If you enjoyed this video, then you'll enjoyed this list of videos that I put together for you! Gravity 980 Temperature Test: ua-cam.com/video/z02gEc1fHoU/v-deo.html Gravity 980 vs Pellet Grill: ua-cam.com/video/0jJfVOo1Mas/v-deo.html Gravity 980 Assembly: ua-cam.com/video/IIDjF1UGzbI/v-deo.html
Another extremely informative and educational video Sir! I truly appreciate how thorough yet simple your delivery is. I have been considering the Chargriller 980 for a while and based on your reviews I will probably purchase one this week. Thank you for your input have grown to really trust you and your opinions. Keep Smokin’ my brother!
I used to smoke briskets on a 22" Weber kettle for two years. I have been smoking on the Char-Griller Akorn for another two years; great grill. The 980 looks amazing!
Very informative video. Are limit switches on grill better quality than the ones on the master built. I have seen videos of switches melting on Master built. I also noticed a lot of smoke escaping from the hopper area any way stop it. What about temp controller? Better than Master built. Some state than it gives out after 3-4 cooks.
My Gravity just arrived. I got mine at Lowe’s and they build and deliver. You are right the instructions don’t say how to start it for the first time. Your instructions and tip about seasoning was greatly appreciated. Started immediately, some odors are coming off as expected from what you said. I’m surprised that Char Griller didn’t at least have a video linked to say what you said. THANK YOU Keep the videos coming
what is the AC power draw of this grill? I need to run this off of a battery, and its draw dictates how long I can cook with it. Pellets with the auger and heating element pull like 400 watts or more. I NEED something lower than that.
I dont know the actual draw, but it’s going to be significantly lower than a pellet grill. This only has the controller and fan. No hot rod or other electric ignition
I started to go with a silverback but bought the 980 on the 29th of June. Got it all assembled yesterday, now I'm about to do the burn-in. Good luck with yours.
Can't wait to see what you don't like about this smoker and how it compares to the masterbuilt. I saved up last year so I can buy one to this year and want to get the one that will last me several years
Would you happen to know what the specs are on the power cord? I purchased a display but they couldn’t find the power cord, I appreciate it if you could help, if not, thank you for your time. Awesome videos by the way, keep it up!
Question... Might be a dumb one but oh well. lol..I recently purchase this 980 used, already assembled. this is my first smoker as well. My qyestion is should there be smoke inside the barrel or just the hopper? i read something that said these grills are easy to make a mistake assembling it. im wondering if the previous owner made a miskae putting it together is why i dont see smoke in barrel where food cooks at. Thank you in advance.
So if you watch my assembly video on this (ua-cam.com/video/IIDjF1UGzbI/v-deo.htmlsi=cy4_sU5mXFUuOxam) go to 18:16. I’ve seen people install this backwards and not push the smoke and heat into the cooking chamber.
@@jayrobelo9877 Lowe’s didn’t have one in my area either (3 stores within driving distance from me with no luck ). I talked to one of the customer service reps in the return area at the third store and she helped me out with a ship to store at no additional cost. Took about 5 business day but I got it. Just finished assembling it and working on doing the first burn now. I’d give it a shot at your local store if you are really interested.
I like your videos. One thing I have learned though is those smokers are for people who cook large amounts of food. With me it is just my wife and I since we are retired and are 75. Those big units and 16 lbs of pellets would be a waste. Any suggestions?
Would you consider doing a video or simple post/comment comparing this grill with the full size Akorn and highlighting anything and everything from differences in function, range in styles of cooking, quality of build, etc? I'm wanting to get back into grilling/smoking after a couple years out of the game due to traveling for work, and LOVED the Akorn for how versatile it was, but this has got me thinking. Trying to figure out if I want to get another Akorn or one of these. Thanks in advance!
I’ve actually never cooked on an Akorn or ceramic grill, but I’d love to. The advantage that the 980 has is the controller and the ability to easily maintain temperature
@@AndersonsSmokeShow Thanks for the reply, you should try the Akorn! Ended up going with it cuz it's what I know. I've made pizzas, steaks, burgers, and lots of low 'n slows. Super efficient and no babying required, plenty of fuel leftover when you shut it down. The 980 does look super sweet though.
Oops at 3:44 you said one of the biggest upgrades to the master built GRAVITY series lol, might wanna change that if it’s a promo, cheers, apparently there’s a flaw with the fan flap
Bought one at Lowes (assembled by them) after watching this and a number of other reviews. A total bust. Controller was broken, or door switches did not work, Lowes assembled it wrong or something. Got on Chargrill support. Tried their instructions for finding the problem, nothing changed the controller stuck on OPEN alert. They sent images of how to cut, splice and rewire the connections to figure out which switch was bad. But they didn't look anything like the unit I have, down to different wire colors. They stopped responding to emails and chats after I sent them a picture of what I have. BTW, you can't TALK to anybody, only email and chat. A Traeger grill I bought came with problems as well, but their 1-800 bank of helpers were a welcome resource. I saw only one comment about this video where somebody noted you can't really shut down the burning if you need/want to. I had started a 1/4 load for the burn in, and then discovered the controller failure. 8 hours later, it was still burning with everything closed and shut down. I can't imagine how long a full load would slow burn, probably days. You have to take out and unload the hopper. If you buy one of these, test the control completely BEFORE you do the burn in, and recognize reality. All these guys that review these grills will not tell you the bad stuff. If they did, they would not make any money hyping their BS. Extremely frustrating experience. One more BTW, at 250lbs, you won't be taking this puppy out of the truck or loading it up for a return by yourself.
I’ve personally never had any issues with this grill. Even though I receive many free products to use on my channel, every company is aware that I will share my honest opinions and experiences…. They may be the first to know about it, but that’s so that I can educate my audience. I have several examples of this occurring throughout the history of my channel. Overall it sounds like you’ve had a pretty rough experience, which is saddening to hear. I’m always leery of buying a pre-assembled grill but I can see why it’s desirable for some. I personally haven’t worked with the Char Griller customer service so I don’t really have much to comment there, except I don’t think that they should put any of this on you…. No splicing, nothing of that sort… especially a brand new grill
@@AndersonsSmokeShow , I appreciate your reply. Maybe I was spoiled by Traeger 1-800 support. For CharGrill, only web chat and email. I decided I didn't need to spend $800 to have a multi week electrician task (waiting for parts). Maybe I'll try another source for the grill and put it together myself.
I've been going over your videos and absolutely love your videos but what I haven't seen is how to get grill marks on brats, hamburgers and chicken wings....any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...thanks
It’s all about temperature and hot grates. You’ll need to pump up the temp and get the grates nice and hot. If you want some SERIOUS grill marks look up a product called Grillgrates
Is it normal for smoke to be billowing out from pretty much everywhere? Of particular interest was the smoke coming out the top of the stack and out of the cooking chamber...
Well at initial start up you’ll see more smoke like that as the coals are igniting and the fire is working to get hot. Once you achieve a good burning fire you don’t see the smoke much at all. Now for air circulation purposes most manufacturers leave the lids with a little space (and no gasket). The smoke coming from the hopper shouldn’t be happening and is due to a loose seal. I will be adding another gasket to the hopper lid to get a tighter fit
I’ve only done 2 cooks on this one so far... I think I’ll need a few more under my belt before I can honestly say. I do like the features of this grill quite a bit more than my MB 560
Based solely on construction, and something I don’t think he hit on, other than the weight, I’d go with this cooker based solely on the fact that it’s insulated and the masterbuilt is not. That’s why this cooker is so heavy. If I remember right, this cooker has got double wall construction making far better than the masterbuilt because it will hold the heat MUCH better.
I just set mine up and I was about to start burn off, but I noticed my thermostat was showing in the low 90’s Mind you outside weather was around low 70s I’m wondering if your thermostat or everyone’s thermostat shows in the 90s? Is that maybe normal?
Well…. I have a video discussing temperatures on this grill… per the controller reading maybe 10-12 minutes, but they build in an offset that compensates for readings at the center… but the grill has to reach equilibrium which means that it could be 30min or more before the grill is ACTUALLY 350F
Maybe I got a bad one, I hated mine so much I pretty much gave it away. Went and grabbed the masterbuilt 1050 and I love it. I still think these types of grills need a little more refinement but all in all it’s a neat niche.
Question about the turbo button, does it stay on indefinitely or is it on a timer? I would hate to turn it on and forget to turn it off and burn through my fuel too fast. Also, what is that damper shield for? Does it stay in or should it be removed? I’m starting to become addicted to your videos on this grill, keep ‘em comin lol
Mine broke after the 4th use and parts are in back order for weeks. The door sensors should of been made a little tougher. And the fan a little faster.
You shut the controller off and close off the air intake an vent to the cooking chamber and the fire is choked out… so there will be charcoal left over for the next cook
Just got my char griller gravity fed 980 from Lowe's. They assembled it for me and delivered it. I plugged it in and got a crp code. What do this code mean? This grill has been replaced three times for assembly problems. And they got everything taken care of but now this grill is giving me a crp code. Can this be fixed without me sending it back? Thank you
If Lowe’s assembled it, I would 100% go over everything to ensure it’s correct. On my Lowe’s assembled unit, the wires were a connected wrong, wrong screws in wrong spots, and the inside hopper was backwards. So glad I checked before trying to fire it up
Went to Home Depot and looked at the masterbilt 560. Very thin metal and the choker plates were very wobbly. They didn’t have the chargriller 980 but I looked at their offset smokers and they seem to be built more rugged. Where did you buy the 980 ? Thanks for the good review. Very thorough!
Been watching and subscribed on my main account for months, you actually are one of the main people that made me choose the Chargriller 980, and made me want to try my hand at making a youtube channel. I got my first video posted tonight on smoking Giant Dino Beef ribs, I would love to get your opinion on it! I am still loving my chargriller and use it for everything, thanks for doing your reviews and cooks on it making me want one!
I’ll be curious to see how it holds up, my personal experience with Char Griller products has not been the best. I have found that they use the cheapest and thinnest metal that simply doesn’t hold up to heat and rust. It’s an interesting concept nevertheless….
I think that’s somewhat common with many of the big box store grills. I keep mine in the garage when they aren’t in use. If I didn’t have that option they would be covered all the time.
Are there any thoughts on using foil pans in the grease tray or the ash clean-out tray to make clean-up easier? Any problem/danger with doing that or lining with aluminum foil? Any known source for foil pans that would be the right sizes for these two locations would be appreciated. I have learned so much from you already and look forward to more! Thanks!
I don’t see an issue with using aluminum pans in either place if you can get the right size… I personally haven’t looked for them so I’m not sure how close you could get
I have the MB560, and I absolutely love it. There are a couple design things that I think the MB does better, but from what I’ve seen of the 980 they basically improved all the things that were maybe overlooked when they designed the MB. If I were to go buy a new grill today I would get the Char Griller.
I just bought one and I am currently doing g a burn out and it seems to be taking forever to get up to 350, I'm thinking it's the lump charcoal I bought.
Hey man, appreciate the vids. I just got the Char 980. Just did burn off and tried to shut it down, closed all hoods, doors, etc and it didn’t shut down completely all night. It stayed hot. Have you had this issue? Thanks man.
Are you positive all the doors were closed and the metal insert was reinserted? I installed gaskets on the hopper which really helped seal it up, but it shouldn’t be necessary
@@AndersonsSmokeShow Yes everything was closed. I notice when I fire it up, a LOT of smoke is coming out from the top of the feeder. I saw you put a mod on yours...
Another excellent video. After doing this myself, I’d recommend that if you use spray oil to wipe it. I didn’t and got streaks. My test cook revealed an issue of constant smoke coming out of the front left corner of the top of the hopper throughout the entire cook and after closing it down! How long does your hopper top take to cool down to where you can put your hand on it without pain?
I just added a gasket to the hopper door so it’s a much better seal now. It did take a while to cool down… I’ll have to see if it makes a difference now with the gasket
It would have been nice to see inside the grill and to see inside the hopper. I would have also liked to see the actual working mechanism and the burning charcoal. I am interest in one of these, I currently own pellet grill, pellet smoker, Bradley electric smoker and a weber charcoal... nothing beats good ol fashioned charcoal flavor.
I’m going to film a temperature related video tonight... and you’ve given me an idea and I’ll try to incorporate your questions into some content within this video
Just bought this grill after watching many of your videos and really loved my first cook. However, the hopper box stays burning and hot for at least 8 hours after shut off,so I can’t cover it back up before going in for the night. Any tips other than closing all vents and doors? Not sure what to do
Having a nice tight seal on the doors helped me quite a bit. I know some people have reported that their are fine, but I added some grill gaskets to the hopper and ash clean outs and it seems to help me
Just a heads-up. Don't add alot of wood in the ash pan. It will burn up the fan flap and the temp will be out of control. CG should of used a better material for the fan flap. Mine is being delivered tomorrow and I'm only going to layer the wood in the hopper. Cant wait to see yr cooks on this new machine. Keep up the great work 👍🏻
@@AndersonsSmokeShow good work. Just FYI, people are reporting their plastic flapper being burnt by the fire when they use wood on their ash tray. Just use it closer to the grill (away from the fan box) or in the charcoal box.
There is a slight leak at the hopper lid but it doesn’t seem to interfere with the performance of the grill. I intend on adding a gasket to tighten it a little bit.
Great video! Been looking at this grill and been looking at some video reviews. My chargriller pro (without the smoker box) is always warmer on the right side no matter how you stack the coals
Just bought one. The holes for the handle on the lid do not align to install the handle. The plate that is riveted in, is way off and since it's riveted in place, there's no way to fix it, without drilling out another hole and using a fender washer. Poor quality control.
Just assembled mine. You need to make sure the pole handle is pushed in all the way to the end caps. It needed a very tight push so I used a rubber mallet to push the handle all the way in. I had to do this to both sides before mounting the handle to the door. The holes lined up perfectly after doing this.
As a master toolmaker for Baker Hughes and safety team member, taking off the stickers would come before lightning it up....additionally because we use water soluble coolants it would be better to use mild dish soap to remove any residue before spraying oil and burning it in. Also check electronics for water resistance for rinsing this. Lastly pellet smokers now have charcoal pellets and wood chips that can be added along with bluetooth and a app for the phone.....the competition is "heating up."
I love the review. Great review, from an experienced griller. Personally, I think it's a waste of money. Got one at a hefty discount. Everything I can do with this, I can do with my gas grill, without an electrical cord. Just my opinion. Very solid and sturdy grill. I'm sure it will accommodate some of my larger parties.
There’s a significant difference in flavor when you compare charcoal vs gas. Plus temp control is muuuuuuuch easier with these grills, so if you’re doing a low and slow brisket overnight in a gas grill I really applaud you for that lol
Whoa. I went from gas to pellet and will never go back to gas… ever. Although I loved the flavor and variety of different pellets, I’ve really missed charcoal. So here I am.. but.. there’s no way gas touches charcoal or pellet.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
If you enjoyed this video, then you'll enjoyed this list of videos that I put together for you!
Gravity 980 Temperature Test: ua-cam.com/video/z02gEc1fHoU/v-deo.html
Gravity 980 vs Pellet Grill: ua-cam.com/video/0jJfVOo1Mas/v-deo.html
Gravity 980 Assembly: ua-cam.com/video/IIDjF1UGzbI/v-deo.html
Another extremely informative and educational video Sir! I truly appreciate how thorough yet simple your delivery is. I have been considering the Chargriller 980 for a while and based on your reviews I will probably purchase one this week. Thank you for your input have grown to really trust you and your opinions. Keep Smokin’ my brother!
Thanks for the kind words Mike! Appreciate the support!
I would wait. There are some who are having issues. In particular, the fan flap burning off. Check around
@@mjgeremia21358 oh now I read this! Just picked one up from Lowe’s yesterday. Although I did get a huge discount and only paid 375
I used to smoke briskets on a 22" Weber kettle for two years. I have been smoking on the Char-Griller Akorn for another two years; great grill. The 980 looks amazing!
The 980 is a beast!
I'm currently a MB1059 user , and I'm so tired of fighting switch issues, I'm thinking about switching and this one is on my radar
It’s just continuity. Wire them together and you should just be able to bypass them.
Very informative video. Are limit switches on grill better quality than the ones on the master built. I have seen videos of switches melting on Master built. I also noticed a lot of smoke escaping from the hopper area any way stop it. What about temp controller? Better than Master built. Some state than it gives out after 3-4 cooks.
Definitely keep us updated. I’m seriously thinking about getting this grill.
The build quality of the 980 is better without question... both turn out basically identical final product
My Gravity just arrived. I got mine at Lowe’s and they build and deliver. You are right the instructions don’t say how to start it for the first time. Your instructions and tip about seasoning was greatly appreciated.
Started immediately, some odors are coming off as expected from what you said.
I’m surprised that Char Griller didn’t at least have a video linked to say what you said.
THANK YOU
Keep the videos coming
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
I would do the first burn to get everything off then I would season it after, but that’s just me.
Doing my burn in and seasoning as I watch this. Great info.
Great informative video....I have the Masterbuilt 1050 and love it. I may just have to get one of these!!!!
what is the AC power draw of this grill? I need to run this off of a battery, and its draw dictates how long I can cook with it. Pellets with the auger and heating element pull like 400 watts or more. I NEED something lower than that.
I dont know the actual draw, but it’s going to be significantly lower than a pellet grill. This only has the controller and fan. No hot rod or other electric ignition
I just bought this after returning a Grilla Silverbac pellet smoker. I am super pumped about this grill.
I started to go with a silverback but bought the 980 on the 29th of June. Got it all assembled yesterday, now I'm about to do the burn-in. Good luck with yours.
Hope you enjoy it!
Can't wait to see what you don't like about this smoker and how it compares to the masterbuilt. I saved up last year so I can buy one to this year and want to get the one that will last me several years
I’m two cooks deep now and will be using it again tomorrow. I’ll be sure to have update video soon
Do you just mix the wood with the coals for the smoke flavor?
Yup!
Would it not be better to perform the burn off before seasoning it?
Would you happen to know what the specs are on the power cord? I purchased a display but they couldn’t find the power cord, I appreciate it if you could help, if not, thank you for your time. Awesome videos by the way, keep it up!
Did you catch your blooper at around 3:40 about the drip tray
Are you talking about when I said Masterbuilt?
@@AndersonsSmokeShow yes sir
I was referring to it as an upgrade when compared to the masterbuilt
Can you do the burn in and season all in one hit? The process is different on the website, it says to do the burn in and then season after?
That's brilliant info on the product! Have plans to pick one soon.
Which is the best place in this smoker to place a water pan?
I’d say main rack all the way to the right (closest to the heat source)
@@AndersonsSmokeShow Thank you so much Anderson!
Question... Might be a dumb one but oh well. lol..I recently purchase this 980 used, already assembled. this is my first smoker as well. My qyestion is should there be smoke inside the barrel or just the hopper? i read something that said these grills are easy to make a mistake assembling it. im wondering if the previous owner made a miskae putting it together is why i dont see smoke in barrel where food cooks at. Thank you in advance.
So if you watch my assembly video on this (ua-cam.com/video/IIDjF1UGzbI/v-deo.htmlsi=cy4_sU5mXFUuOxam) go to 18:16. I’ve seen people install this backwards and not push the smoke and heat into the cooking chamber.
So you can smoke AND direct grill on this thing?
What types of oil can be used besides canola for seasoning?
Dang it I've been wanting one but can't find one anywhere
Lowe’s and Menards will be your big box stores that carry them. The blue ones available at Lowe’s, red at menards
Thanks I tried but they're all sold out in my area
@@jayrobelo9877 Lowe’s didn’t have one in my area either (3 stores within driving distance from me with no luck ). I talked to one of the customer service reps in the return area at the third store and she helped me out with a ship to store at no additional cost. Took about 5 business day but I got it. Just finished assembling it and working on doing the first burn now. I’d give it a shot at your local store if you are really interested.
Great information would be sweet of you did a video on different charcoals and what you use to grill over smoke !
I’ll have to put together a “test” video for charcoal
Can u use pellets in that hopper or only charcoal?
Charcoal and wood chunks only
Great informative video! One question not sure if i missed it. What increments does the temp control use?
I’m not home to check but I’m 99.6% sure it’s 5 degree increments
So unlike a offset on the gravity feed u don't keep the stack wide open
Would you fill the hopper all the way up for a long smoke?? Will be purchasing tomorrow to make pulled pork on Sunday.
The Masterbuilt gravity is available new at a local store for $350. Should I buy it? I have no smoker and this would be my first
The Masterbuilt is a great smoker for the price, and with the end of season deals I’ve been seeing, I don’t think there is a better deal
Does all the charcoal in the hopper totally burn?
Andrew you are my new best friend I actually just bought this grill this week and I definitely needed these videos in my life to get me started
Glad that I could help! Thanks for watching Gayle!
What a great thorough review! I'm torn between the Master Built 1050 and this one still though.
which did you get?
Which one did you grab, mate ?
I like your videos. One thing I have learned though is those smokers are for people who cook large amounts of food. With me it is just my wife and I since we are retired and are 75. Those big units and 16 lbs of pellets would be a waste. Any suggestions?
Are you looking for charcoal or pellet grill?
Would you consider doing a video or simple post/comment comparing this grill with the full size Akorn and highlighting anything and everything from differences in function, range in styles of cooking, quality of build, etc? I'm wanting to get back into grilling/smoking after a couple years out of the game due to traveling for work, and LOVED the Akorn for how versatile it was, but this has got me thinking. Trying to figure out if I want to get another Akorn or one of these. Thanks in advance!
I’ve actually never cooked on an Akorn or ceramic grill, but I’d love to. The advantage that the 980 has is the controller and the ability to easily maintain temperature
@@AndersonsSmokeShow Thanks for the reply, you should try the Akorn! Ended up going with it cuz it's what I know. I've made pizzas, steaks, burgers, and lots of low 'n slows. Super efficient and no babying required, plenty of fuel leftover when you shut it down. The 980 does look super sweet though.
While the grill is running do you leave the fan door open or closed
Open
How do you add the wood for smoke flavor? Do you just put a few chunks in with the charcoal? Thanks
Yessir! You can add it directly to the hopper.
Oops at 3:44 you said one of the biggest upgrades to the master built GRAVITY series lol, might wanna change that if it’s a promo, cheers, apparently there’s a flaw with the fan flap
I believe I meant in comparison to the Masterbuilt
Bought one at Lowes (assembled by them) after watching this and a number of other reviews. A total bust. Controller was broken, or door switches did not work, Lowes assembled it wrong or something. Got on Chargrill support. Tried their instructions for finding the problem, nothing changed the controller stuck on OPEN alert. They sent images of how to cut, splice and rewire the connections to figure out which switch was bad. But they didn't look anything like the unit I have, down to different wire colors. They stopped responding to emails and chats after I sent them a picture of what I have. BTW, you can't TALK to anybody, only email and chat. A Traeger grill I bought came with problems as well, but their 1-800 bank of helpers were a welcome resource. I saw only one comment about this video where somebody noted you can't really shut down the burning if you need/want to. I had started a 1/4 load for the burn in, and then discovered the controller failure. 8 hours later, it was still burning with everything closed and shut down. I can't imagine how long a full load would slow burn, probably days. You have to take out and unload the hopper. If you buy one of these, test the control completely BEFORE you do the burn in, and recognize reality. All these guys that review these grills will not tell you the bad stuff. If they did, they would not make any money hyping their BS. Extremely frustrating experience. One more BTW, at 250lbs, you won't be taking this puppy out of the truck or loading it up for a return by yourself.
I’ve personally never had any issues with this grill. Even though I receive many free products to use on my channel, every company is aware that I will share my honest opinions and experiences…. They may be the first to know about it, but that’s so that I can educate my audience. I have several examples of this occurring throughout the history of my channel.
Overall it sounds like you’ve had a pretty rough experience, which is saddening to hear. I’m always leery of buying a pre-assembled grill but I can see why it’s desirable for some. I personally haven’t worked with the Char Griller customer service so I don’t really have much to comment there, except I don’t think that they should put any of this on you…. No splicing, nothing of that sort… especially a brand new grill
@@AndersonsSmokeShow , I appreciate your reply. Maybe I was spoiled by Traeger 1-800 support. For CharGrill, only web chat and email. I decided I didn't need to spend $800 to have a multi week electrician task (waiting for parts). Maybe I'll try another source for the grill and put it together myself.
I’ve worked with Camp Chef support before and they are great! It’s sad to hear these stories of other companies and their lack of customer service
How about a video of adding a flat to see if you can cook hash browns on it.
I could probably make that happen
I've been going over your videos and absolutely love your videos but what I haven't seen is how to get grill marks on brats, hamburgers and chicken wings....any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...thanks
It’s all about temperature and hot grates. You’ll need to pump up the temp and get the grates nice and hot. If you want some SERIOUS grill marks look up a product called Grillgrates
Is it normal for smoke to be billowing out from pretty much everywhere? Of particular interest was the smoke coming out the top of the stack and out of the cooking chamber...
Well at initial start up you’ll see more smoke like that as the coals are igniting and the fire is working to get hot. Once you achieve a good burning fire you don’t see the smoke much at all. Now for air circulation purposes most manufacturers leave the lids with a little space (and no gasket). The smoke coming from the hopper shouldn’t be happening and is due to a loose seal. I will be adding another gasket to the hopper lid to get a tighter fit
Mine failed soon after warranty expired due to a bad sensor that was impossible to replace.
Char Griller was worthless to help.
Would you recommend the Master built gravity feed or Char-Griller Gravity feed?
I’ve only done 2 cooks on this one so far... I think I’ll need a few more under my belt before I can honestly say. I do like the features of this grill quite a bit more than my MB 560
Based solely on construction, and something I don’t think he hit on, other than the weight, I’d go with this cooker based solely on the fact that it’s insulated and the masterbuilt is not. That’s why this cooker is so heavy. If I remember right, this cooker has got double wall construction making far better than the masterbuilt because it will hold the heat MUCH better.
I just set mine up and I was about to start burn off, but I noticed my thermostat was showing in the low 90’s
Mind you outside weather was around low 70s
I’m wondering if your thermostat or everyone’s thermostat shows in the 90s? Is that maybe normal?
I have a temperature test video that talks about some temperature related topics and concerns….. short answer is yes I see the same thing
How long does it take to reach 350 degrees?
Well…. I have a video discussing temperatures on this grill… per the controller reading maybe 10-12 minutes, but they build in an offset that compensates for readings at the center… but the grill has to reach equilibrium which means that it could be 30min or more before the grill is ACTUALLY 350F
is the drip tray upgrade from a masterbuilt as you sated?
Yea I believe the drip tray and grease management on the char Griller is an upgrade when compared to the masterbuilt
Maybe I got a bad one, I hated mine so much I pretty much gave it away. Went and grabbed the masterbuilt 1050 and I love it. I still think these types of grills need a little more refinement but all in all it’s a neat niche.
Wow, I haven’t had any issues at all with mine and have honestly enjoyed cooking with it. What was wrong with yours?
Question about the turbo button, does it stay on indefinitely or is it on a timer? I would hate to turn it on and forget to turn it off and burn through my fuel too fast. Also, what is that damper shield for? Does it stay in or should it be removed? I’m starting to become addicted to your videos on this grill, keep ‘em comin lol
It does stay on. It doesn’t necessarily cause more fuel consumption, just increases the response time.
The coals good to be eating off if they are black or..not grey? Specific coal needed??
The charcoal that’s burning is grey, it’s just replaced with fresh coal as it burns
Mine broke after the 4th use and parts are in back order for weeks. The door sensors should of been made a little tougher. And the fan a little faster.
That’s rough. I haven’t had a single issue with mine.
how to you shut it down? Or will it just burn through the entire hopper?
You shut the controller off and close off the air intake an vent to the cooking chamber and the fire is choked out… so there will be charcoal left over for the next cook
Damn, might be time for another grill/smoker. Great video
Great video. Do you get that good stick burner smoke flavor? I love my Pit Boss but miss that stick burner smoke flavor
It’s closer to the stick burner flavor for sure
Just got my char griller gravity fed 980 from Lowe's. They assembled it for me and delivered it. I plugged it in and got a crp code. What do this code mean? This grill has been replaced three times for assembly problems. And they got everything taken care of but now this grill is giving me a crp code. Can this be fixed without me sending it back? Thank you
You Immediately get that code when it’s plugged in?
If Lowe’s assembled it, I would 100% go over everything to ensure it’s correct. On my Lowe’s assembled unit, the wires were a connected wrong, wrong screws in wrong spots, and the inside hopper was backwards. So glad I checked before trying to fire it up
I would wash it down with some luke warm water and Dawn first, wipe it down and then apply the cooking oil for the burn in.
New subscriber here, LOVE your channel. Thanks for making these videos.
Thanks for subbing!
Went to Home Depot and looked at the masterbilt 560. Very thin metal and the choker plates were very wobbly. They didn’t have the chargriller 980 but I looked at their offset smokers and they seem to be built more rugged. Where did you buy the 980 ? Thanks for the good review. Very thorough!
The Char Griller is at Lowe’s and Menards
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Thanks for the review on this one!
Thanks for watching Bruce!
Great video straight forward lots of information.
Thanks for watching!
Been watching and subscribed on my main account for months, you actually are one of the main people that made me choose the Chargriller 980, and made me want to try my hand at making a youtube channel. I got my first video posted tonight on smoking Giant Dino Beef ribs, I would love to get your opinion on it! I am still loving my chargriller and use it for everything, thanks for doing your reviews and cooks on it making me want one!
Appreciate it! I’ll be sure to check it out
I would like to see a video of how to clean it
Mines currently dirty… maybe I should make one
About how long does it take to suffocate the charcoal and cool down enough to cover it?
It’s still warm to the touch after a few hours. I usually let mine sit out until I’m about to go to bed
I’ll be curious to see how it holds up, my personal experience with Char Griller products has not been the best. I have found that they use the cheapest and thinnest metal that simply doesn’t hold up to heat and rust. It’s an interesting concept nevertheless….
I think that’s somewhat common with many of the big box store grills. I keep mine in the garage when they aren’t in use. If I didn’t have that option they would be covered all the time.
Do you have to season porcelain grates?
Nah no need to specifically season these.
Are there any thoughts on using foil pans in the grease tray or the ash clean-out tray to make clean-up easier? Any problem/danger with doing that or lining with aluminum foil? Any known source for foil pans that would be the right sizes for these two locations would be appreciated. I have learned so much from you already and look forward to more! Thanks!
I don’t see an issue with using aluminum pans in either place if you can get the right size… I personally haven’t looked for them so I’m not sure how close you could get
@@AndersonsSmokeShow Thank you, Andrew! Your videos are awesome and much appreciated! Thanks!
Man, I need to decide between this and the masterbuilt. Hmmmmm
I have the MB560, and I absolutely love it. There are a couple design things that I think the MB does better, but from what I’ve seen of the 980 they basically improved all the things that were maybe overlooked when they designed the MB. If I were to go buy a new grill today I would get the Char Griller.
@@brutesquadbbq2268 Agreed. I believe this is my next grill.
Check out Tom Horsman videos. He compares them.
Is this one better then the masterbuilt
I’d personally choose the masterbuilt
I just bought one and I am currently doing g a burn out and it seems to be taking forever to get up to 350, I'm thinking it's the lump charcoal I bought.
Was the charcoal burning good before you started it up?
I got it, I forgot to pull out that spatular handle for the smoke to get into the grill and when I did it from 180 to 350 in 2 minutes. Thanks
i really wish it was available in australia
Hopefully they make it available there soon!
I’m seeing smoke leaking from seemingly everywhere; hopper lid, cook chamber door, etc. etc.
Yeah pretty much
A chimney charcoal starter will make it a little bit easier to light and get going.
It would if there was no charcoal in the hopper to begin with.
Excellent review!
Thanks Tom!
This or masterbuilt 800?
Did I miss any comparison to the Masterbuilt?
I made a couple little comparisons in the video, but I plan on making a whole video comparing the two very soon.
Hey man, appreciate the vids. I just got the Char 980. Just did burn off and tried to shut it down, closed all hoods, doors, etc and it didn’t shut down completely all night. It stayed hot. Have you had this issue? Thanks man.
Are you positive all the doors were closed and the metal insert was reinserted? I installed gaskets on the hopper which really helped seal it up, but it shouldn’t be necessary
@@AndersonsSmokeShow Yes everything was closed. I notice when I fire it up, a LOT of smoke is coming out from the top of the feeder. I saw you put a mod on yours...
@@AndersonsSmokeShow can you show me a link of what you used?
amzn.to/3eAHz1V
@@AndersonsSmokeShow awesome, thanks. I appreciate the time.
Did you forget to season the inside of the lid, or was that something you did purposefully?
If I recall I seasoned the lid as well. At least it appears that way now
Liked your honesty but the unit seems to leak a lot of smoke. ??
No seals to prevent that from the manufacturer.???
There are seals, but I added my own to tighten it up a bit.
Another excellent video. After doing this myself, I’d recommend that if you use spray oil to wipe it. I didn’t and got streaks.
My test cook revealed an issue of constant smoke coming out of the front left corner of the top of the hopper throughout the entire cook and after closing it down! How long does your hopper top take to cool down to where you can put your hand on it without pain?
I just added a gasket to the hopper door so it’s a much better seal now. It did take a while to cool down… I’ll have to see if it makes a difference now with the gasket
@@AndersonsSmokeShow thanks for the tip!
Yeah the decision between the MB and this is tough..Ever though about reviewing flat top grills? id like to know your thoughts on those.
I think they are both good options! I have thought about getting a FT, but just haven’t pulled the trigger
I found this thing BRAND NEW for $299 at lowes today. Seriously made my week.. about to burn off smoke it now!
Damn that’s a steal!!
😲what!! That must’ve been incorrectly marked lol What a steal!
@@h_jt_ii7553 I believe it was the end of season stock + Damaged box.
That’s what’s up. At my Lowe’s the price is $370 and I’m hesitant on pulling the trigger. Is it worth it?
A year later, your thoughts?
I’m personally more of a fan of the Masterbuilt 800
It would have been nice to see inside the grill and to see inside the hopper. I would have also liked to see the actual working mechanism and the burning charcoal.
I am interest in one of these, I currently own pellet grill, pellet smoker, Bradley electric smoker and a weber charcoal... nothing beats good ol fashioned charcoal flavor.
I’m going to film a temperature related video tonight... and you’ve given me an idea and I’ll try to incorporate your questions into some content within this video
Looking forward to an efficiency test.
It’s filmed and will be released on Friday
Just bought this grill after watching many of your videos and really loved my first cook. However, the hopper box stays burning and hot for at least 8 hours after shut off,so I can’t cover it back up before going in for the night. Any tips other than closing all vents and doors? Not sure what to do
Having a nice tight seal on the doors helped me quite a bit. I know some people have reported that their are fine, but I added some grill gaskets to the hopper and ash clean outs and it seems to help me
Just a heads-up. Don't add alot of wood in the ash pan. It will burn up the fan flap and the temp will be out of control. CG should of used a better material for the fan flap. Mine is being delivered tomorrow and I'm only going to layer the wood in the hopper. Cant wait to see yr cooks on this new machine. Keep up the great work 👍🏻
I always put mine in the hopper as well, it just makes more sense to me. Thanks for the support!
@@AndersonsSmokeShow 👍🏻 keep them videos coming. I enjoy your content
This is what happened to mine as well, I think. Once that flap goes, it can't keep a temp under 350.
The inside of the door was supposed to be seasoned as well. I am engineer too :)
I realized that when I was editing the video.
@@AndersonsSmokeShow good work. Just FYI, people are reporting their plastic flapper being burnt by the fire when they use wood on their ash tray. Just use it closer to the grill (away from the fan box) or in the charcoal box.
I actually never put wood down there... I just mix it within the hopper
Can you use lump coal
Yessir!
Just my thoughts... why wouldnt you burn in first before you apply the non stick coating? Seems like the contaminants would stick to the spray.....
The only thing that is keeping me from pulling the trigger on one of these is the chance of electrical failure.
Chargriller or the 560?
I’d say 800
I have a video
Comparing the 800 and chargriller
Seemed to be a lot of smoke coming out around that hopper lid
There is a slight leak at the hopper lid but it doesn’t seem to interfere with the performance of the grill. I intend on adding a gasket to tighten it a little bit.
I found wire slot, they had it tucked in with rest of wires. Geesh
Great video! Been looking at this grill and been looking at some video reviews. My chargriller pro (without the smoker box) is always warmer on the right side no matter how you stack the coals
Yeah it’s a pretty common thing with smokers and grills. I don’t see it as an issue as long as the operator understands what’s going on.
Just bought one. The holes for the handle on the lid do not align to install the handle. The plate that is riveted in, is way off and since it's riveted in place, there's no way to fix it, without drilling out another hole and using a fender washer. Poor quality control.
Oh man… that’s not good… I’m sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. Did you return it or contact Char Griller?
Just assembled mine. You need to make sure the pole handle is pushed in all the way to the end caps. It needed a very tight push so I used a rubber mallet to push the handle all the way in. I had to do this to both sides before mounting the handle to the door. The holes lined up perfectly after doing this.
Btw, great videos Andrew! Really helpful! Thank you!
Very informative. I look forward to seeing how this performs for you.
Me too! I’ve run it through 2 cooks so far, and tonight will be the 3rd!
Cooking at 650 or 700 burns alot of coal but still like for slow cooking
The higher the temp means more air which means more fuel. I don’t run mine that hot that often, and when I do it’s for a short period of time.
What kind of engineer?
Electrical Engineer. I work in the industrial automation field. PLC’s, Robotics, etc
@@AndersonsSmokeShow nice! Me too.
I work in utilities. Smoke on
He's Andrew and he's an engineer - don't ever forget that 😎
🤣
As a master toolmaker for Baker Hughes and safety team member, taking off the stickers would come before lightning it up....additionally because we use water soluble coolants it would be better to use mild dish soap to remove any residue before spraying oil and burning it in.
Also check electronics for water resistance for rinsing this.
Lastly pellet smokers now have charcoal pellets and wood chips that can be added along with bluetooth and a app for the phone.....the competition is "heating up."
I love the review. Great review, from an experienced griller. Personally, I think it's a waste of money. Got one at a hefty discount. Everything I can do with this, I can do with my gas grill, without an electrical cord. Just my opinion. Very solid and sturdy grill. I'm sure it will accommodate some of my larger parties.
There’s a significant difference in flavor when you compare charcoal vs gas. Plus temp control is muuuuuuuch easier with these grills, so if you’re doing a low and slow brisket overnight in a gas grill I really applaud you for that lol
Whoa. I went from gas to pellet and will never go back to gas… ever. Although I loved the flavor and variety of different pellets, I’ve really missed charcoal. So here I am.. but.. there’s no way gas touches charcoal or pellet.
I feel like a idiot, I can’t find where to plug in cord