Moving to Lone Star Grill

[Russells]

After three years of owning an Ironwood 650 with no real issues until now, I’m moving on to a Lone Star Grillz 36” Pellet Smoker. My internal parts started rusting and I purchased the heavy duty set from a member here but now my main body is starting to rust. I called Traeger to see if I could just replace that body and was told you will need a new grill, not a replacement part. I’m a few months out of warranty but they wouldn’t cover it even if it was under warranty. I expected it to last longer than three years.

So I’m going to get a new grill but not a Traeger. After looking around, i almost settled on a Yoder but a member here suggested looking at a Lone Star Grillz. It seems LSG addressed all the issues with a Yoder and then some. It has a lifetime warranty on main body (only good if company stays in business) and it’s family owned. It’s an investment but it’s built like a tank.

I joined a Yoder group on Facebook but it’s pretty toxic. The LSG group seems to be more like this group. I will stick around here because I Renton seeing everyone’s cooks and sharing of information.

If anyone is interested, I will post some pictures and thoughts once it arrives (14 weeks).

 

[RustyJake]

Look forward to your review on the new grill when you get it. They seem to give the most smoke out of the pellet grills.

 

[MidwestSmoker]

Please do stay here and post about your experiences with the LSG. One of these days I hope to be able to afford a Yoder or an LSG.

 

[primeone]

After three years of owning an Ironwood 650 with no real issues until now, I’m moving on to a Lone Star Grillz 36” Pellet Smoker. My internal parts started rusting and I purchased the heavy duty set from a member here but now my main body is starting to rust. I called Traeger to see if I could just replace that body and was told you will need a new grill, not a replacement part. I’m a few months out of warranty but they wouldn’t cover it even if it was under warranty. I expected it to last longer than three years.

So I’m going to get a new grill but not a Traeger. After looking around, i almost settled on a Yoder but a member here suggested looking at a Lone Star Grillz. It seems LSG addressed all the issues with a Yoder and then some. It has a lifetime warranty on main body (only good if company stays in business) and it’s family owned. It’s an investment but it’s built like a tank.

I joined a Yoder group on Facebook but it’s pretty toxic. The LSG group seems to be more like this group. I will stick around here because I Renton seeing everyone’s cooks and sharing of information.

If anyone is interested, I will post some pictures and thoughts once it arrives (14 weeks).

I would definitely be interested in hearing about your experience with the Lone Star Grill. What model did you go with?

What issues are people having with the Yoders?

 

[RayClem]

Most of the parts of the Traeger grills are mild steel. As long as the coating remains intact, rust is not a huge issue, but repeated hot cooks will certainly accelerate rusting.

This is my first year with my Ironwood. Next spring I plan to repaint any external parts showing signs of rust. On the inside, I will apply vegetable oil spray and season the grill just like you would a carbon steel or cast iron pan. When heated, the oil will polymerize leaving a coating on the surface of the steel.

 

[Spanky]

After three years of owning an Ironwood 650 with no real issues until now, I’m moving on to a Lone Star Grillz 36” Pellet Smoker. My internal parts started rusting and I purchased the heavy duty set from a member here but now my main body is starting to rust. I called Traeger to see if I could just replace that body and was told you will need a new grill, not a replacement part. I’m a few months out of warranty but they wouldn’t cover it even if it was under warranty. I expected it to last longer than three years.

So I’m going to get a new grill but not a Traeger. After looking around, i almost settled on a Yoder but a member here suggested looking at a Lone Star Grillz. It seems LSG addressed all the issues with a Yoder and then some. It has a lifetime warranty on main body (only good if company stays in business) and it’s family owned. It’s an investment but it’s built like a tank.

I joined a Yoder group on Facebook but it’s pretty toxic. The LSG group seems to be more like this group. I will stick around here because I Renton seeing everyone’s cooks and sharing of information.

If anyone is interested, I will post some pictures and thoughts once it arrives (14 weeks).

Russells

Please stay on this forum and keep this group up to date with your Lone Star Grillls 36 in Pellet Smoker Purchase and use. We will all have to wait with you for the long 14 weeks to get it built and delivered. I like both the Yoder and Lone Star Grillz Pellet Smokers. I plan to purchase one in the future as they both look like great products. I think it was Rusty Jake that purchased a Yoder and gave a great report out on it. (sorry Rusty Jake if I remembered it wrong).

Enjoy the new LSG.

Spanky

 

[GrillMeister]

14 week lead time? Wow. Stick around and post pics and your experience. Lots of of folks have other grills here. I have Traeger, Green Mountain and Sam's Club Members Mark I picked up for $299 that is still in the box that will replace my Century 22 when it gives up the ghost.

It'll be great to see you Lone Star when you get it.

 

[Russells]

I would definitely be interested in hearing about your experience with the Lone Star Grill. What model did you go with?

What issues are people having with the Yoders?

I guess not really issues but added more features like six probes to FireBoard, larger pellet box, open auger, and better smoke from what I have read but that could be debated. From what I have read, Yoder uses a high temp silicon on some seams in main cook chamber versus LSG is all welded. I can’t verify that but some owners stated they had to be careful when cleaning.

Here is a sample post from someone that has had both(quote from LSG Facebook group):

“I've had a Yoder YS480 for about 7 1/2 years now and received my LSG 20X42 pellet grill almost 2 months ago so I haven't cooked in the cold with it yet. However, the cooking I have done including some overnight cooks where the temperatures got down into the 40's it held very stable temperatures.

Here's my comparison of the two grills.

LSG vs Yoder
- LSG smokes non-stop, no smoke tube needed.
- Better FireBoard controller, programmed to run like an offset smoker, which is why it smokes constantly. It also has 6 probe ports vs 2 probe ports. You can even use an ambient probe and have the FireBoard run off that probe instead of the main probe. This would be extremely helpful if your thermocouple ever dies, which I had happen a few times with my Yoder.
- Bigger pellet hopper for long cooks with a pellet dump feature in case you want to change flavors or if you live in a high humidity area and want to store your pellets in a container when you’re not using it.
- Removable firepot, much easier to clean out without having to remove grates or heat deflector.
- Bottom and top sliding shelves. Helpful if you are using both racks and need to get to the food at the back of the bottom rack. Also helpful for direct grilling. You slide the bottom shelf forward, slide the heat deflector “door” over and slide the bottom shelf back in, instead of having to remove a section of hot grates and the hot door and then replace the grate, you can easily use heat resistant gloves or tongues to accomplish this with the LSG.
- All LSG seems are welded, no high temperature silicone that you have to be careful with when scraping to clean and eventually needs to be replaced.
- Yoder shelves have better placement and are much more functional.”

I will post once mine arrives.

 

[Russells]

Most of the parts of the Traeger grills are mild steel. As long as the coating remains intact, rust is not a huge issue, but repeated hot cooks will certainly accelerate rusting.

This is my first year with my Ironwood. Next spring I plan to repaint any external parts showing signs of rust. On the inside, I will apply vegetable oil spray and season the grill just like you would a carbon steel or cast iron pan. When heated, the oil will polymerize leaving a coating on the surface of the steel.

I didn’t do that, which is prob why mine failed. The LSG has a seasoning process similar to yours plus a process to set the paint. The 3/16” steel is supposed to be thickest in the market.

 

[miguelb]

Also looking forward to hearing about your adventures with the LSG.

 

[Russells]

I finally have my fabrication email, I’m hoping it will be done in 2-3 weeks, then shipping. Once it’s here, I will post pictures and thoughts.

 

[Like Smoke]

Any chance of posting pictures of the rust areas? Just courious where the rust is forming. Welcome to the forum, lots of great info here.

 

[Russells]

Any chance of posting pictures of the rust areas? Just courious where the rust is forming. Welcome to the forum, lots of great info here.

I have already replaced inside parts with thicker Stainless Steel from a member on this forum. The exhaust plate is also rusted out but I can replace that part.

I like this forum but it’s time to move on to something else. I will stick around to see everyone’s cooks.

 

[Like Smoke]

Thanks for the pics. Makes you wonder what grade of steel that is being used for assembly. I have an old one (2015) and have not seen any rust on the interior parts, but I also live in a high altitude location and we have very low humidity most of the time. Best of luck on your new one, keep us posted.

 

[Russells]

I finally have my new Lone Star Grillz pellet smoker. I ordered the 20” x 36” Model(smaller of the two). It took about four months to arrive but so far, totally worth it. It’s built really well. Everything on it is heavy duty. I like the fact you can clean out the firebox without taking the insides apart. Even the deflector plate is super heavy. I did have an issue with the FireBoard controller boards, which I receive a replacement a few days later. I love the smoke profile this smoker has and no special settings for more smoke. No smoke tubes, it just smokes throughout the cook. I like FireBoard Drive programing, which allows it to change temp or go to keep warm if I can’t get to the smoker quick enough. I have no complaints and totally worth it. I’ve made ribs, wings, and a pork butt. Tonight is baked potato, steak, and cherry bombs.