Just Getting Started

[Susan B]

Hi all, my husband is interested in trying pellet smoking but I'd like to get him a "starter" smoker for under $1000 as a first step. Can anyone recommend a good option? There are so many out there I don't know where to start. Thank you!

 

[kskomodo04]

There are many options out there for you to choose from. I personally own a Green Mountain- Daniel Boone. This model fits my smoking needs. There is a larger size, the Jim Bowie. Of course looking for USA made products may be a factor in your decision. Look for local dealers and then ask others about the service from the dealer. From what I have read here Big Poppa has excellent service.

 

[So Cal Smoker]

Welcome to the forum Susan. Please take a long hard look at the MAK 1 Star, yes it's a little over 1,000, however your husband won't be looking to upgrade in 6 months. If you buy a " Starter " grill/smoker and pay somewhere about 700 or 800 and than upgrade in less than 2 years you've spent about $2,000 to $2,500 including the upgrade. I hope this makes sense to you and here's wishing you the best of luck and good smoking.

 

[RickB]

I agree... Take a hard look at the Mak 1 star as it is a smoker your husband will love for many years to come. Give Big Poppa a call and he will help you with your pick.

 

[jimsbarbecue]

I will echo looking at the MAK one star. We have two MAK grills that frankly I abuse and they work like a top. Big Poppa has a MAK one star on his comp trailer he hauls around to all the comps and uses all the time. If you can swing the extra it will be a smoker you will have for many years.

 

[hank858SD]

Welcome to the forum Susan. Please take a long hard look at the MAK 1 Star, yes it's a little over 1,000, however your husband won't be looking to upgrade in 6 months. If you buy a " Starter " grill/smoker and pay somewhere about 700 or 800 and than upgrade in less than 2 years you've spent about $2,000 to $2,500 including the upgrade. I hope this makes sense to you and here's wishing you the best of luck and good smoking.

Ditto what So Cal Smoker and others have shared on costs.

 

[TentHunter]

As a MAK 1 Star owner I can wholeheartedly agree with what the others have said! The MAK 1 Star is not that much more and is worth every single extra penny and then some!

I could NOT be happier with mine!

 

[Susan B]

Thank you everyone! I am so grateful for your feedback, and the unanimity of the responses certainly makes me feel good about what the right choice is! I know my husband will be thrilled. Thanks again!

 

[tbone]

Hey Susan B - welcome to the forum. I'm sure we'll all get to know your husband soon after he receives his gift. Fair warning though....he likely will spend entirely too much time pouring over recipes, watching videos of BP cook, and hangin here with other smokers. And it won't be long before he'll want to fly to So Cal to watch some competition cook off Big Poppa has thought up.

Now, for my .02 cents......I bought the "starter smoker." Still have it and still use it. However, I realized quickly the limitations and wished I had gone for the MAC 1. If I could do it all over again, I'd spend the extra $ and buy the MAC. And if you haven't checked out Big Poppa's site, I (and I'm sure all of us) highly recommend you do. They take better care of you, and support their product lines, better than any company out there. They truly are the Kings of Customer Service.

Good luck and keep us posted on your decision. What ever it is, we'll all enjoy hearing from you.

tbone

 

[sorge57]

Welcome to the forum Susan. Please take a long hard look at the MAK 1 Star, yes it's a little over 1,000, however your husband won't be looking to upgrade in 6 months. If you buy a " Starter " grill/smoker and pay somewhere about 700 or 800 and than upgrade in less than 2 years you've spent about $2,000 to $2,500 including the upgrade. I hope this makes sense to you and here's wishing you the best of luck and good smoking.

I agree. This is exactly what I did....Bought a traeger and 3 months latter I bought the mak 2 star. Luckily I got most my money back on the traeger.

 

[scooter]

I agree. This is exactly what I did....Bought a traeger and 3 months latter I bought the mak 2 star. Luckily I got most my money back on the traeger.

Same story here except it was 4 months later. Lost about $300 in investment in the Traeger when I sold it to buy my 2 Star.

 

[Susan B]

Hi tbone,

Thanks for your note and recommendation. I did go ahead and get the MAC 1 from Big Poppa - it will arrive on the 23rd, so as long as the assembly isn't too crazy he can smoke our Christmas turkeys! I am scouring this site for turkey tips, and I'm sure Ron will be on here regularly as well. This is something he's wanted to do for many years.

I so appreciate the quick response and thoughtful comments. Hope you all have a great holiday!

All my best,

Susan

 

[hank858SD]

Hi tbone,

Thanks for your note and recommendation. I did go ahead and get the MAC 1 from Big Poppa - it will arrive on the 23rd, so as long as the assembly isn't too crazy he can smoke our Christmas turkeys! I am scouring this site for turkey tips, and I'm sure Ron will be on here regularly as well. This is something he's wanted to do for many years.

I so appreciate the quick response and thoughtful comments. Hope you all have a great holiday!

All my best,

Susan

Susan B. Check out Big Poppa's Turkey Tips & Tricks

http://www.pelletsmoking.com/hall-fame-recipes-22/big-poppas-thanksgiving-turkey-tips-3044/

I'm sure the entire family will love all of the goodies that will come off your husbands new MAK.

Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas as well.

 

[Susan B]

Well, sorry to report that UPS failed to show for their agreed-upon delivery window yesterday, so no smoked turkey for our Christmas this year. :-( Just have to go the ol' roasted route. Hope to have something good to report in January!

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone.

 

[scooter]

They could still show up today. I've assembled 3 MAK 2's. Two by myself and one with a friend. It took me about fifty minutes to an hour to assemble my first one alone and then using an electric screwdriver it took me about 45 minutes to assemble the other. It can be done alone but it helps to have another set of hands when laying the body of the MAK on it's back for leg assembly and again when moving the body and legs back to an upright position. I've done it by myself without any issues but another set of hands makes it much smoother.

 

[Big Poppa]

Susan....did you call them? what are they saying? Im waiting for gifts myself....keep us posted and you can call the hotline....UPS has it...Im sorry that they didnt get it to you...but like Scooter says there is hope.....

 

[Susan B]

Thanks Scooter and Big Poppa. The customer service line for UPS Freight is closed today, so there's no way to find out what's going on. The shipment status still says expected delivery yesterday, so it hasn't been updated. My UPS guy says he wouldn't hold his breath. ;-) Ron will just have to be happy with the pellets and the side shelf under the tree.

Not your fault, just a shipping issue. We'll make do for Christmas, and look forward to smoking in the new year!

 

[Big Poppa]

Im not giving up yet...on your present or my sons!

 

[Susan B]

Hope you got yours, Big Poppa! Unfortunately UPS Freight appears to have lost mine. They're looking in all the trucks tonight and said they'd let me know Monday if they even have the package or not. :-(

 

[KristenBPS]

We have our UPS folks assisting in the search as well Susan and are keeping it high on our list!! We will make sure your cargo gets delivered to you soon.