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FORUM SPONSORS => MAK Grills => Topic started by: Lemonhead78 on December 11, 2018, 07:59:12 AM

Title: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Lemonhead78 on December 11, 2018, 07:59:12 AM
I’m beyond excited to join the mak family!! I will do research myself but I hope you guys can help me here and their ( like you guys always have ) . My first concern is the assembly. I’m not the most handy guy going. I’m not incompetent either. Are the directions simple to understand with words all is it just diagrams ? I hope it’s a simple step by step. Lastly when you say 2 people , can the second person be my wife or do I need one of my friends to help ! I hate asking anyone for favors. I don’t want to pay anyone to do it if I don’t have too because I don’t want someone else cutting corners . Thanks guys
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: sschorr on December 11, 2018, 09:06:25 AM
Lemonhead78,

I am 71, so not a spring chicken, but handy enough with screwdriver and a few wrenches (the tools to assemble come with the MAK).  Got my MAK 2 Star last May.  I can tell you it definitely takes 2 people, and I had to ask a golfing buddy to help as my wife would not have been able to help lift, place and hold the main body to attach to the cart portion.  Also, the alignment of the holes through which you insert and screw in the bolts is very tight.  It took my buddy and me 3 hours to get the main portion assembled, mainly due to the alignment and getting the bolts initially threaded into the corresponding nuts.  The nuts are already spot welded to the body, so it is getting the holes for the bolts aligned with them.  Most are easy to start, but some are in awkward locations, so that is where we struggled.  Perseverance and patience my friend.  Beverages help!

The rest of the assembly is fairly easy and straightforward - side shelf/warmer box, front shelf if you ordered one and bottom cabinet door if you ordered one.

Once done, you have one well-built, solid beast of a smoker/grill!  Enjoy.
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: tomcrete1 on December 11, 2018, 10:19:42 AM
Congrats on the Cooker!!!!! :)
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Salmonsmoker on December 11, 2018, 10:36:58 AM
Congrats Lemonhead78, I'm excited for you! sschorr is right, a helping hand will make the assembly much easier. Everything you need to do the assembly(hex wrenches, etc.) comes with your MAK. You want a friend with you to share that first whiff of smoke anyway. ;D
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: TMB on December 11, 2018, 10:41:51 AM
Congrats!   You will love it  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: smoker pete on December 11, 2018, 11:20:05 AM
Congratulations on your MAK purchase  :thumbup:

I have assembled two MAK 2 Stars ... 1 with my Son and 1 with my Wife - I'm 69 ... I've visited MAK's facility in Oregon a few times and have seen first hand the workmanship and pride taken in their manufacturing procedure. Yes, the tolerance are very precise but the instructions are very easy to follow. I found that for the most part 1 person can perform most of the assembly. There are a couple of places where you will need a second person during the procedure. You can always have your wife see if she can handle those steps - if not then get help from a friend or neighbor.

Before assembly I recommend inventorying all parts of the MAK and braking down the cardboard shipping box and assembling the MAK on the cardboard in order to prevent any scratches.
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: TMB on December 11, 2018, 11:24:08 AM
Keep in mind if Tee can put one together ANYONE can :D :D :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: smokeasaurus on December 11, 2018, 01:08:11 PM
Congrats.  :thumbup:  You will need to people to lift the MAK unit on top of the assembled cart which you will build first.
Title: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: rwalters on December 11, 2018, 01:21:20 PM
Congrats and cannot wait to see the smoke rolling :)

From my experience, you’ll need about 60 seconds of help lifting the grill body onto the assembled cart. My wife and I did it with no issue.

The entire assembly process took me about an hour, and like you, I am NOT a handy man... lol.
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Lemonhead78 on December 11, 2018, 08:09:40 PM
Thanks . So sounds like I can do it myself except for the one step .
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: UWFSAE on December 11, 2018, 10:03:20 PM
Congrats!
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: CDN Smoker on December 11, 2018, 10:20:41 PM
Congrats, remember burn in with Bacon
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: akjeff on December 12, 2018, 12:06:56 AM
Congrats! You're going to love it!
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: akruckus on December 12, 2018, 03:02:12 AM
Remember directions are just guidelines, you'll make it work :)
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Dave R. on December 12, 2018, 06:49:54 AM
I bought our MAK at age 67 and assembled it by myself except to get it up on the wheels and my wife was borderline able to do it but do it she did. You can follow the very well produced directions. Rest assured also that if you have questions, MAK support is at the top of their game and very helpful in every regard. They can't be there to do it for you but they sure can give advice that is helpful. Congratulations on the grill.
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: teesquare on December 13, 2018, 12:30:03 PM
Keep in mind if Tee can put one together ANYONE can :D :D :D :D :D :D

Bearing in mind that he wants his to actually work..... :Dmost here know that I am a Graduate of Rube Goldberg University....mmm(?
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Pit Hoss on December 13, 2018, 08:51:40 PM
Congratulations!
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: FinsnFeathers on December 14, 2018, 02:04:11 PM
I’m beyond excited to join the mak family!! I will do research myself but I hope you guys can help me here and their ( like you guys always have ) . My first concern is the assembly. I’m not the most handy guy going. I’m not incompetent either. Are the directions simple to understand with words all is it just diagrams ? I hope it’s a simple step by step. Lastly when you say 2 people , can the second person be my wife or do I need one of my friends to help ! I hate asking anyone for favors. I don’t want to pay anyone to do it if I don’t have too because I don’t want someone else cutting corners . Thanks guys

I posted a picture of all the tools you will need. And they come with the MAK. Two allen wrenches is all it takes.
All the holes lined up perfectly.

Welcome to the family!
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Lemonhead78 on December 14, 2018, 03:37:06 PM
I’m making the call to order right now and I’m a nervous wreck for some reason. Here it goes !!!
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: TMB on December 14, 2018, 03:40:08 PM
I’m making the call to order right now and I’m a nervous wreck for some reason. Here it goes !!!
WHY?    Your getting one of the best pellet grills on the market :thumbup:

Only reason I would be nerous would be telling Kimmie how much I spent  ??? :D :D
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Lemonhead78 on December 14, 2018, 03:51:19 PM
I’m making the call to order right now and I’m a nervous wreck for some reason. Here it goes !!!
WHY?    Your getting one of the best pellet grills on the market :thumbup:

Only reason I would be nerous would be telling Kimmie how much I spent  ??? :D :D

Price is what’s got me nervous. But you get what you pay for ya know. I just can’t wait to get transaction over with lol. They were busy so I left a message to call me back. The suspense is now killing me
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Lemonhead78 on December 14, 2018, 03:52:17 PM
I’m beyond excited to join the mak family!! I will do research myself but I hope you guys can help me here and their ( like you guys always have ) . My first concern is the assembly. I’m not the most handy guy going. I’m not incompetent either. Are the directions simple to understand with words all is it just diagrams ? I hope it’s a simple step by step. Lastly when you say 2 people , can the second person be my wife or do I need one of my friends to help ! I hate asking anyone for favors. I don’t want to pay anyone to do it if I don’t have too because I don’t want someone else cutting corners . Thanks guys

I posted a picture of all the tools you will need. And they come with the MAK. Two allen wrenches is all it takes.
All the holes lined up perfectly.

Welcome to the family!
I don’t see the pic . Is Allen wrenches really all I need
Title: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: rwalters on December 14, 2018, 04:04:54 PM
I’m beyond excited to join the mak family!! I will do research myself but I hope you guys can help me here and their ( like you guys always have ) . My first concern is the assembly. I’m not the most handy guy going. I’m not incompetent either. Are the directions simple to understand with words all is it just diagrams ? I hope it’s a simple step by step. Lastly when you say 2 people , can the second person be my wife or do I need one of my friends to help ! I hate asking anyone for favors. I don’t want to pay anyone to do it if I don’t have too because I don’t want someone else cutting corners . Thanks guys

I posted a picture of all the tools you will need. And they come with the MAK. Two allen wrenches is all it takes.
All the holes lined up perfectly.

Welcome to the family!
I don’t see the pic . Is Allen wrenches really all I need
Yep, that’s all you’ll need :)
Title: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: rwalters on December 14, 2018, 04:06:09 PM
I’m making the call to order right now and I’m a nervous wreck for some reason. Here it goes !!!
WHY?    Your getting one of the best pellet grills on the market :thumbup:

Only reason I would be nerous would be telling Kimmie how much I spent  ??? :D :D

Price is what’s got me nervous. But you get what you pay for ya know. I just can’t wait to get transaction over with lol. They were busy so I left a message to call me back. The suspense is now killing me
I hear ya, and I get it! It can be difficult to part with hard earned money!! With that said, you will immediately recognize this to be a lifetime cooker should you choose :-)
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Lemonhead78 on December 14, 2018, 07:47:28 PM
It’s official. I’m a mak daddy now !!!!!!! Now I gotta order some pellets. I want to get the lumberjack charblend for high temp cooks but I’m still undecided about what brand and flavor for my low and slow cooks. Should I do the initial burn in with the mak pellets that come with the grill ? Am I over thinking everything? Lol
Title: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: rwalters on December 14, 2018, 09:03:17 PM
It’s official. I’m a mak daddy now !!!!!!! Now I gotta order some pellets. I want to get the lumberjack charblend for high temp cooks but I’m still undecided about what brand and flavor for my low and slow cooks. Should I do the initial burn in with the mak pellets that come with the grill ? Am I over thinking everything? Lol
Yep... breathe, relax and enjoy. Burn through the pellets that come with it and go from there. Lumberjack are great! You’ll have your MAK for many years... you’ve got plenty of time to experiment with pellet brand/type. Welcome to the MAK family :)
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: akjeff on December 15, 2018, 09:01:46 PM
Welcome to the club! Look forward to seeing some cooks!

Jeff
Title: Re: Getting a mak for Christmas
Post by: Salmonsmoker on December 16, 2018, 01:30:48 PM
I’m beyond excited to join the mak family!! I will do research myself but I hope you guys can help me here and their ( like you guys always have ) . My first concern is the assembly. I’m not the most handy guy going. I’m not incompetent either. Are the directions simple to understand with words all is it just diagrams ? I hope it’s a simple step by step. Lastly when you say 2 people , can the second person be my wife or do I need one of my friends to help ! I hate asking anyone for favors. I don’t want to pay anyone to do it if I don’t have too because I don’t want someone else cutting corners . Thanks guys

I posted a picture of all the tools you will need. And they come with the MAK. Two allen wrenches is all it takes.
All the holes lined up perfectly.

Welcome to the family!
I don’t see the pic . Is Allen wrenches really all I need

A whole set of Allen wrenches comes with your MAK. They include all you'll need.