Buyer Beware

[RemE]

Agree completely! I'd be equally upset.

My first Traeger, Junior lasted 5+ years with zero paint issues before it was retired for the Timberline.

Traeger clearly has some paint quality issues in some of these newer models, and it's good to report them.

 

[Slimpicker]

Fair enough point, but imagine most if not all (including my crappy 8 year old dyna-glo) can withstand minor flare ups without such dramatic results. These forums are littered with paint related problems that would seem to suggest a manufacturing defect or a lesser quality product.

That aside, to have a rep make an unsolicited call selling false hope to an already extremely disappointed (former) customer is the poorest of customer service form. Truly beyond me that someone thought this was an appropriate attempt as resolution.

I also agree and upset is to put it mild...

To be a little fair tho, that "flare up" you had looks pretty serious to have even burned your handle and discolored it for an inch away from the rig... I don't know what happened but it looks like your grease channel basically caught on fire. You called it a minor flare up from a piece of salmon... I'm not trying to argue here at all, I'm just saying that looks a lot more than 'minor' to me...

If you showed that PIC to Traeger CS then someone had to decide whether it was 'their' fault or whether it was 'your' fault due to not cleaning something which may have lead to your experience.
AGAIN, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to find the source of BLAME, I'm just throwing out reasons they may have did what they did.

NOW, moving forward, I would clean and sand that area and buy the BEST high temp paint you can find and paint that back to new again... Auto engine Block paint can be a good choice, but I'd spend a few extra bucks on getting something good.... Your rig is not RUINED, it got a boo boo and needs a little TLC from it's owner.

Timmy should know what to buy!!!

Would you guys say that's Gloss or Semi-gloss?

 

[Ray Reiter]

Echoing many other sentiments, I really wish I would have found this forum thread prior to my Traeger investment. One minor flare-up from a small piece of salmon just torched the paint on my Pro 575.

Despite this being a known and documented issue on other threads as noted above, my warranty call to customer service was casually dismissed by management.

This brand quality no longer matches the brand reputation. The outstanding customer service and lifetime warranty Traeger touts so highly are false claims.

Though, I have not experienced a grease fire... I have noticed that the grease will wick forward along the grate, and drip off between the grease pan and the smoker front edge, allowing the grease to get down near the fire box, ash, etc. (or even runs down the front of the grill, and onto the deck)
Not a good place for grease to be.
Any grade on your deck. To the front or back of the grill, can cause this scenario. Side to side grades, do not seem to cause a problem.
Best of luck

 

[RemE]

I vote for this Ultra High Heat 1200F Semi-Gloss paint for the repair;

Rust-Oleum 241169 High Heat Ultra Enamel Spray, Black, 12-Ounce, 12 Oz - Spray Paints - Amazon.com

And I do agree with Slim, it looks like there was more fuel than just salmon oil to burn that much. It serves as a lesson to all, don't let grease build up anywhere. I use heavy duty foil on my drip pan, and change it as well as wipe down the grease channels after any cook that dripped any quantity of grease.

 

[Slimpicker]

I vote for this Ultra High Heat 1200F Semi-Gloss paint for the repair;

Rust-Oleum 241169 High Heat Ultra Enamel Spray, Black, 12-Ounce, 12 Oz - Spray Paints - Amazon.com

 

[Timmy]

I used this on my faded offset

its flat black.
The grill paint should work just fine on the Traeger. Im guessing semi gloss, but that may be to flat. Might have to go with gloss.

 

[Slimpicker]

I TOLD YOU TIMMY WAS DA MAN

 

[Timmy]

I TOLD YOU TIMMY WAS DA MAN

 

[Fedup]

My advice to anyone dealing with the paint bubbling problem, don't bother with Customer Service. Ask for management and report your issue with them. Traeger Customer Service is useless. I am very pleased with my replacement 650 but getting it replaced was a lot of work. I was advised on this forum to go to management and that worked.

Anyone interested in exploring legal options with an attorney? Exploring The creation of a class action?

 

[Fedup]

Though, I have not experienced a grease fire... I have noticed that the grease will wick forward along the grate, and drip off between the grease pan and the smoker front edge, allowing the grease to get down near the fire box, ash, etc. (or even runs down the front of the grill, and onto the deck)
Not a good place for grease to be.
Any grade on your deck. To the front or back of the grill, can cause this scenario. Side to side grades, do not seem to cause a problem.
Best of luck

Your post is interesting. Interested in exploring legal action?

 

[overnightbbqryan]

I too am very disappointed in the quality of the paint. A grill’s paint shouldn’t just fall off due to heat that the grill is designed to output.
Anyways, I just got done touching up mine with 1200° gloss grill paint. The issue is that the spec paint is textured so now I have smooth areas that stand out.
And for me it’s not about it “just being a grill”. It’s clearly a defect. An analogy is used in a different thread to sum it up; if you bought a Corvette and every time you exceeded 100mph the mirrors folded in due to wind pressure would say that’s ok? No.
The paint should with stand 500°+ without question.

 

[RustyJake]

The other issue with the paint is the inconsistent way that complaints are handled regarding them. Some, get their grills replaced, and rightfully so. Others are told that it is normal or due to neglect or a grease fire.
It is more like an issue with the metal prep or the quality of metal used in combination with a paint process that isn't consistent.
They went overseas to cut costs and this is the end result. My paint is falling off of the downdraft and is not a result of a grease fire, yet I am left to living with it or painting it myself.
I won't invest a bunch more money in repairing the grill. I use it as a demonstration piece when I have company over and they say they want to buy one.
Had they stood behind their product better for me, I would probably be a Traeger fan-boy. But for me, this is a transition grill until I can afford something bigger in a different brand.
Every grill has issues, a person just needs to pick the one with the least issues or issues they can live with.

 

[RustyJake]

Here's my downdraft


I gave up on my bubbling paint after 2 months of ownership

 

[Dan-H]

I've used rustoleum high heat ultra semi gloss on my weber silver B and my pit boss. It's holding up well. The temps on the weber can get well above 650F.

Don't paint inside cook areas. The paint is not safe for inside a cook box.

 

[PaulyPaul]

The other issue with the paint is the inconsistent way that complaints are handled regarding them. Some, get their grills replaced, and rightfully so. Others are told that it is normal or due to neglect or a grease fire.

Agreed, watching different Traeger forums and Reddit, I have see quite a bit of this. Not sure what criteria Traeger customer service uses to decide what to do with a customer paint issue. Seems like some folks are told by BOTH Traeger and/or their dealer to kick rocks. While others get their entire grill replaced, without having to do more than just call and complain. Others after weeks of dealing with the different levels of CS get some sort of satisfaction or are told to go buy a can of spray paint.

It is more like an issue with the metal prep or the quality of metal used in combination with a paint process that isn't consistent.
They went overseas to cut costs and this is the end result. My paint is falling off of the downdraft and is not a result of a grease fire, yet I am left to living with it or painting it myself.

Must be. Both my Ironwood 650 and Pro 575 which are over two years old have not had any paint issues. Maybe there was a change in paint or metal prep procedures to cut costs. I have only had one grease fire on the 575 and I caught it right when it flared up. I never set them for over 475 during searing, because even set at 475 they will go over 525-550. One thing I have noticed during searing and as the grills hit over 450 is the smell of paint beginning to break down or melt.

Truly seems to me that NONE of these Traeger grills were designed to cook at temps above 450 for extended periods of time.