Introducing The Most Affordable Gravity Fed Insulated Cabinet Smoker on the Market

[Lynn Dollar]

I bought mine the week before Thanksgiving, and unfortunately will be returning it this Friday. Not sure if I got a defective smoker or not, but I have noticed that the front of the smoker in the fire cute area is extremely too hot too touch. I haven't measured the surface temp in this area, but I would estimate it at around 200 degrees or slightly more. The rest of the cooker is cool to touch, but this area is extremely hot to touch. This doesn't bother me too much, but the lack of airflow that I have experienced with this smoker is not acceptable. From startup to get up to 275 degrees takes 1-1/2 - 2 hours - even with the fire box door open. I can even deal with this as well, and just start it up earlier, as I really want to love this smoker. The real problem is the recovery time though. My second cook was some ribs, and after taking the ribs out to wrap and put back in the smoker, after an hour, the internal temp was just barely back over 200. Also, kept nice size chunks in the fire box the entire cook with very little smoke flavor at all.
I was just about to submit my order for a new Smoke X4 w/ Billows, and I am sure that this would help tremendously, but I just got to thinking that I am trying too hard to like this smoker. I feel that a temp controller should improve on temp consistency, and be an addition and NOT a requirement. If this smoker cannot get up to, and maintain temperature on its own I just don't feel like it is a smoker that I want to keep.
Academy said that they will return the smoker since I am within my 60 day purchase, so I am leaning towards a Hunsaker instead. I REALLY wanted to love this smoker, but after a very frustrating seasoning session, and 2 cooks, I just don't think this is the smoker for me.

It appears to me, that the air flow problem is due to the design of this smoker. I've yet to find one at an Academy so I can see it in person, but all the other gravity feeds I've looked at on the internet have the firebox below the cook chamber. And the port into the cook chamber is level with the coal bed inside the hopper. Masterbuilt, Southern Q, Myron Mixon, Stump .... every one I've looked at does not redirect air downwards.

I was getting serious about purchasing an Old Country to replace my MB560 GF. But I'm passing because of this design.

Best I can tell, this is the air flow through the cooker .

 

[BBQBrew65]

I have had no issues with my SouthernQ Limo Jr. I do use a Thermoworks Signals with Billows to control it. It produces great product... good enough for 1st Brisket, 3rd Ribs and a Grand Championship in a recent competition.

 

[Lynn Dollar]

I have had no issues with my SouthernQ Limo Jr. I do use a Thermoworks Signals with Billows to control it. It produces great product... good enough for 1st Brisket, 3rd Ribs and a Grand Championship in a recent competition.

I visited the Southern Q site and the pictures aren't clear. Where is the port between the coal bed in the hopper and the cook chamber ?

From this pic, it looks like its even with the bottom of the door

 

[jeffshoaf]

I visited the Southern Q site and the pictures aren't clear. Where is the port between the coal bed in the hopper and the cook chamber ?

From this pic, it looks like its even with the bottom of the door

Don't rely on that picture - they've upgraded the Limo Jr. design. The external shelf has been eliminated and the cook chamber extended down. You should probably call them to discuss the design.

 

[Lynn Dollar]

Don't rely on that picture - they've upgraded the Limo Jr. design. The external shelf has been eliminated and the cook chamber extended down. You should probably call them to discuss the design.

The Limo Jr and its peers like Assassin 17, are more smoker than I need. Actually, the Old Country is more than I need.

What I'm looking for is something between those smokers and the Masterbuilt GF's. And its not out there.

I'm starting to have troubles with my MB560. I'm replacing all three door switches now. I'm wondering what's next and its becoming unreliable. It failed for the first time Sunday. If the controller goes I'm not gonna spend $250 for a Fireboard.

Keep hoping someone will build improve on what Masterbuilt has done, priced in the $1000 range. That doesn't have the grilling option as all I want is GF smoker.

 

[Lynn Dollar]

I've gone through this entire thread, has anyone ever solved the issue with the cook chamber door ? I'm close to pulling the trigger on one of these, but there's only one in the OKC metro Academy's and it has a door issue. Upper left hand corner has huge gap, door is uneven with the cabinet.

Anyone know if Old Country is gonna restock Academy with these soon ?

 

[SmittyJonz]

I don't the door issue can't be fixed easily - it seems like the "door jam" is not plumb but the door is - just have to find one with a flush door - wait or take a road trip - I've only seen 1 with a tweaked door in store and I look at them every time I go to Academy. DFW has multiple Academies - I believe there is atleast 3 stores up near OKC.

As far as stocking - you would have to call Academy 1-800 or do Online chat if they have it - they may or may not know but they can check store inventories. Old Country sends smokers by the truckload to Academy distribution center(s) and Academy delivers to their stores.

My Old Country GF stays in my driveway in weather year 'round - fire box door fell off as the hinges were rusted shut and I jerked on it several times, and charcoal in chute gets damp/moldy if I let it sit too long. Not sure if water seeps in or charcoal just sucks moisture from the air - as charcoal bags in my garage will get damp if I let them sit too Long - why I quit buying in bulk even before Kingsford Sales disappeared. But I've had No issues with cook chamber door.

I preheat cook chamber with a torch and it also burns off crust, grease. I then light the charcoal thru firebox door with the torch and it draws just fine. When cooking I have exhaust damper at 1/2- 2/3. I do run a IQ120 puffer on it

 

[SmittyJonz]

Midwest City
Norman
Oklahoma City - 2 stores
Stillwater

 

[Lynn Dollar]

Midwest City
Norman
Oklahoma City - 2 stores
Stillwater

There's only one OCGF in all the OKC stores, and that one is in Norman and it has that funky door. Even at ridiculous discount, I'm not gonna mess with that for as long as I own the smoker.

I just checked Stillwater and they don't show it in inventory.

The Academy site is not good on keeping up with inventory, however, two weeks ago they showed there was an OCGF in every store in OKC. Then one day I looked and they weren't there.

I visited the NW OKC and Midwest City stores just to make sure and they don't have any.

 

[SmittyJonz]

There's only one OCGF in all the OKC stores, and that one is in Norman and it has that funky door. Even at ridiculous discount, I'm not gonna mess with that for as long as I own the smoker.

I just checked Stillwater and they don't show it in inventory.

The Academy site is not good on keeping up with inventory, however, two weeks ago they showed there was an OCGF in every store in OKC. Then one day I looked and they weren't there.

I visited the NW OKC and Midwest City stores just to make sure and they don't have any.

I think guys on here have got a more accurate inventory count when they called the 1 800 or they called each store that showed 1 and asked someone to go look - back when Pecos was a Hot item.

Burleson had a Nice One a cpl days Ago - I could look again - buy it online at Burleson store - and drive down to get it - 3.5-4 hrs. Go to Panther City BBQ, Heims in Ft Worth - maybe Pecan Lodge on Dallas side while you are here.

 

[SmittyJonz]

I drove 7 hrs each way to Laredo plus a 2 hour visit - but I got a NICE discount.

 

[Lynn Dollar]

Closest Dallas Academy to me is the North Frisco store. Web site says they have one in stock. But I wanna look it over before I buy.

I'm gonna give it some thought, but I'm a purty patient person. Waiting would not bother me a lot .

 

[SmittyJonz]

N Frisco is 1 hr 15 minutes from me on a Good Day..... with traffics can be 2 hrs +. I am diagnonal from Frisco on NE side and I'm on the SW side.

 

[SmittyJonz]

GetChaOne…………. :heh:

Plus :

https://pitmasteriq.com/collections/automatic-temperature-control/products/iq110

Easy Peasy Brisket Sammich

I do preheat the cook chamber with weed torch as well as starting burn with the torch. Up to temp in 45 minutes usually and meat goes in.

.

 

[Lynn Dollar]

Better yet, take it to a welder. Cut off the OC baffle that directs heat down ( heat does not want to go down ) and makes it take two 90 degree turns before it flows under a deflector plate. That's enough to choke off air flow to anything.

Have the welder build a new baffle similar to what Southern Q does on their Limo Jr. It pushes air down, but does it at one 45 degree angle.

Like this, considering there's a deflector plate on top of this baffle

 

[Lynn Dollar]

And get rid of the chitty leaky welds around the baffle, like these .

 

[Lynn Dollar]

Or better yet, just redesign the whole dam thing to similar to what Assassin does, they put the firebox below the cook chamber and then have one straight shot into the cook chamber. Same thing Masterbuilt does with their gravity feeds.

Like right here

https://youtu.be/8x6roUPG7-A?t=181

 

[Lynn Dollar]

And like on the Assassin 17 here

https://youtu.be/lsNzEqJigt4?t=261

 

[Lynn Dollar]

And I gotta say, posting pics to this site is a total pain in the aress. This forum desperately needs a software upgrade. Smoking Meats Forum is soooooo much better.

 

[SmittyJonz]

Dude, just Buy an Assassin Already (at more than twice the price) .........

I have No issues running my Old Country GF at 250* or 275* or 300* or 325*.

.