to really high temps and stay there for 30 minutes or so to heat the cast iron pan before throwing a pie on. On previous high temp cooks, it's mostly been just to get a sear, although there have been a couple attempts at tandoori chicken or turkey breast that would have been cooks that were a bit longer.