- Messages
- 143
- Grill(s) owned
- Bull
My two cents....
Seal: I think most guys on this site (and other bbq sites) like to "Tinker". I am guilty of it with cooking too. I make a slab of ribs and think they are the best i have ever had and my next thought is.."next time I will try"... Why would i try anything? Ha. It is because i link to tinker. I think the seal on the lid is the same. People have a great smoke and then think...how can i preserve a little more of the smoke. I have read it does keep a little grease build up off the lid. But, some guys will say it is a smoker not a piece of art... to each their own. My humble opinion is the 700 does not NEED a seal. If you want to add one.. so be it. I think RecTec has published that they think the airflow is better if it isn't sealed. But the fact guys are doing it should NOT impact your decision. It is a personal one not a flaw in the RecTec. I have not sealed and it is AMAZING!
Second...on the hopper. When i bought mine i was a rookie. I have moved from rookie to amateur. Ha. When i bought it i would fill the whole hopper up. 40lbs. Changing pellets was a hassle! I used a bucket vac to pull out the pellets to change wood types. I wished (often) that there was an easier hopper clean out. BUT... now that i am not a pure rookie, i have dialed my smokes in pretty well so that i can generally fill the hopper with what i need versus to the top. I now generally can add just about what i need for a pellet wood type and whatever is left i can cook off when i fire up the next cook. I generally have gotten to a point where i might have 5-10 mins of the old pellets left when i start my subsequent cook and can add right on top the wood type i want. I occasionally use the bucket lid vac. And, i know this might sound pretty loose, but I take the pellet type serious. I have six air tight 5 gallon buckets with different types. So, match my wood type on EVERY cook. It is easy once you get a feel for feed rates... what you need for a long cook... shorter cook, etc.
Pull the trigger... Like most everyone on this site.. You will have no regrets! I just told my wife yesterday i am not sure what else i have purchased where i got more ROI. We have used it 200+ times and still love it. Living in Michigan...i was sure the elements would start to beat the crap out of my Bull. And 2+ years after the buy and frankly it is a little dirtier, but i do not see 2+ years of wear, weather or performance!
Seal: I think most guys on this site (and other bbq sites) like to "Tinker". I am guilty of it with cooking too. I make a slab of ribs and think they are the best i have ever had and my next thought is.."next time I will try"... Why would i try anything? Ha. It is because i link to tinker. I think the seal on the lid is the same. People have a great smoke and then think...how can i preserve a little more of the smoke. I have read it does keep a little grease build up off the lid. But, some guys will say it is a smoker not a piece of art... to each their own. My humble opinion is the 700 does not NEED a seal. If you want to add one.. so be it. I think RecTec has published that they think the airflow is better if it isn't sealed. But the fact guys are doing it should NOT impact your decision. It is a personal one not a flaw in the RecTec. I have not sealed and it is AMAZING!
Second...on the hopper. When i bought mine i was a rookie. I have moved from rookie to amateur. Ha. When i bought it i would fill the whole hopper up. 40lbs. Changing pellets was a hassle! I used a bucket vac to pull out the pellets to change wood types. I wished (often) that there was an easier hopper clean out. BUT... now that i am not a pure rookie, i have dialed my smokes in pretty well so that i can generally fill the hopper with what i need versus to the top. I now generally can add just about what i need for a pellet wood type and whatever is left i can cook off when i fire up the next cook. I generally have gotten to a point where i might have 5-10 mins of the old pellets left when i start my subsequent cook and can add right on top the wood type i want. I occasionally use the bucket lid vac. And, i know this might sound pretty loose, but I take the pellet type serious. I have six air tight 5 gallon buckets with different types. So, match my wood type on EVERY cook. It is easy once you get a feel for feed rates... what you need for a long cook... shorter cook, etc.
Pull the trigger... Like most everyone on this site.. You will have no regrets! I just told my wife yesterday i am not sure what else i have purchased where i got more ROI. We have used it 200+ times and still love it. Living in Michigan...i was sure the elements would start to beat the crap out of my Bull. And 2+ years after the buy and frankly it is a little dirtier, but i do not see 2+ years of wear, weather or performance!
