Paul

Impressions… As I mentioned I have drooled over these cookers and followed the forum for years. I must say I was very surprised the first time I fired Bob (as in Marley) up. Filled the charcoal basket and opened the vents. I watched the temp rise to 300* then I shut the top vent to ¼ turn open and just a sliver opening on the bottom. The temp dropped to 225*-230* and settled in at ~250*. This was just playing around and I was able to hit the 250* target temp first try! Too easy. The dreaded burn in… It wasn’t bad at all. Fill the basket, open the vents, and lite it off. Started at 300* and increased in 50* increments with hour holds. Nothing happened till around 500*-550*. Only two areas vented and there wasn’t any tile bubbles. Held it at 600* for an additional 1.5 hours after the smell and venting stopped. I have to tell you my wife was really into it. I explained the burn in process and why it needs to be done. She was outside checking the progress as often as I was. Later in the day some friends came over and she walked them through progression flawlessly. I'm going to have too keep an eye on her. Summary… With the exception of one cook I have had no problem hitting the target temp. And that one cook was only off by 25*. I think the temp increase was due to more smoking wood in the charcoal basket. Doesn’t smoking wood burn hotter than charcoal? I am surprised by how much the cold grates and deflector suck the temp down. I think a big part of it is the fact it’s only a 16”. Not nearly as much thermal mass. Taking into account this is my first ceramic cooker I think things are going well and will only get better. I haven’t received any complaints so something going right!

36” Weber Rancher (must be 20 years old. made it through the fire, handle and wheels gone), Weber Performer (new), and my new 16 TT KK. I haven’t used the Rancher for a while now. I put about 80 lbs. of fire brick inside as a heat sink. Works pretty good. I’ve only used the performer twice since receiving the KK in early December.

This is painful to look at!!! It’s as disturbing as Wounded Warrior and neglected animals commercials. Just not right.

I like the usual apple, hickory, cherry, and oak. I really like manzanita (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzanita) It's Chuck Norris solid and burns hot. A 50/50 mix of oak and manzanita makes for very tasty smoked salmon.

To err is human, to really screw things up you need a computer!

Reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode "How to serve humans"

Looks like the perfect lunch too me.

Thanks Dennis. So do you have a line on forest green tile? The wife is full go as long as it's green.

If nothing else it makes it interesting!!

A few pics Bob on his temporary stand at our temporary home. I made this charcoal chimney 20+ years ago. It's 6" schedule 10 stainless steel pipe.

MacKenzie you cook some of the most amazing meals I've ever seen. But, I have to agree with Tony. No Ketchup!!

Hello all! New KK owner Paul here. Long time lurker, first time poster. I first starting drooling over these cookers about 10 years ago and have been an avid forum follower since. As all of you know life gets in the way and there are always competing priorities. Cars and education for the kids, home maintenance and improvement projects, kids getting married, aging parents, the list goes on and on. I’ve always owned charcoal grills, mainly Weber and what my son named the Frank’n Smoker…a homemade combination of three different smokers I modified and made into one. Well, I lost all of them in the Nor. Cal. Valley Fire of 2015. Anyways this is my first Kamado cooker. I thought while I’m replacing things I might as well replace them with the best! I’m only three cooks in (steaks, pork roast, baby-back ribs) but I’m really enjoying it so far. I know, no pixs so it didn’t happen!! But trust me there is a cobalt blue 16” TT named Bob from the Black Friday Sale on the patio. I’m hoping to do the burn in next week. So now for the good news. I knew the 16” wasn’t big enough and I would need another KK at some point. I see the Reef’s Bistro gets by just fine with a 16.5” and 19” TT and I thought it would work for me. Well I get home the other day and my wife points at Bob and says, “these things sure are expensive” and I reply “yup” and then she says “they sure are well thought out, engineered, you’re going to get the one with the extra wheels underneath it right?” I almost fell over. I was thinking I might be able to talk her into a 23” but she’s opened the door on a BB 32” and all the way to a 42”!! And in a roundabout way told me she’s checking out the KK site. My God I love that woman! Her only request is that it’s green, a nice deep forest green. So Dennis I’m still in construction mode rebuilding our homes but once I’m finished I’ll be looking for a green BB 32”. Happy New Year All! Cheers!! Paul