Recent content by Rob F

Yes, they're worth it. No, I wouldn't recommend an ATC straight out of the box. IMNSHO, you need to get to know your equipment first without relying on an external control so that when it fails you are not dead in the water. My recommendation is you get a good pit+food probe (maverick) and a...

That's disappointing. I'm fond of the packaging of the PartyQ, avoiding all the plug-ins and such, but without the adapter attachment of the guru and a requirement to remove each time I think it'd be a hassle to set up. Please advise how it goes.

I would bet $50 on creosote build up due to the exhaust vent being closed so much. That thing needs to be open or you'll get exactly that issue.

Ugh. Of course I just bought the DigiQ 2 weeks prior to this coming out. This PartyQ would have taken care of all my needs since I already remotely monitor the meat/pit temp w/ my maverick and the ramp functionality can be dialed in as you wish it to step down.

Glad it went well. I used mine for a brisket (trimmed) Saturday night that was perfection. 10 hours at 230 was right on @ 1.25hrs per pound.

Man, this thing is efficient. It nursed a half-filled coal ring for 12+ hours @ 230. Although I suspect that being a dry run with no meat in the chamber may have helped that. Regardless, I love the way this thing works. Looking forward to an overnight cook with it tonight.

I looked for the caps but couldn't find them. Will look again as I'm likely going to be adding two more eyelets in order to move them behind the current handle location. The trial run this evening is going awesome. 230*F +/-2* for going on 3 hours now... Posted details to my own 'new guru'...

All my reservations about the guru purchase instead of the stoker just went out the window. I would definitely like a temp log, but... After beginning my trial run this evening, I'm in heaven with my guru. This automatic temp control unit is awesome. Started a small (couple layers) minion...

Very good point about the fuel conservation buying you time and convenience, thus letting you sleep longer and/or avoid the need to replenish fuel at all. I hadn't considered that. Guess I need to read some stuff on cleanup. Is there harm in reusing the same foiled pan for several cooks...

You can't help but use more fuel with water in the system. The larger thermal mass requires more energy to warm up. That energy comes from the fuel combustion. That's why the water works so well in this system; it's a heat shield for indirect cooking AND a ballast that acts as heat...

Mine is situated similarly. Will take pics when I have it set up this weekend how I like it. Plan on a brisket test run Saturday. On a side note, there are brass caps you can get for that threaded lamp rod to seal the eyelets if you don't like their positioning and end up adding two new ones...

I'm still getting mine set up (arrived this week), but the value is clearly worth it for me. I've got fire control on my WSM down pat. Once you have fire control down w/ the WSM, the system stability plus maverick monitor will be all you need for success. But... The value for me is that I'm...

Since the mount aims the air down, I thought I might put the hole slightly above the line for the uppermost intake vent holes. Also thinking about making the hole the same size as the vent holes if they're smaller than 1", so the intake is the same size as when people mount the blower on the...

The guru arrived and looks awesome. But despite my reasoning beforehand, I had the realization when messing with it that my geek-factor is indeed high enough that I should have bought the stoker for the stokerlog functionality. I'll get plenty of rest on those overnight cooks thanks to the...

I just got mine too. Where are you drilling the through-hole? You won't regret the lamp rod eyelets. I did mine last weekend. Didn't find the threaded rod in a single piece though, found a set of precut pieces, with two half inch pieces in there. They worked perfectly. I also recommend...