Tip top temp test

[irv39]

Got my tip top temp yesterday and thought I would test it today without meat and this thing is amazing it has a dial that has 1 - 8 and I thought I would start at 4 to see were it would get grill to, I put charcoal in a pile and lit 3 charcoals only with a map torch  and let the temp top control the temp from there and it worked amazing. had it set at 4  and cooked for 4 hrs. at 250 then moved the dial to 6 to see where it would go and it went to 300 and cooked for 2 hrs.



4 hrs.

2 more hrs. at 6 on dial

charcoal after after 6 hrs.

were I had the vents at

[Nate]

That's a neat little gadget. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking at their website now.

[irv39]

Yes I think it will work out ok, Bruce sent me a e-mail that it would cost 20.00 pay pal and I thought for 20.00 its worth a chance, im going to cook some Cornish hens sat. or sun. that will be the real test.

[wyd]

I'm going to order one.  For 20 bucks its worth a try.

[Hogsy]

@irv39 , @wyd  Ok so now that you've all had a few months to play with it. What's your thoughts on it?
I'm pretty keen to get a new toy and this looks like it will work well

[Troy]

I've had one for several years.
I think it's a cool tool, but I think is best used in higher temp cooks.

In a low and slow cook, it holds temps down by shutting the exhaust. Doing this creates more creosote and will put a bitter taste on your food.

If you use less fuel, you can avoid this... But that kind of defeats the purpose.

At higher temps, like 350, it does just fine.

[wyd]

@irv39 , @wyd  Ok so now that you've all had a few months to play with it. What's your thoughts on it?
I'm pretty keen to get a new toy and this looks like it will work well

I have used it a few times and it works as advertised.  I get longer grill times having all the charcoal in one place and if I really want to sear at high heat I can easily do that and then close the vents some to finish my cook.  Overall to me it was worth the few dollars it cost.  I would buy one again.  I have mainly done chicken and pork on it so far but plan on doing some pork knuckles where I will run the charcoal around on the outside of the vortex vs inside so will see how that works this weekend when I make them but I expect it will work just fine.