Getting a mak for Christmas

[Lemonhead78]

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

[sschorr]

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.

[tomcrete1]

Congrats on the Cooker!!!!!

[Salmonsmoker]

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.

[TMB]

Congrats!   You will love it 

[smoker pete]

Congratulations on your MAK purchase 

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.

[TMB]

Keep in mind if Tee can put one together ANYONE can

[smokeasaurus]

Congrats.    You will need to people to lift the MAK unit on top of the assembled cart which you will build first.

[rwalters]

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.

[Lemonhead78]

Thanks . So sounds like I can do it myself except for the one step .

[UWFSAE]

Congrats!

[CDN Smoker]

Congrats, remember burn in with Bacon

[akjeff]

Congrats! You're going to love it!

[akruckus]

Remember directions are just guidelines, you'll make it work

[Dave R.]

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.