Somehow this guy PMed me this instead of posting it here....

Slimpicker

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Hello everyone,
I purchased my first ever pellet grill from Costco a few weeks ago - The highly acclaimed Traeger Silverton 810 Wood Fired Grill available only through Costco Wholesale.
While I am new to pellet grills, I’m familiar with most other forms of cooking, grilling, barbecuing, smoking, and with the SousVide method of food preparation. I’ve done lots of protein cooking and was ready to put aside my reservations about pellet grills.
I was ecstatic the day my Traeger Grill arrived. I had viewed assembly videos, cooking tips etc.
Traeger’s packaging design was fantastic and made assembly quick and easy. My son came over and helped flip the assembled unit and I was ready to go...until I found one or two imperfections, and one potentially major flaw.

I’m not sharing my frustrating experience with Traeger’s customer service center, because in the end, Traeger graciously arranged for a return and replacement unit. Yeah, I felt a little guilty in the end.

My replacement unit arrived; we had it assembled; seasoned, and ready for Super Bowl eve. My first brisket would be the star of Super Bowl dinner...or so I thought. Upon opening the lid I found tons of ash everywhere. Essentially sawdust residue everywhere. I called Traeger’s customer service, did a few live streams with them, and ultimately removed all the pellets, cleaned and vacuumed as instructed, reloaded the hopper and started anew.
All seemed great until the smoke appeared - everywhere. Thick white smoke emanating from inside, outside, from storage drawers - everywhere. Another phone call, more live streaming ensued and we had pizza delivered.
But I’m not pulling the plug on Traeger just yet. Upon receipt of some replacement parts I will give it another go.
Anyone have similar experiences?
p.s.
Traeger’s Customer service department was empathetic and remorseful.
 
But I’m not pulling the plug on Traeger just yet. Upon receipt of some replacement parts I will give it another go.
Anyone have similar experiences?
p.s.
Traeger’s Customer service department was empathetic and remorseful.

You may want to consider it if you find out the parts they sent didn't do the trick... but then give another NEW one a chance.
 
Interesting, would like to know what gives. The "sawdust all over" might have been the residue from the seasoning as it's doubtful that they vacuumed it out after seasoning. But why there was smoke all over is the question, maybe it would have subsided? Unless the auger was out of control, who knows.
 
The "sawdust all over" might have been the residue from the seasoning as it's doubtful that they vacuumed it out after seasoning. But why there was smoke all over is the question, maybe it would have subsided?

SO I say fire it up again, maybe even do a 2nd Seasoning, you might have gotta a grill with a lot of factory oil left behind....

I mean what would another firing up hurt that isn't already done.??
 
I still find it interesting that a majority of the issues on this forum are related to Costco-exclusive models. They either sell way way more than everyone else or there are some major quality control issues in that lineup.
 
I still find it interesting that a majority of the issues on this forum are related to Costco-exclusive models. They either sell way way more than everyone else or there are some major quality control issues in that lineup.

Yep. My first Traeger was the Junior, purchased at Costco and that was a standard model available everywhere. My second was the Century 22 which had a flawed heat baffle design. This puppy had these tabs that had to slide in place. Once it warped, you could not put it back in place. 9 months in, I waited 10 days on a response from Traeger and I took it back to a full refund. This one would not work on Smoke without going out and throwing a code, so it was good to return it. They changed the design and the current Century 22 works great and the heat baffle tabs are gone. Gotta love Costco!
traeger warped heat baffle.jpg


traeger warped heat baffle.jpg
 
I have the Silverton 620 from Costco. I don’t think I have more ash or sawdust than usual, but can easily vouch for the smoke everywhere. It smokes from the back vents, the back and sides of the lid and out of the lower cabinet. The downdraft shows minimal blue smoke and always has less smoke than all the other areas. Here’s a couple pics showing some of the smoke/ resin from the lower cabinet, against the hopper and a weird burn/stain on the inside cabinet wall on the hopper side. I think the drip marks could have been condensation? Not sure what the rest of that is?

Originally wanted an Ironwood, but “thought” the Costco deal was a good way to transition from my electric stick burner...
BTW, Isn't that smoke swirl outta the back vent kind of cool looking?
 

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I assembled one of those Silverton's for a friend, I was impressed at how thin gage steel was used overall. It looks like the barrel heats all nearby paint which looks to be gassing off. Not great.
 
I assembled one of those Silverton's for a friend, I was impressed at how thin gage steel was used overall. It looks like the barrel heats all nearby paint which looks to be gassing off. Not great.
Hmmm. Think it would to any good to take the bottom apart to investigate or see if there may be areas to seal better? Not sure I want to take it back to Costco since it has been 2.5 months.
 
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