With my current MAK 1 Star setup (FlashFire Ignitor & new-style FlameZone) at 70° ambient temperature, it takes roughly 12 - 13 minutes to reach actual grate temps of 450° (in "grill" mode). This is measured WITHOUT foil (which acts as a radiant barrier to infrared) on the drip pan/covers.
I actually did tests at an ambient temp of 70° for the FlameZone review:
2017 MAK FlameZone, Searing Grate & Griddle - Detailed Review!And YES, the type of pellet absolutely matters! A Straight oak, or charcoal-blended pellet is what consistently gives me the best performance (high BTU's low ash). A charcoal blend edges out the straight oak, but straight oak is a lot more readily available.
An oak/hickory blend works well, but creates a little more ash.
The fruitwoods, (apple, cherry, peach, etc.), or blends such as Cooking Pellets "Perfect Mix" in my opinion, are best left for low & slow BBQ where their flavor profile has a chance to influence the flavor of the food.