Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical Propane Smoker

Bought for my birthday, lasted less than 6 months. Total piece of trash. Main Cabinet: - as others noted, and I assumed was random and decided to take the risk, the powder coating blistered, bubbled, peeled, and melted down the sides and off the top on the inside of the smoker. Obviously this is a health concern, as the top can fall right onto meat, and the sides can as well if above the meat. I said screw it, just jacked up the temp with an empty cabinet once it started to do this within only three smoke sessions, and proceeded to use a putty knife to scrape the rest off. This was a lot of work but finally resulted in a clean cabinet with no worries about stuff getting into my food. I simply thought, well...it is what it is....a metal box to heat and smoke things....nope. Read on.... Doors: - knew right off the bat that this thing looked as if it would leak smoke and heat (money and flavor is how you should read that) like a screen door on a submarine would leak water. I purchased a felt seal roll for smokers and grills the same day I ordered it. I am glad I did, as the gaps with the doors closed were about an eighth of an inch and would have leaked so much smoke and heat.... a lot of it. - during installation the cheap hardware that came with the door handles stripped, which resulted in the lower door not being able to rotate the latch mechanism to the cabinet and kept it from holding closed. No, it isn't a mistake on my part. I am a retired USAF aircraft mechanic and know how to install hardware properly. I have a ton of stock I could have rigged up something to make it work, but I am also a redneck and love simplicity so I just leaned a paver against it to keep it closed. lol Temp Gauge: - like every grill and smoker in existence that I know of (haven't heard anything to the contrary from anyone...ever) the gauge is a useless piece of ornamentation. I was smart enough to order a digital thermometer specifically for grilling and smoking the same day that worked like a boss - one probe in the meat and the other hanging in the open cabinet giving readouts of grill temp and meat temp. The difference between the stock gauge and accurate one was a whopping 30 degrees...consistently...and double checked with another digital instant read thermometer I use for quick pokes on the flat top grill. Ignition system: - piezo igniter stopped working the second smoke...lol. *click* *click* *click*....no spark....I am sure a lot have been there with these cheap things on grills. Grabbed a long Bic fireplace lighter and just lit it that way from thereon. Fuel Supply: - gas control valve popped off within a few smokes. The set-screw was useless and wouldn't tighten down to the stem anymore but didn't keep the knob from rotating, just staying on if tugged while turning and was loose. - gas control valve was the final nail in the coffin the other day. In less than 6 months it developed a crack at the body and was leaking propane under the cabinet which would periodically ignite and create a giant burst (caught my attention) and didn't take getting very close to it to smell all the propane leaking under my covered porch. This leak and burst cycle wound up melting the cheap housing the supply hose fed through, the plastic grommet that is supposed to protect the hose from chaffing, and burning/melting/blistering the supply hose as well. What a disaster. I had to transfer my pork shoulder for dinner that night for pulled pork bbq sandwiches over the flat top grill and rig up a truly redneck concoction of water pan, wood chunks, grate from the smoker to raise the meat form direct contact with the griddle, and covered with heavy duty foil to trap the smoke and heat. Guess what? It worked and while it was 'cooked' and edible it wasn't the same as delicious smoked and moist meat. Yet another cheap product from China that let down anybody who values their hard earned labor buying them something that lasts. What a hunk of absolute junk. As a simple redneck there is a LOT I can put up with and just make work, but with this thing...run. Run far. Spend your money elsewhere folks.