Disgusted with Masterbuilt

Amen... and Congrats on the fine move. I got CS020 from Cabelas, best buy I've ever made.

Since your new let me explain that you can use the find button in the top left corner to search the forum, mountain of knowledge there.

Here is a good place to start learning. Ask if you have any questions, someone will usually help a Newbie out.

Your gonna love that smoker!

Great move. You will love the CS. See a lot of folks with the same problem on other forums. For the extra money I got a extremely well build, reliable smoker that is made in the US. Lots of good folks on this forum too.

I have friends who just bought a Masterbuilt. Didn't want to pop the extra change for the CS that I recommended. They are having all kinds of difficulty. Thought that just because it's electric, both smokers should operate and work as easy. NOT! They use chips, add water and have to baby-sit it almost like a conventional smoker.

Jack, you made a VERY good decision! Enjoy!

I know that this conversation is old, but I do have some relevant comments. I have used a Masterbilt that I bought at Sam's Club. I bought my first one over 3 years ago. After a month, the door warped and I returned it. Sam's club replaced it with no problem. That one worked for 1 1/2 years before the unit failed again. This time it was the digital controls. It was out of warranty, but Masterbilt sent a new smoker for a charge of $210, including shipping. After another year and one half, the element has failed. When the Masterbilt works, it works beautifully. I have used it a little more ofen than once a week, with excellent results. I don't understand the babysitting comment, because I have not had that experience, but I am ready to step up to the Cookshack. I am excited to have a unit that is much more solidly built and more dependable. I have never used a temperature probe, but expect that it is a nice feature. Now I just need to decide which model to buy.

quote:

Originally posted by BillyMark:
Now I just need to decide which model to buy.

Welcome to the forum BillyMark.

What's your budget? How often do you use a smoker. How many folks do you cook for? What do you usually cook?

quote:

Originally posted by MaxQue:

quote:

Originally posted by BillyMark:
Now I just need to decide which model to buy.

Welcome to the forum BillyMark.

What's your budget? How often do you use a smoker. How many folks do you cook for? What do you usually cook?

Welcome to the Forum BillyMark, and congratulations on the decision to step up to Cookshack.

MaxQue is right about some of the things you need to factor into your decision.

I bought my Smokette roughly 9 years ago and used it a fair amount.

Last year I stepped up to an AmeriQue for a little more capacity, and it is so easy to use I have doubled the time I spend smoking things.

Both of them are easy to use and clean up, it is just that the AmeriQue with the temp probe and the auto hold cycle make the longer smokes seem like child’s play. And I can’t convince anyone I didn’t stay up all night babysitting my smoker.

My smokers are for my personal use only, but I sure seem to always have it loaded with something for myself or someone.

Don't know how I missed this thread, but I too am a FORMER masterbuilt owner. Like BillyMark, the first one died and Sams Club replaced it. They then replaced a controler only. I went thru two more controlers (always careful to use cover, but it did remain outside). It finally died after I prepared 18 racks of BBs at one time. it would just never get hot and some of the wires in the back were brunt thru. When it did work, I made some masterpieces. But it would take forever to get up to temp with food in it, esp a big load. Ribs would take 7-9 hours, but would taste amazing. I worried about keeping pork in the danger zone that long. Anyway, I gave her a decent burial and my AQ came. The controler was bad on it, so Cookshack let me trade up for a FEC 100. Nothing like it boys! Now I'm cooking!