Dave - Unixadm
TVWBB Super Fan
So if any of you have checked out my other posts about the Smokefire EX6 and the Campchef Woodwind 36, this will be a similar thread. Initial assembly, to burn-in, to mods, to various cooks. I'll post up my honest opinion but that opinion is just that, an opinion.
I ordered the Masterbuilt 1050 after YouTube suggested a video of it to me while I was watching some cooking programs. I didn't know what the heck it was, so when I checked it out I was intrigued. I found some forum posts and videos, which I proceeded to do my homework. It was a bit different than the Smokefire, since I didn't buy it straight at launch time. As of today, I believe it's been out for 60-90 days. Right now it's hard to come by one, but stock seems to be building back up. I ordered it from Amazon at the MSRP price of $799. It shipped quickly and I received it in less than a week. Assembly took place on August 11th, 2020.
My initial impressions of this cooker is actually quite good. It doesn't have the robustness of the Smokefire or the overall polished fit and finish. With that said, it comes with a lot of bang for the buck which is impressive at this price point:
My initial impressions are quite positive after assembly and the reviews have been pretty positive as well. I went into this with some knowledge, so I didn't have to wing it as much as I did with the Smokefire EX6. No fitment issues - went together without much hassle. The next post will be the initial assembly pics. If this thread should be moved, just let me know.
I ordered the Masterbuilt 1050 after YouTube suggested a video of it to me while I was watching some cooking programs. I didn't know what the heck it was, so when I checked it out I was intrigued. I found some forum posts and videos, which I proceeded to do my homework. It was a bit different than the Smokefire, since I didn't buy it straight at launch time. As of today, I believe it's been out for 60-90 days. Right now it's hard to come by one, but stock seems to be building back up. I ordered it from Amazon at the MSRP price of $799. It shipped quickly and I received it in less than a week. Assembly took place on August 11th, 2020.
My initial impressions of this cooker is actually quite good. It doesn't have the robustness of the Smokefire or the overall polished fit and finish. With that said, it comes with a lot of bang for the buck which is impressive at this price point:
- Double-wall construction
- Cast-iron reversible cooking grates (Sear/Smoke)
- Safety switches
- Extra hardware
- Three cooking levels
- Folding front and fixed side shelves
- WIFI enabled controller
- Four probe ports
- Four wheels for easier mobility
- Bottom shelf
- 160-700 Degree temperature operating range. Temperature control from reading reviews seems to show fairly good even control.
- Rotisserie capable
- Good accessory offerings (Rotisserie and cover)
- Easy to follow assembly instructions.
- Solid feeling after assembled. I was surprised but it feels more solid than the Smokefire EX6 or Woodwind 36
- 225 Degrees in 7 minutes and 700 in 15 minutes. This appears to be accurate and some folks show the grill beats that.
- Wood chunks can be placed in the chute or in the ash pan
- Runs well on briquettes or lump charcoal
- Well packaged for shipping (though mine did have one ding on the body)
- 32-step assembly process.
- Somewhat thin exterior sheetmetal
- Rubberized firebox and hopper gaskets
- No insulation (air gap only)
- The marketing material and adhesive. I almost feel like it's a tailgate of a 2000's Toyota Tundra it has so much stuff going on.
- Firebox design shows heat damage with limited use (from my research)
- Grate temps can vary across the cooking space
- Controller temp and set-point may not match
- Potential for grease fires (similar to that of the Smokefire's design without a diffuser/drip-tray)
- Limited grease cup. Potential to overflow when cooking multiple large cuts of meat at one time.
- Grease cup placement is pretty piss-poor IMO. Going to be a pain in the *** to clean it and not make a mess.
- Grillgrates (17.3") with Griddle
- Rib-O-Lator 17" Rotisserie accessory
- Masterbuilt OEM Rotisserie kit (works with both the 560 and 1050)
- Masterbuilt OEM 1050 cover
- L.S.S. Mods Stainless firebox liner
- L.S.S. Mods Stainless heat tent cover
- L.S.S. Mods Stainless water tray
My initial impressions are quite positive after assembly and the reviews have been pretty positive as well. I went into this with some knowledge, so I didn't have to wing it as much as I did with the Smokefire EX6. No fitment issues - went together without much hassle. The next post will be the initial assembly pics. If this thread should be moved, just let me know.
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