Meco Double-Grid Electric Water Smoker

First off, I bought my Meco 5029 from another vendor, but because I'm an Amazon Prime customer, I wanted to relay my experience here.

This is my 4th water smoker. The previous three were the painted variety and rusted apart. That was my justification for spending three times as much on this stainless model.

I received the unit yesterday. It arrived in perfect shape no dents or scratches.

If you like an installation challenge; like drilling-out misplaced rivets, adding screws where rivets should have been, and trying to locate part #23 when they really meant part #18, then you'll love this chore.

Also, the instructions say to install the handles with the Meco logo up, but no logo was found. (Not really a big deal, just humorous.)

Here's an interesting manufacturing technique used.....the sliding front door is held in place by loose rivets an interesting technique that does not provide a tight seal. I estimate there are 3/16" gaps in four places where the sliding door should be tight. I haven't used the smoker yet, but I'm going to lose a lot of heat and smoke through those gaps. And unfortunately I can't press the metal door into place, it just springs back.

Also, the cooking grates have nice handles on them, but getting the bottom grate in place requires some maneuvering, because the screws provided to attach the grate support brackets extend about 1/2" over the grate. Installing or removing the grate requires some twisting and adjusting. I cannot imagine trying to remove the grate with a pork shoulder on top. (Next time I have the unit apart I'll cut-off those long screw ends.)

Based on the design and manufacturing missteps, I rate this unit 3 stars. (And like I said, I haven't even used it yet.)

I love this smoker as it's very easy to use and homemade brisket beats the local bbq joint offerings (in the pacific northwest).

The best feature, and the main reason I bought the MECO, is its side doors which allow you to add water/wood, without having to take the lid off and the meat out.

What I'd like to see better is a real temperature gauge. All it does now is show you Warm/Medium/High. And if you cook a 12 hour brisket (the best way of course!), you'll need to turn it on medium/high to get the smoke going for a while before turning it down low for the long haul as the heating element won't make the smoke happen when on Low. So a side chamber would be the next step up to make this a perfect solution.

Regardless, it works wonderfully as a starter and barbecue is now a staple in my house. Yummmmmmm!

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This pulls some serious electricity -it runs off a 1000-plus-watt element -and in my house, it causes breakers to switch off. I eventually converted this to a charcoal smoker (Meco sells a kit to do this). This really shouldn't be a problem in newer houses.

At this price, though, I'd have to look hard at a Weber Smoky Mountain cooker. It's not stainless but it is enameled steel and it comes with a cover -it should last for years and years, if not decades and decades. It also has superior heat control (this Meco unit, like many water smokers, has no controllable vents). I've made some very good BBQ with this Meco but it does require a lot more attention than my Smoky Mountain. I use this at big BBQs when I often will fire up this, plus a Weber, plus a big barrel grill.

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The replacement coil and controller for this unit is MECO part number 1521.9.001. When searching for a replacement on-line it's apparent that these units fail frequently and always in the same spot; where the controller attaches to the coil. The failure mode is a fried contact and it results in melted plastic of the controller. In two years of infrequent smoking, mine failed in the same location as everyone else has reported and although I'm not pleased, I to am happy that at least it didn't catch on fire. Much to my surprise, Meco's price on the spare at $36 is less than from other on-line companies that specialize in grill replacement parts. However, their price to ship it is $17.00 for UPS ground which is ridiculous.

I agree with other reviewers that the lid doesn't fit very well allowing a lot of smoke to escape, the lower rack is difficult to remove because it catches on the hooks that the upper rack rest on and the thermometer in the lid is close to worthless. Other than that, i've been relatively happy with it until now because the last smokers i have owned have been painted and charcoal fired. Others have complained that it doesn't get very hot; i'm not sure what they are talking about. I prefer to smoke over low heat for a longer amount of time; something i was never able to do with my old charcoal smokers.

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The smoker was delivered as promised. It took around an hour to assemble it while I was having my morning coffee. If you are in a hurry, just buy your meats from the market already smoked.

So far I have smoked beef tri-tip with apple wood, and king salmon with cherry wood. Both turned out fantastic.

Beef takes a few hours and the fish takes around one hour; of course it depends on size and temperature, etc. It is nice that I only need to add wood chips and turn the electric thermostat on without the need for charcoal.

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