Help make a tough decision

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Originally posted by Tboneld:
I have a small off-set with a guru. I like it, but it is certainly some work. On a contest cook, I have to load it several times, and like most offsets, it has some hot spots.

With the FE, the cooking is easier, and more consistent. It's easier to figure out the times, temps, spices, etc. for a cook and then duplicate it at a contest. The FE varies a little from front to back and top to bottom, but nothing I would call a "hot spot."

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I recently decided I'd go with a FEC100. I'm impressed with the idea of load it up and forget it. But now after reading posts, I've got several tough issues to work through.

It sounds like about 50 percent of the people have had a fire.

I don't know about that number. The thing is, everybody that has a fire posts it on here, so it looks like the FE's are fire hazards from the posts, but in reality they're not.

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That is concerning for safety, but also for the investment. If I put it outside, then I have to worry about it raining during a cook. If I put it inside, I have to worry about it burning down the house. I know that I'll here if you keep-em clean and follow the rules all will be fine, but I still wonder if I'll ever get over the fear.

It will cook in the rain - just keep a trash bag (or the cover for the cooker) over the hopper where the circuit board is. I wouldn't put it in the house. I don't think you need to be fearful, but any time you're dealing with fire, it's a good idea to be respectful of it. I check mine regularly when it's going - even on overnight cooks. I have a remote thermometer with a high/low alarm that makes checking the temp pretty easy - if it starts getting too hot or too cold, you know something is wrong.

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Also, I can only afford one. But at over 400 pounds, I think it would be really tough getting it from the backyard to the trailer for a comp.

You only need one for competitions. If you go to the Cookshack class, they teach you how to manage your time and product to do all four categories on one cooker. If you have a walkway from the backyard to the trailer, you should have no trouble rolling it on the casters. If it's over grass, you might need help. Depending on what kind of trailer you have, you might need help with that, too.

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I'm really torn though, cause it sure seems like everyone who has'em loves em.

I can't speak for everyone, but I do. See if you can see one in action at one of the comps you go to and talk to the people in person. They'll be the team up on stage getting the trophies.

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Thanks for your cander!

Tboneld

Great response Tom, couldn't say it better myself.

One point about "problems".

Fires? Just don't let grease build up and drip into the fire pot. The issue can be managed.

Rain? Not a problem. I cook in the rain at many a contest and the smoker is right out there. Get the cover or keep the water from getting into the electronics and pellets. Ever hear of a stick burner complaining because their wood got wet or their charcoal. It happens.

They're not major, every one is fixable and gets fixed. This is a forum by and for users. In the past, they would pick up the phone and call FE. NOW, with the internet, it's just easier to post questions. Kinda like society, easier to talk negative than postive for many people.

I don't have a number, but for every one issue, there's probably 20 to 30 or more users who have zero problems. they just don't post that problem, they're too busy catering, or at comps or out having fun.

And you WILL have fun with an FE.

What IS funny though, is that when some problem is posted, numerous other forums "pick up" the post and use that as fodder against the FE. Seems everyone LOVES to know this isn't the perfect cooker. One question to ask. When someone copies that and goes negative on an FE, do they actually own one?

Key point to remember: Cookshack, Stuart, Donna, Tony, FE and this forum stand behind every user and they ALWAYS work to fix it.

I've never had a grease fire, not had pellet crete, or many of the other problems.

Like all things electric, look at the post and a lot of them I would call "learning curve" understanding what's happening.

The good and bad of the FE is here and the good is that CS has always stood behind their customers.

Other smokers, heck they all have problems. I see an issue posted there and it's deleted soon. Also, we don't trash talk other smokers, we respect your right to choose.

Thus ends my editorial.

I am currently the proud owner of two FE100's. I had a small offset, gave it to my son-in-law. Bought me a larger offset to tow behind my truck. Sold it this year after I bought my first FE. I have had a major fire in mine, long story made short, I got in a hurry trying to cook 12 butts at once. I have cooked in the rain and the snow with no problems. I do not cook in the garage overnight but I do during the day as long as I am home. I have had several small problems but Tony is always there to help with them.
I guess what I am trying to say is you can have my FE100 when you pry my cold dead fingers from it.

ps Entered 4 competitions this year and got called to the stage 8 times. That never happened with my stickburners.

Dan

Like Smokin' says"you never hear about all the cars that got home on the Interstate yesterday".

You hear about the very small minority that didn't.

And often,it was driver error.

As to the 50% figure,I maybe know 50 FEC owners,and the couple cases of grease fire,could have been prevented by the method Smokin' mentioned.

Also on the rain,my home unit sets by the beach in south Fl and I cook in the pouring rain.

It sets out in the nightly wet salt storm year round.

Our team might remove a remote therm from the top of the cookers,but they cook in the rain at cookoffs.

I do have the cover that they make for it.

Just my $0.02

Nothing is as bad as it seems, and nothing is as good as it seems. The FEC 100 is an electro-mechanical device. They have failures as any device has. My first FE flameouted out 50% of the time. The auger motor and a controller failed. The important thing is that CS replaced it. The new one has not missed a beat in a year and a half. I don't think that the inference that the posting on this board about problems are operator error is wrong. The FE is an exellent cooker. However, it is not perfect. No cooker is. I just got a vintage FE, it is working well. Will it fail at some point, yes. Will a Guru fail at some point, YES.

If cleaning an FE is the answer to fires, mine would have burned up a long time ago. I clean it once a year whether it needs it or not.

I don't intend this to be negative, just realistic. If I think the FE is not a good cooker, would I own two? Don't think so.

I really don't know what more can be said. I have only had mine a month and a half, would I had rather bought another stick burner...no.

This fall or next spring, I'm not sure at this point, I will be buying another 100 or the 750.

You will be pleased with this cooker and the CS staff. Great folks to deal with.

Dale

Thanks guys for all your thoughts. I know that everyone has a favorite cooker. I really like the idea of pellets and the FECs.

When I hear FIRE, I get a little worried as most reasonable people would. I will keep all of your points in mind as I decide.

I want a new cooker because I need more space. With my current situation, I need to get up about every 3 hours, I'd really like that to be more like 7 or 8, I know that I could get that from the FECs, and some damn good BBQ.

As I was considering it, I also looked at the Stumps. There are so many interesting options out there, life is good!

Thanks for all of your advice!

TBONELD

We had one fire in ours. It was fixed with the help of a fire extinguisher and a replacement gasket from Cookshack.

First of all, you don't just let stuff burn inside or outside of your home without monitoring it.

Keep an extinguisher close at hand.

our fire was inside a trailer with an exhaust system over the FEC, so we were afraid the trailer would be caught also. We kept the door to the FEC closed and used the fire extinguisher to shoot into the hose that lead off the exhaust. It went out quickly, but gave us some grey hair.

You're right to be concerned about fire, but that is a consideration with any smoker.

Peggy