BBQ advice needed

[Larry Whitlow]

I have a three burner stainless steel CharBroil that I purchased from a local home center called YardBirds (that was then bought out by Home Depot). I think I paid $399 for it several years ago. I've had to replace the burners and the grate. The burners are ready for replacement again. The external stainless has held up well but the insides are starting to crumble. The igniter hasn't worked for a long time. I'll probably replace the burners and do some patching for another year before replacing the whole unit. I was looking at one of those specialty BBQ stores. Asked the guy what his $3,000 model had to offer compared to a $500 one at Home Depot. He couldn't come up with anything. I offered that maybe his unit had heavier gauge steel? More even heat? He said "sure". I'm sure it is better in many ways, but was kind of surprised that the salesman couldn't respond. Maybe he wasn't on commission. Or, maybe it isn't any better. I'll probably look at the Weber gas grills when the time comes.

[Craig Matheny]

Larry there are many things the other BBQ has to offer such as double layer S/S on the lid for insulation heavier grates solid S/S burners or brass. If you think about it most of the units at the big hardware stores are not built ins but at the bbq stores their rolling models are the same as the built in units but have wheels and a base. I would suggest that you look at the difference in the units yourself and find the BBQ that meets your personal needs and wants. I personally would never buy another BBQ from a hardware store but that is because I have had both units. With that said if I was to buy a unit it would be a Weber as in my opinion they are built better than any of the other units that you can choose from at the hardware store. Good luck

[Larry Gipson]

Sounds like you're actually looking for a grill rather than a bbq. A few years ago I ran into the smoker cult when I bought my Klose Backyard Chef. These guys get all offended if you say bbq when you mean a grill :-) .

I agree on lots of stuff :-). I have 2 Weber grills. One is propane and the other charcoal. We like the flavor of charcoal rather than the metal "flavor bars" on the propane. I suppose most of the flavor really is coming from burning fat, so it really shouldn't make a difference, but it sure seems to.

I also admire the green egg bbq since it really is an efficient device for smoking small amounts of brisket or whatever. I also like the http://www.komodokamado.com/ ceramic cookers as I've read the green eggs have a tendency to crack.

Or what the heck, just get a backyard chef and be done with it http://www.bbqpits.com/backyard_smok...40_byc2012.htm Get the 1/2" steel firebox while you're at it.

[Harley Reasons]

Or what the heck, just get a backyard chef and be done with it http://www.bbqpits.com/backyard_smok...40_byc2012.htm Get the 1/2" steel firebox while you're at it.

Ole David Klose makes one heck of a smoker, they're on the upper scale of expensive but built quality is unreal. He has some Hispanic working for him that can lay down the prettiest welds i've ever seen.

Here is a picture of the Klose rig I had, I was setting up to cook at Teddy Gentry's 2004 Grazefest in Montgomery, AL Betsy the Smoker

[Larry Gipson]

Hi Harley,

Yes, I'm really impressed with the welds on my smoker. It's truly amazing, but it's 1000lbs of steel. Mine's not on a trailer. The problem I have is that I bought the thinner steel firebox. There's no way to keep paint on it, so the game is to keep painting it with peanut oil until it looks like an old skillet. This doesn't really work, so the steel is ablative.

The fire door on mine is made with a pull out ash drawer. I'm planning on getting rid of this drawer and extending the door down as far as needed. Then I'll line the firebox with fire brick to the extent possible. I wish my door was set up like yours was on the trailer.

Have you tried the Klose rubs? I used them when I first got the smoker. No one died. Tasted fine :-)

Btw, I had no idea what this was when I bought it. I was busy on a project and I saw this sort of neat smoker on the internet. It seemed so much smaller in the little picture. Then they delivered it off the back of an 18 wheeler. I had to hire a wrecker to get it up my driveway (the driver laughed all the way up the driveway, then didn't charge me). Then I pushed it across the lawn on plywood by myself, moving the back piece of plywood to the front like building a pyramid. I should have known from the shipping bill that this was a 1000 lb smoker.

Regards,
Larry

[Larry Whitlow]

Larry there are many things the other BBQ has to offer such as double layer S/S on the lid for insulation heavier grates solid S/S burners or brass. If you think about it most of the units at the big hardware stores are not built ins but at the bbq stores their rolling models are the same as the built in units but have wheels and a base. I would suggest that you look at the difference in the units yourself and find the BBQ that meets your personal needs and wants. I personally would never buy another BBQ from a hardware store but that is because I have had both units. With that said if I was to buy a unit it would be a Weber as in my opinion they are built better than any of the other units that you can choose from at the hardware store. Good luck

This is good to know. When the time comes I will take a harder look at the upscale models. I do enough grilling that paying extra for real peformance improvements is something I will consider. I purposely do not want a built-in, even though I have a "BBQ pavilion" so to speak. I just like the flexibility of a mobile unit.

For those purist out there, I know I'm not doing real "BBQ". I'm throwing stuff on the grill.

[Rick Potter]

I wasn't aware that there is a difference between a BBQ and a grill, and a smoker is that pink pig shaped thing my son has. Guess I need to broaden my horizons a bit.

We have firmed up our requirements. We have decided that we should bite the bullet, and get a BBQ/grill that will be large enough to feed the kids and their families (that's 15 of us, plus other in-laws that show regularly). We haven't entertained much in the last 7 years because of working on our house, which they call Winchester House West. Not gettin' any younger and it's time to get back to the important things. This being said, we are ordering a Weber Summit S620. Big enough for our needs, without extra frills we won't use, and it should outlast us.

Thanks again folks, for all the advice.

Rick Potter

[Gary Hodgin]

Rick,
I think the distinction between BBQ and grill is a regional thing for the most part. My BIL in Indianapolis refers to his BBQ and I want to know how his BBQ taste. He's talking about a metal object and I'm thinking about a type of food.

Around here BBQ is used in two ways. One is a cooking technique that involves low and slow and is done over wood or some combination of wood and charcoal. It's primarily done over an open pit or a smoker although it can be done over a grill but grills are designed for hot and fast.

A second use of BBQ is in reference to a type of food. If I tell my wife I'm picking up BBQ tonight she knows I'm getting pork (whole hog, whole shoulder, or part of a shoulder (Boston butt or picnic ham) cooked low and slow over wood or some combination of wood and charcoal. In Texas, my wife would expect beef brisket. Brisket has only been available around here within the last 20 years or so.

Where I grew up in the 50s and 60s, BBQ meant one thing: whole hog cooked over hickory in an open pit. That definition is a bit too narrow.

[Shawn Christ]

Another vote for the Weber Genesis. Mine is 5 years old and I've only needed to replace the igniter. Buy Weber (should be available in natural gas if you need it) and never look back. If you don't like the price for new, look for a used unit -- parts are easy to find.

That said, I am quite jealous of Matt's customer service experience:

The year after I got mine it blew over in a wind storm and I called Weber to see about replacing the broken lid side... And then they sent me a whole new lid and said it was a warranty issue.

I am clearly not as lucky. My conversation went something like this:

Me: My grill is a little more than a year old, it blew over in a storm and both cabinet doors are badly dented. I want to see if that might be covered under warranty.
Them: No sir, I'm sorry we don't cover storm damage. But I can check to see how much the replacement parts might be.
Me: (darn) OK
Them: A stainless replacement door kit is $108+ shipping. Want me to place the order?
Me: (yikes) Uh, no thanks, I will pass.
Them: Can I help with anything else?
Me: (wanting something for my misfortune) Yes, the Weber logo on the lid is corroded and peeling (which it was). Can you replace that?
Them: Sure, no problem.

The inexpensive (but free) plastic Weber logo part arrived that same week.

[Ole Anderson]

I bought the $400 Char-Broil "Commercial Series" 3 burner plus a side burner model from Lowe's 9 years ago. Funny, it has a tag on it that says "not for commercial use". Close to a lifetime warranty on all parts. It is a lower grade stainless steel as a magnet will stick, but it has brass burners and I have never done anything to them other than clean the holes. Igniter went out years ago. Went to a dedicated grill store and asked for a replacement and she handed me one of those butane matches. I replaced the stainless grate with porcelain coated cast iron 2 years ago. Have it plumbed to natural gas, only way to go unless you are a charcoal fan. personally I like the taste better with charcoal, wood is even better, but I prefer the convenience of gas. It gets used way more than if I had to build a fire each time I wanted to grill some meat. Lately we have been doing the chopped potatoes/onions/carrots in foil at least half the time we cook outside. I have a Weber Baby Q in the RV and I like it better than the Char-Broil. Probably go with a Weber next time, although I really can't complain about the longevity of the Char-Broil.

Maybe I will contact Char-Broil about the igniter and a bad door hinge and see if they will cover it.

[Craig Matheny]

Rick,
I think the distinction between BBQ and grill is a regional thing for the most part. My BIL in Indianapolis refers to his BBQ and I want to know how his BBQ taste. He's talking about a metal object and I'm thinking about a type of food.

Around here BBQ is used in two ways. One is a cooking technique that involves low and slow and is done over wood or some combination of wood and charcoal. It's primarily done over an open pit or a smoker although it can be done over a grill but grills are designed for hot and fast.

A second use of BBQ is in reference to a type of food. If I tell my wife I'm picking up BBQ tonight she knows I'm getting pork (whole hog, whole shoulder, or part of a shoulder (Boston butt or picnic ham) cooked low and slow over wood or some combination of wood and charcoal. In Texas, my wife would expect beef brisket. Brisket has only been available around here within the last 20 years or so.

Where I grew up in the 50s and 60s, BBQ meant one thing: whole hog cooked over hickory in an open pit. That definition is a bit too narrow.

Rick looks like a nice grill I am sure you will not only enjoy it but get many years of great family get-togethers and grilling.

[Larry Gipson]

we are ordering a Weber Summit S620.

Rick Potter

That's a nice looking grill and I know you'll be really happy with it. Great choice. These things are really convenient. Turn a knob and push a button.

I actually started out with a Weber propane grill, then bought the smoker on a whim. When I realized I could cook for something like 100 people, we built a covered patio for entertaining. Now we have sort of a bbq shrine :-) It's been fun, but one thing does lead to another. We got hooked on smoked food (red oak - no Hickory here).

Eventually, I got curious about propane vs charcoal for the grill so I bought a simple weber: http://www.weber.com/grills/series/o...touch-gold-225

My wife was so impressed by the improved flavor, we haven't used propane in years. I guess we've gone full circle? Now we hunt briquette sales after holidays at home depot, etc. and buy in bulk. Smoker folks prefer lump charcoal for some reason. I've never tried it in the grill.

Btw, you might find a bbq organization in a state near you. I joined http://www.cbbqa.org when I first got the smoker just to figure out what to do with it. :-) The people are friendly and once they figure out you're not a competitor they're a great source of info. They drag these huge bbq's from meet to meet (state to state) just to win a blue ribbon. Brisket goes on around 11pm and they tend the fire all night. After a few hours, they'll foil the meat and continue to cook for a few hours more. Amazing really.

[Brian Elfert]

I can't imagine paying over $1000 for a simple propane grill. I guess if you grill every night or entertain every weekend it might make sense. My parents have a Ducane that has cost them about $400 over close to 20 years. The only issue with it is the igniter is dead. They use it several times a week from spring until winter starts.

[Ole Anderson]

I contacted Char-Broil about some warranty parts on my 9 year old grill. It has a 99 year warranty on most parts with a lifetime warranty on the brass burners. Because I hadn't registered it when purchased, I had to take a picture of the receipt which I had stapled to the instruction book, as well as pics of the damaged parts. Uploaded them on their website after an email and telephone exchange. Very friendly and cooperative rep on the phone. I told her I had replaced the grates on my own, she said too bad they would have sent me new grates. I ended up getting a new igniter, a replacement door, a burner brace and the front ss control panel where the paint had worn off the burner settings. She asked if I needed new burners or any other parts. It was like she was getting paid on the value of parts sent out. She called back minutes after I uploaded the photos to confirm the order, all I had to do was pay $8.95 shipping. They didn't even want the old parts back. Now that is good warranty service!

[Rick Potter]

Ole,

That is great news, and certainly great customer service. Congratulations. Sounds like you have a winner.

Brian,

I agree it's a lot of money, but once the grown kids got into the deal, and now that our uber-remodel is almost done, and we can once again get the whole family here, as well as friends, the grill started growing in size and expense. We are fortunate in being able to afford it, and don't forget...this is a year round deal here in SoCal. For the last 7 years the family has been getting together at one of our kid's houses. They have a super grill, but no place to sit 15-20 people, so the whole family is ready for the location change.

Again, thanks to you all for the advice. BTW, I just got a call....the BBQ grill will be delivered tomorrow morning.

Rick Potter