RecTec Blanket or?

Seattlepaul1975

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I did the search and didn't really find what I am trying to determine.
So here up in the Pacific Northwest, I am a about 20miles from a mountain pass so it is windy and colder then down at sea level.

I have had no issues, but recently with the stronger winter winds and colder temps I fight to get to 400....I chewed thru what seems like a metric ton of pellets, and never got above 410!

I saw the blanket from RecTec but states only to 350? Any options or is that not right? I am still waiting to do searing and such on it or do some quick cook salmon on the sear grates.

Thanks!!!
 
I recently spoke to RecTec about the cover. The temp noted is true... any hotter and it can melt. It was designed with slow cooks/low temps in mind. But like you, I wanted high heat, too. After perusing through some forums here, numerous people noted using welders blankets and moving blankets. The welders blankets are a very cheap alternative to try that can withstand some serious heat - though not sure how hot to the touch they get when exposed to such elements. I recently picked up a sheet of black ¼" thick felt carbon fiber at a discounted price on Amazon (notably no longer available in the bigger size) to try on my RT-700. Did some minor fabric modifications (cutting and hand sewing) to allow for form, fit and functionality - notably sewing doesn't appear to be something I'm naturally skilled at - but goes on easy, and allows for opening and closing. $25 all-in (plus labor :)) The few cooks I've done on my new grill were in relatively cooler weather and - yeah, even at 225 or 250, after 12 hour+ cooks the cost of pellets was adding up quick. Will find out how this welders blanket does for the first time on a slow and long cook this weekend in midwest where temps are going to be closer to 20F or less. An alternative to consider though Seattlepaul. Good luck!
 
Yep standard welding blanket and you should be good, just be sure to check specs first.
 
Blankets are a great addition if for nothing else it allows your RecTec to get up to temp very quickly and will use a bit less pellets as well.

Just be sure to not cover up the horns as they will get very hot otherwise.
 
I recently spoke to RecTec about the cover. The temp noted is true... any hotter and it can melt. It was designed with slow cooks/low temps in mind. But like you, I wanted high heat, too. After perusing through some forums here, numerous people noted using welders blankets and moving blankets. The welders blankets are a very cheap alternative to try that can withstand some serious heat - though not sure how hot to the touch they get when exposed to such elements. I recently picked up a sheet of black ¼" thick felt carbon fiber at a discounted price on Amazon (notably no longer available in the bigger size) to try on my RT-700. Did some minor fabric modifications (cutting and hand sewing) to allow for form, fit and functionality - notably sewing doesn't appear to be something I'm naturally skilled at - but goes on easy, and allows for opening and closing. $25 all-in (plus labor :)) The few cooks I've done on my new grill were in relatively cooler weather and - yeah, even at 225 or 250, after 12 hour+ cooks the cost of pellets was adding up quick. Will find out how this welders blanket does for the first time on a slow and long cook this weekend in midwest where temps are going to be closer to 20F or less. An alternative to consider though Seattlepaul. Good luck!
Tried out the welders blanket Sunday in Chicago (-15 windchill; 5 deg F) and have to say I was worried...so cold and windy. The good news....the 7 lbs pork shoulder was awesome. The grill Held temps at 225 F and 250 F without any issues - total cook time was around 10 hours and if I had to guess, I used up to 12-13 lbs of pellets
 
Blankets are a great addition if for nothing else it allows your RecTec to get up to temp very quickly and will use a bit less pellets as well.

Just be sure to not cover up the horns as they will get very hot otherwise.

Purchased a Tillman ThermoFelt 6x6 welding blanket a few years back for my 680. It works very well. I double it up and just drape it over. As stated earlier do not cover the horns they get hot, trust me! You can cut out for the horns if you want or just run it between them. I have no problem reaching whatever temp I want in the middle of winter in Wisconsin. I was not sure that I wanted to try a fiberglass type welding blanket so I spent the extra on this. No regrets. The mouse in the garage apparently also loves this judging by the fist size hole he left in it.
 
Sorry for the late reply. I have the 680 and there are no vents to cut out for. I just tuck it inside the handles and around the vent stack. I made the mistake a few times when cooking at high heat to cover the handles with the blanket and not using gloves to grab the lid to open it. Handles are quite warm at that point.
 
For searing, to me it seems not worth it to heat up the 700. In fact, i feel that once it gets up to temp, it doesnt keep the aluminum searing grates hot for too long once you open lid.

What I do when im getting ready to sear is, i leave the aluminum searing grates on my bbq and crank it up....they get HOT...almost too hot. Its fast and simple and maintains well. Smoke your stuff and sear on the bbq.
 
I got a Harbor Freight welding blanket for around 25.00
I adapted this from the Pitt Boss 700 to my RT590 last winter. No side cover but works well for in winter. Took a little while to figure it out. Had the cut outs finished and sewn by a convertible top specialist, and then I crudely coated the cut out edges with gray high temp silicone, to prevent fiberglass leakage. Works for me. Advice, Don't use fiberglass welding blankets, as they shed glass fibers like my cat sheds hair. The pit overcoats use fiberglass but they are coated with silicone. Those fibers will get onto, into and all around your pit. Last thing you want is to ingest them or get them in your eyes of fingers. Note I did turn the coat around front to back to adapt. It was the only model I could find that was 27" wide like my 590.
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Magnets did not work out. The heat made them fall off. So I just tied the back to the legs below. Works great. No pic of that
 
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I adapted this from the Pitt Boss 700 to my RT590 last winter. No side cover but works well for in winter. Took a little while to figure it out. Had the cut outs finished and sewn by a convertible top specialist, and then I crudely coated the cut out edges with gray high temp silicone, to prevent fiberglass leakage. Works for me. Advice, Don't use fiberglass welding blankets, as they shed glass fibers like my cat sheds hair. The pit overcoats use fiberglass but they are coated with silicone. Those fibers will get onto, into and all around your pit. Last thing you want is to ingest them or get them in your eyes of fingers. Note I did turn the coat around front to back to adapt. It was the only model I could find that was 27" wide like my 590.
tq3szv0l.jpg

gjP2PwKl.jpg

Z9Hj9z6l.jpg


p9AjE2Nl.jpg

NsvcBDnl.jpg

Magnets did not work out. The heat made them fall off. So I just tied the back to the legs below. Works great. No pic of that
What did you use to sew the cut outs?
 
What did you use to sew the cut outs?
I bought a small roll of kevlar thread which will tolerate high temps. I had the car top maker cut out and then stitch across the edges with the thread. I then crudely painted the high temp gray caulk along the edges of the stitching to prevent breakdown of those edges during usage. Just for the record, I also tested the outside temps of the 590 barrel without the insulation, when it was running at 500+*, and found amazingly, that the outer surfaces were mostly in the 300-350* range (big surprise, that I could not explain, but you can check for yourself easily enough with a laser thermometer. And so far there has been no damage to the silicon coating of the overcoat. Not sure that the material is same as my Pitt Boss adaptation, so no comment there. Note: the round magnets used to hold the cover down did not work--when they got hot, they fell off. But I found that it all worked well without them. I just tie the backside down with fiberglass rope to the lower back legs. When opening the top the cutouts just swing away from the pit and then fall right back down in place when the lid is closed again.
 
Decided to cook some ribeye's tonight for Valentines day. The current temp outside is 20 below zero with the wind. I used my ThermoFelt welding blanket draped over the grill in a single layer to get the temp up. I had no problem at all getting to 545 and it was still climbing when I put the steaks on the sear plates. With the wind blowing like it was and the temp as cold as it was I was once again impressed at how big of a difference this welding blanket makes. There is no way with the outside temp and wind that I could have done this without some type of cover. While the grill was nice and warm, I was not, and rushed the sear marks but the steaks were delicious anyway.
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Fantastic!. You are to be commended for bravery. We are only at 5* in Tulsa. Where are you?
Proves that the 700* can do the job in any weather.
 
Fantastic!. You are to be commended for bravery. We are only at 5* in Tulsa. Where are you?
Proves that the 700* can do the job in any weather.
I am in Wisconsin. Agreed, these grills work amazing. This is my 7 year old Model 680 and its still working great.
 
Decided to cook some ribeye's tonight for Valentines day. The current temp outside is 20 below zero with the wind. I used my ThermoFelt welding blanket draped over the grill in a single layer to get the temp up. I had no problem at all getting to 545 and it was still climbing when I put the steaks on the sear plates. With the wind blowing like it was and the temp as cold as it was I was once again impressed at how big of a difference this welding blanket makes. There is no way with the outside temp and wind that I could have done this without some type of cover. While the grill was nice and warm, I was not, and rushed the sear marks but the steaks were delicious anyway.
View attachment 8591View attachment 8592
Which pellets are you using??
 

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