Initial ELX 6 Experience - Outstanding So Far


 
J

Jon B

TVWBB Member
I've done my first few cooks on the ELX 6. My initial experience has been superlative. It's like Weber has found the missing link in pellet grills. They should be shouting it from the rooftops and taking credit for it. I know that can change with further use and I wasn't one of the stalwarts who trudged through the initial rollout.

1. Granted it's summer time, but with one 20lb of Weber pellets I did:
- a 40 minute burn in at 450.
- Spatchcock chicken
- burgers
- smoked cream cheese
- hot smoked salmon

2. It's a delight to use. It heats up quickly and even in 87 degree weather can still go low enough to roll the smoke.

3. The hopper worked fine. I had a bunch of pellets at the top of the hopper and I kept watching and waiting to see if they would slide down. They did eventually and I didn't have a flameout. I have a roll of UHMT standing by if I need it.

3. The app is ok - not great. It's functional. The biggest thing it needs is that if it's going to send me temp alerts about anything it needs to keep ringing until I acknowledge the alert. The Thermoworks app gets this right. One little sound that my food is done is easy to miss.

4. When I cooked burgers, one burger in a spot to the right of the firebox got all of the flame broiling in a direct flame from the firebox. I can work with that.

5. The LED light will not sit flush with the wall of the smoker.

6. My biggest problem - I'm going on 5 days waiting for the Weber CS Smokefire "specialist team" to email me, not even call me back. That's a fly in the ointment and I feel fortunate I didn't have any show stopper issues.
 
The joke might be on me. As soon as I said something nice about the ELX 6, I switched the controller on while I was getting the grill set up to smoke a pork loin. I didn't set a temp or anything. About 5 minutes later the controller displayed finishing shutdown and restarted itself. It was already up to date so I don't know what that was about.

I proceeded with the cook and when I set it to 225 and pushed the button, the augur made a metallic squeak. I had dumped pellets earlier in the day to adjust the pellet slide door. That was a little disconcerting. I have only been through one bag of Weber pellets and put Cabela's Hickory in after that.

Then I tried to place a Wet Smoke rack and when I got it in where I *think* it is supposed to be, it caused the inside front metal panel that extends to the chamber to push forward at the bottom like a see saw away from the chamber. It quickly rocked back in place when I removed the Wet Smoke. I didn't really need the Wet Smoke anyway.

Anyhow, the cook is going fine and the augur sounds fine now.

I may have to hold off saying more nice things about the ELX 6 so I don't jinx myself (more). :)
 
My family really likes the taste of food off the Smokefire. That's an incentive for me to deal with the glitches when they pop up. Most pellet grills can test your patience but, to me, it's worth the effort because of the great food. Have fun.
 
Lew Newby said:
My family really likes the taste of food off the Smokefire. That's an incentive for me to deal with the glitches when they pop up. Most pellet grills can test your patience but, to me, it's worth the effort because of the great food. Have fun.
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I agree completely. My family likes the food, which is a big win for me, and I'm really impressed with what the Smokefire can do. I can always go to the barrel cooker or Genesis, but even the things I'm grilling taste better and often get a real wood fire taste. I'm still learning the ins and outs without a doubt.
 
Efficiency is one thing I have found. I only used about 1/4 hopper full on the Big Z since 4th weekend, and it's been used at least 4x a week. And 4th weekend it did an overnight run, and ran nearly the while day after my brisket cook, as I was doing ribs, steaks, chicken and so on. No trouble and it runs on pennies worth of fuel. Way more efficient than my gassers
 
I’m convinced Smokefire is the best pellet on the market. It does occasionally (and I emphasize occasionally) have a glitch or something weird pop up, but it produces EXCELLENT products and that’s worth it. Certainly would prefer to have nothing pop up, but it is what it is.

Love this thing.
 
LMichaels said:
Efficiency is one thing I have found. I only used about 1/4 hopper full on the Big Z since 4th weekend, and it's been used at least 4x a week. And 4th weekend it did an overnight run, and ran nearly the while day after my brisket cook, as I was doing ribs, steaks, chicken and so on. No trouble and it runs on pennies worth of fuel. Way more efficient than my gassers
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"Big Z" is a great nickname! :coolkettle:
 
Jon Tofte said:
"Big Z" is a great nickname! :coolkettle:
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LOL, I named it that on the app for my phone as well. Gotta say I am absolutely luvin that thing. Especially with the app and the extra working room. But, no less luv for the Member's Mark either. And once I get a WIFI controller on it, I will use it even more
Gonna be sticking a brisket on Bg Z this weekend
 
Would really like to update the controller on my Camp Chef. But things are a little shakey right now as Barb has to have both hips replaced and then possibly her knees. We are loaded up with pre surgery physical therapy four days a week along with my leg therapy two times a week plus whatever other doctor visits come up.
Haven't fired a grill up in over three weeks now, just don't have the time or the energy. I'm now the head house cleaner, dish washer and whatever else needs to be done. The Camp Chef will have to wait.
But I do enjoy jumping on here for a few minutes each day and reading about all the great cooks you all are doing. Does give me some relief from what's going on.
 
Rich Dahl said:
Would really like to update the controller on my Camp Chef. But things are a little shakey right now as Barb has to have both hips replaced and then possibly her knees. We are loaded up with pre surgery physical therapy four days a week along with my leg therapy two times a week plus whatever other doctor visits come up.
Haven't fired a grill up in over three weeks now, just don't have the time or the energy. I'm now the head house cleaner, dish washer and whatever else needs to be done. The Camp Chef will have to wait.
But I do enjoy jumping on here for a few minutes each day and reading about all the great cooks you all are doing. Does give me some relief from what's going on.
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Your plate is overflowing. Hang in there Rich. Prayers for you and Barb.
 
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