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No problems yet. I am pretty anal about keeping the cover on, but so far just minor surface rust near the joints. I keep it brushed off and wiped down with a light oil. Tom

Forgot to post the Dexter knife I have found the most useful over many decades. It is the Dexter 1376N https://www.katom.com/135-02070.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw_L6LBhBbEiwA4c46uvDU-sFWhaK40bZLcWIB0hGnYR9CSWMtDYE33uU8igsrS0dV-vsaKBoCCgsQAvD_BwE DO NOT get it from Amazon, they have them listed at rip-off prices. Easy to get a shaving sharp edges, yet holds it well. This is the best all-round meat knife there is IMHO. Especially for working BBQ cuts like butts, ribs, brisket, etc. Tom

The filament for each part is just pennies. Maybe a buck for the entire spool but probably not even that much. A couple of bucks for the stand because you have to have 8ea. 7/16" #2 screws. 3D printing filament is inexpensive. The rolls I buy average a little less than 20 bucks for 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of filament. Then the spools take about 50 grams of plastic so you can figure the exact cost that way. 3D printers themselves come is a WIDE range of prices. Tom

For those of you with a 3d printer and a Fireboard, and who need a stand. I uploaded the files to Thingiverse here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5014047 I also just uploaded some probe spoolers here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5019338 Tom

I just ran across this. This probe on Amazon had a user post that it was Fireboard compatible and very inexpensive. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B097XHGP7G/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQTcxRkxBVUVaSDc0JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjI1OTIwMUYyVVNZQ09ERU9OUyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODY1MjEzMTRYQ0JVUFpOMkxHRSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2hxcF9zaGFyZWQmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl The new Fireboards will handle several different probe types. Here is Fireboard's info regarding that: https://docs.fireboard.io/probes/index.html Look under "Probe Types". Tom

Thanks for the info. Tom

I have (had) a HeaterMeter that I built and loved. Great device. My son liked it too. After I thought I broke it, it disappeared and miraculously showed up at his place on his new smoker. Well, he "borrowed" it but the "borrow" has apparently turned into an "adoption"... just like a LOT of my tools have been "adopted". But I digress. I really don't have time right now to build and 3D print the stuff again for another HeaterMeter so I am buying a Fireboard 2 Drive Pro. I liked the K-Type thermocouple on my HeaterMeter. Extremely durable and high temperature capable. And they are dirt cheap if you buy them anywhere OTHER than Fireboard or any other BBQ company. My question is about fans. A LOT of Fireboard 2 Drive people seem to use the Pit Viper fan instead of the Fireboard fan. My question is... why? Is the Pit Viper better? And last, is the Pit Viper fan plug and play with the Fireboard drive 2 Pro? Thanks for any info you can provide. Tom

Yep. That is exactly what it looks like. Either a reject sold anyway or Ray Charles is their QC inspector. I would have taken it back personally. Way too much money invested in these things to accept such a poor quality finish. Tom

Everything I have ever heard about the things (from uninterested sources with no connections to KamadoJoe) said they were crap. I don't necessarily believe everything I read, but when the reports that they were crap just kept on piling up, they couldn't be summarily dismissed. So I went with a HeaterMeter. Tom

This one works for my son. I use paraffin blocks because I'm not in that big of a hurry. https://www.harborfreight.com/electric-start-propane-torch-91061.html Tom

I have used Dexter Russel commercial knives for literally decades. About the most useful knife in their range is the 6" carbon steel boning knife... we have two that are used every single day. Over the years I have literally worn out only one previously. It got so thin it made a great fish fillet knife however. And they are very inexpensive. Commercial use for years no problem. I used to use only my Japanese waterstones to sharpen but then my son convinced me to try one of these: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018RSEMU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I never looked back. Razor sharp edges in literally seconds. Be sure to get the X15 (15° bevel grind) for the best sharpness, get the 22° bevel unit if you are hard on knives and want a steeper bevel. I treat all my knives well so the 15° bevel works for me. Tom

I just got an email advertisement from kamado Joe. It is the last I will be receiving as I unsubscribed, and marked the email as spam. It was a colorful picnic with smiling faces all around and a huge block letter scrawl across the top proclaiming "Happy Memorial Day!" Here is a copy of the email I sent them in return. The language is strong but so are my feeling about crap like this. I doubt this post will last long, but maybe someone will read it and take a moment to think about what Memorial Day actually means. What the HELL are you idiots saying! Are you so ####ing stupid you don't know what Memorial Day is about? Don't know what it means? Memorial day is to honor the men and women that have given their lives in the service of this country. IT ISN'T ####ING NATIONAL BBQ DAY MORONS! Why don't you go to a family member's funeral and start wishing all those there "Happy Funeral Day Everyone!, Let's all have a BBQ out back!" Over my 26 years of service and two wars I've lost more friends than you will probably ever have and I resent companies like yours trying to make a buck on shipmates and squadronmates dead bodies. I have purchased my last Kamado product. Take me off your moronic mailing list. T. O'Meara, CWO4, USN(Ret)

If you are the least bit handy, then the HeaterMeater is hard to beat. https://tvwbb.com/forums/heatermeter-diy-bbq-controller.85/ Tom

I learned a long time ago, even in my pre-kamado decades, that controlling the cook with the air exit vents was a bad idea. Control the fire, not the smoker breathing. I found it best to run a smoker with the widest air exit opening possible while controlling the temperature with how much air I give the fire. Some say this is "smothering" the fire. Baloney. If you still have fire, it isn't "smothered" is it? It is just burning at a reduced rate. Yes indeed, you can cut off all air to the fire and smother it, but keeping it going with limited air and controlling the temperature isn't smothering the fire. This ends up, for me anyway, with much better tasting smoked meats. Tom

I use GrillGrates in SCA competitions, but usually don't bother when just doing steaks for my wife and myself. As far as searing goes, it is not really to "seal in juices" as most people seem to think. It is to produce a Maillard effect. The caramelizing of sugars and proteins in the surface of the meat is what develops the great flavors. And you can do that in a cast iron (or any other) skillet too. However, another benefit of GrillGrates is that they are good at preventing flareups if you have trouble with that on your grill. Tom