BGE Mini Max or KJ "JR"?

Lit

SkinnyV said:

I feel compelled to a pictoral on the MM hitting 400 degrees with no problem within 12-15 minutes. We can lay the issue to rest.

hauled mine today for a pre school potluck. I was up cooking and 400 degrees in no time. Kicked out 45 hot dogs in 25 minutes or so.

I will say I used leftover lump for the cook today.

Well then we are back to the same argument people had on the small egg for years then that some have issues and some don't because 2 other members that post here a lot both said they notice their MM coming to temp slowly.

chuckytheegghead

I've read the about the same problems with the Joe being slow to come up to temp. So who knows. Anyways, they are both good units and buy whichever you prefer or feel comfortable spending. 

HeavyG

chuckytheegghead said:

I've read the about the same problems with the Joe being slow to come up to temp. So who knows. Anyways, they are both good units and buy whichever you prefer or feel comfortable spending. 

I have a KJ Jr. not a MiniMax so I can't make a personal comparison.

However, the KJ Jr. has absolutely no problem (at least the way I light mine) getting up to temp in just 10-15 minutes.

I've read here and on other forums about some people having difficulty getting just about every brand/model of kamado up to temp in a reasonable amount of time. Some claim they can never get kamado "X" above 500°F, etc.

I think it almost always comes down to how they load their lump, how they light their lump, etc., etc., etc. Basically, operator error.

tonyled

HeavyG said:

chuckytheegghead said:

I've read the about the same problems with the Joe being slow to come up to temp. So who knows. Anyways, they are both good units and buy whichever you prefer or feel comfortable spending. 

I have a KJ Jr. not a MiniMax so I can't make a personal comparison.

However, the KJ Jr. has absolutely no problem (at least the way I light mine) getting up to temp in just 10-15 minutes.

I've read here and on other forums about some people having difficulty getting just about every brand/model of kamado up to temp in a reasonable amount of time. Some claim they can never get kamado "X" above 500°F, etc.

I think it almost always comes down to how they load their lump, how they light their lump, etc., etc., etc. Basically, operator error.

this mirrors my experience.  my kj jr comes up to temp fast with no probs

tarheelmatt

 No problems here from my Jr.  

I lit that thing at Butt Blast, cooked the shrimp for my shrimp tacos on it, and then let it idle the whole time just in case.  Held a nice 400° for the whole time.  It's a great little cooker.  

Lit

HeavyG said:

chuckytheegghead said:

I've read the about the same problems with the Joe being slow to come up to temp. So who knows. Anyways, they are both good units and buy whichever you prefer or feel comfortable spending. 

I have a KJ Jr. not a MiniMax so I can't make a personal comparison.

However, the KJ Jr. has absolutely no problem (at least the way I light mine) getting up to temp in just 10-15 minutes.

I've read here and on other forums about some people having difficulty getting just about every brand/model of kamado up to temp in a reasonable amount of time. Some claim they can never get kamado "X" above 500°F, etc.

I think it almost always comes down to how they load their lump, how they light their lump, etc., etc., etc. Basically, operator error.

I have to disagree on the operator error. I have several eggs and the MM is the only one that I have to make sure all the lump is going first before I close the dome or I have to wait 30 minutes. I lit the XL in 3 places last night and went in and rinsed the turkey breast from the brine and patted dry and seasoned and when I went back out 10 minutes later I had overshot temp and was over 500. If I did the same exact thing on the MM I would have been lucky to be at 250. Its easy to tell it has an airflow issue I let it burn for 15 minutes or so and the smoke with both vents wide open is not moving through the egg quickly like it would be in other models. If I crack the lid even a quarter of an inch the airflow through the top vent takes off like you would see in other eggs. The bottom vent on the MM is too small for the airflow its limiting the amount of air going through the egg. It doesn't help that the actual hole in the base is bigger than the hole in the metal damper so the damper itself is limiting airflow.

JRWhitee

I have never had a problem getting to temp with my MM, I went with the woo and round stone instead of the plate setter. 

Lit

JRWhitee said:

I have never had a problem getting to temp with my MM, I went with the woo and round stone instead of the plate setter. 

I am even having trouble with just the grillgrate I bought last week in. How are you lighting it? Like I stated before I have started lighting 4 outside corners and then the middle and pretty much getting the whole firebox burning and that works but it takes me 10 minutes or so to light in 5 spots and really get the lump burning. I actually put a nut between the dome and base opening the other day to help with airflow and that really helped keep the air moving.

JRWhitee

I light it in the front center with the looftlighter. I do leave the dome open for a few minutes then close it with the daisy wheel off. 20 minutes I am at 400. I do use Rockwood.....

bgeaddikt

I just did a side by side comparison of the old MM vs the new MM and my newer MM got to temp quicker with the correct fire ring and fire box. The other MM seems like airflow is restricted since the firebox doesnt have the slit and the fire ring take up a lot more volume. There was a temp difference of about 100°F-200°F. In 15 min the new MM was at 300°F-350°F. Hit 500 around 20 min.

Sonny3

I posted recently that I was looking to buy a MM but was puzzled by the interior ceramics pieces not matching.

So now you folks have me looking at the KJ jr, only the Costco road show is not coming near me.

In the end it is all good that I delayed just a little.  Just checked the DOT date stamp on my RV tires and they are beyond limit.  So tomorrow morning I am having 6 new tires put on at a cost of $2640, and that is not the top of the line tires.

But the tires are an absolute necessity at this point because I am preparing to travel to  MS for the Eggs-travaganza at Thatgrimguy's place.

Sure puts perspective on my Eggdicition.  Eggs and accessories are much cheaper to buy for in the long run.

Doing the quick math; my XL, Med, Blackstone, custom table and bar ran me approximately $2300.  Oh and about $300 in necessary accessories.  In the long run the Eggs will last much longer.

Just sayin!