Howdy from Oklahoma

[Okie52]

I live just north of OKC and have been smoking for about 40 years but I've only been using a pellet smoker for the last 2 years.

I currently have a very modified Traeger Texas grill and I'm pretty happy with it now although I have been looking at a Yoder YS640, too.

I've put a Blazn Grill PID on my traeger along with a Down draft Hood, a Big Kahuna smoke generator, an 18" Amazn tube, a front shelf, bottom shelf, inside shelf, a lid gasket, and fire bricks. I use 2 Maverick 732 remote thermometers along with an Igrill phone thermometer.

I have an old built in DCS grill that is about to be replaced. I also have a NG vertical smoker but I hardly use it anymore. I also have a few charcoal grill too but I rarely use them.

I use my smoker and grill about 2-3 times a week. Ribs, brisket, pork butt, salmon, and chicken are my favorite items to smoke. Well, that and I like to reverse sear steaks quite often too.

I look forward to hearing this boards thoughts on smoking equipment, recipes and recommendations and hopefully I can occasionally add something to the discussion.

Okie52

[sweet_magnolia]

from Kentucky!

[Bbqgoddess]

Okie52 from Central California, sounds like you have plenty to add here! I am looking forward to learning from your experience!

[Richtee]

Welcome to Smoked-Meat! I will say..that Yoder will be a rather noticable improvement over the Traeger from all I have heard...and some I have seen.

[Doug S.]

from Utah

[SMOKE FREAK]

Hello from Kansas

[Okie52]

Thank you all.

[Okie52]

Welcome to Smoked-Meat! I will say..that Yoder will be a rather noticable improvement over the Traeger from all I have heard...and some I have seen.

From the standard Traeger texas grill I would agree but after adding the Blazn Grill PID and the Down draft hood my texas grill is performing pretty well. But, I'm at a point where I could do another $4-500 worth of mods on a SS heavy gauge drip pan, heat deflector, fire pot, and I'm thinking about whether its just better to sell the traeger and get the Yoder 640 or not.

I like the looks of the Yoder 640 and the heavy gauge metal used in its construction. I can't change that on the traeger. I do have a few questions about the Yoder on how much smoke it puts out, its PID, looks like it might need a DD hood, etc...On the Traeger once I added the PID I wasn't getting much smoke due to the PID's efficiency but after I added the DD hood my smoke levels returned to normal.

[BYBBQ]

from Florida

[barkonbutts]

Welcome from Dayton!! Now go smoke some meat!!

[Conumdrum]

From the standard Traeger texas grill I would agree but after adding the Blazn Grill PID and the Down draft hood my texas grill is performing pretty well. But, I'm at a point where I could do another $4-500 worth of mods on a SS heavy gauge drip pan, heat deflector, fire pot, and I'm thinking about whether its just better to sell the traeger and get the Yoder 640 or not.

I like the looks of the Yoder 640 and the heavy gauge metal used in its construction. I can't change that on the traeger. I do have a few questions about the Yoder on how much smoke it puts out, its PID, looks like it might need a DD hood, etc...On the Traeger once I added the PID I wasn't getting much smoke due to the PID's efficiency but after I added the DD hood my smoke levels returned to normal.

The Yoder puts out a good light blue smoke every time. I supplement with a Owens BBQ AMNTPS to add a bit more smoke and I can change the smoke flavor depending what I'm smoking.

I use two main pellet types in the Yoder 640. One is a mix for beef, the other is a mix great for sweeter smoke for chicken/beef. I have used Q pellets and Lumberjack pellets, they are the same company, and Owens BBQ pellets for my tube smoker.

You'll like the YS640, it's a beast!

Not sure what a DD hood is, you shouldn't need it. Ohh yea, probe ports. You can get them installed by Yoder but there is a much cheaper alternative, let me know if you're interested.

[Okie52]

The Yoder puts out a good light blue smoke every time. I supplement with a Owens BBQ AMNTPS to add a bit more smoke and I can change the smoke flavor depending what I'm smoking.

I use two main pellet types in the Yoder 640. One is a mix for beef, the other is a mix great for sweeter smoke for chicken/beef. I have used Q pellets and Lumberjack pellets, they are the same company, and Owens BBQ pellets for my tube smoker.

You'll like the YS640, it's a beast!

Not sure what a DD hood is, you shouldn't need it. Ohh yea, probe ports. You can get them installed by Yoder but there is a much cheaper alternative, let me know if you're interested.

Thanks Conumdrum.

My traeger puts out a light blue smoke that is sufficient for me (now) on smoke flavor. Originally the traeger had an Ortec knockoff temp controller on it and had wild temp swings but it put out plenty of smoke. When I retrofitted a Blazn Grill PID I got rock steady temps but I got little smoke. The Downdraft hood I purchased attaches to the inside of the chimney inside the dome and forces the heat and smoke down to or below grate level...theoretically making the grate and dome temps more uniform and producing more smoke. I can attest to the smoke level being higher. I have an 18" amazn tube and a smoke daddy big kahuna smoke generators and I hardly use them now unless I'm cooking above 300 degrees (which is rare).

In my area I can get BBQ delight and its rebranded as B & B cooking pellets that are sold in Academy for about $12 per 20# bag. I've been happy with them but I'm not averse to trying something new. If I'm using the Amazn Tube I use 100% hickory by Smokin Brothers.

How many probes does the Yoder YS 640 have? My current PID has one probe for meat. It also has a feature that knocks the cooking temp down to 170 when the IT gets within 5 degrees of the meat setpoint temp...is that similar to the Yoder's?

[Conumdrum]

Thanks Conumdrum.

My traeger puts out a light blue smoke that is sufficient for me (now) on smoke flavor. Originally the traeger had an Ortec knockoff temp controller on it and had wild temp swings but it put out plenty of smoke. When I retrofitted a Blazn Grill PID I got rock steady temps but I got little smoke. The Downdraft hood I purchased attaches to the inside of the chimney inside the dome and forces the heat and smoke down to or below grate level...theoretically making the grate and dome temps more uniform and producing more smoke. I can attest to the smoke level being higher. I have an 18" amazn tube and a smoke daddy big kahuna smoke generators and I hardly use them now unless I'm cooking above 300 degrees (which is rare).

In my area I can get BBQ delight and its rebranded as B & B cooking pellets that are sold in Academy for about $12 per 20# bag. I've been happy with them but I'm not averse to trying something new. If I'm using the Amazn Tube I use 100% hickory by Smokin Brothers.

How many probes does the Yoder YS 640 have? My current PID has one probe for meat. It also has a feature that knocks the cooking temp down to 170 when the IT gets within 5 degrees of the meat setpoint temp...is that similar to the Yoder's?

It has a chamber probe, that's it. So not as many bells and whistles as your other. I use the Maverick ET-372 and put a high temp gasket hole to fit a chamber and meat probe. I rarely monitor chamber temps anymore cuz I trust my Yoder, but use the meat probe for butts n briskets and the rare turkey etc. My Thermapen towards the end of a cook is my final guide.

BBQ delight is good stuff I hear.

[jwbtulsa]

Welcome from Tulsa! Enjoy your time here. This is a great forum, very friendly and talented.

[Slanted88]

Cheers!...glad ya with us...