Starting up a thread to document my second go round with the Weber SmokeFire. I really liked the grill when I got one at launch, but ended up returning it after having some flameout issues and seeing the issues others had with grease fires and failures to reach high temps. It produced excellent food, but I could easily see the causes for the all of the issues and the supporting mobile app was very weak. With Weber being very quiet at the launch, it was hard to know how much they were going to stand behind the product, so I decided not to risk owning $1000 headache and return it. After seeing the advancements in the product and message from the Weber CEO, I have decided to give the grill another shot. This time the initial intention isn't to be my everyday LnS to mid temp pellet grill, but rather to be a replacement for my rarely used gasser possibly only used at 350 degrees and up.
So, I ordered another SmokeFire EX4 on Sunday June 28 directly from Weber. It showed up on Friday July 2. First thing I checked is the P(roduction) date and it was 1/1/4/2020, so I’m a little disappointed. I ordered direct to hopefully get the latest hardware revisions from the start. I went ahead and assembled the grill, with no surprises and it did feel like something I’d done before.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the ramp insert already installed, but kinda disappointed to find the original gen auger/chute in the grill. I’m going to call them and ask why they are still sending out grills with the part they are supposedly replacing in home for customers. Sure seems like it would be a lot cheaper to install that before it leaves rather than pay someone to come install it at my house.
During install, I removed the finger guard and lubed up the ramp with food safe silicone spray. I fired up the grill, ran it to 600 for 40 minutes then turned it down to 450 and cooked up some burgers. Burgers turned out great. Later Friday night I fired it back up and threw in my pizza steel and cooked up frozen pizzas. Worked great. This evening, I fired it up again and cooked some Tilapia filets. So far, no problems. My understanding though is that issues come later getting to high temps with the original auger after it backs pellets up a few times during shutdown.
I didn’t take a bunch of pictures of the unboxing and assembly as it would have looked the same before: https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...st-impressions
So, I ordered another SmokeFire EX4 on Sunday June 28 directly from Weber. It showed up on Friday July 2. First thing I checked is the P(roduction) date and it was 1/1/4/2020, so I’m a little disappointed. I ordered direct to hopefully get the latest hardware revisions from the start. I went ahead and assembled the grill, with no surprises and it did feel like something I’d done before.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the ramp insert already installed, but kinda disappointed to find the original gen auger/chute in the grill. I’m going to call them and ask why they are still sending out grills with the part they are supposedly replacing in home for customers. Sure seems like it would be a lot cheaper to install that before it leaves rather than pay someone to come install it at my house.
During install, I removed the finger guard and lubed up the ramp with food safe silicone spray. I fired up the grill, ran it to 600 for 40 minutes then turned it down to 450 and cooked up some burgers. Burgers turned out great. Later Friday night I fired it back up and threw in my pizza steel and cooked up frozen pizzas. Worked great. This evening, I fired it up again and cooked some Tilapia filets. So far, no problems. My understanding though is that issues come later getting to high temps with the original auger after it backs pellets up a few times during shutdown.
I didn’t take a bunch of pictures of the unboxing and assembly as it would have looked the same before: https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...st-impressions
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