We bought this to replace the motor that came with our Huntington BBQ. It had just quit working and we wanted a heavy duty motor as we entertain alot and rotisserie 2 chickens at once!
This motor has not let us down! Works great and holds up to the weight.I bought this to rotate a turned vessel on a lathe (to apply the varnish!). The rpm (3rpm) is too slow. Would be great for a shish-ka-bob, tho.
Showing posts with label gas grill with smoker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gas grill with smoker. Show all posts
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Buy GrillPro 31845 Heavy-Duty Vertical Propane Smoker
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $244.99
Sale Price: $198.35
Today's Bonus: 19% Off

We got this and spent about 1 hr assembling it.
The first problem was that it was mising about 3 screws and washers.
I had read some reviews where they complained that in a short time one of the hngles popped off.
After our assembly, we took it out for it's first seasoning run.
Guess what. One of the hinges popped off.
So we took it back and got a refund.
BUt what a waste of time.

List Price: $244.99
Sale Price: $198.35
Today's Bonus: 19% Off

We got this and spent about 1 hr assembling it.
The first problem was that it was mising about 3 screws and washers.
I had read some reviews where they complained that in a short time one of the hngles popped off.
After our assembly, we took it out for it's first seasoning run.
Guess what. One of the hinges popped off.
So we took it back and got a refund.
BUt what a waste of time.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
We just received our model in the mail, and it is not as big as it says. We bought the larger model for larger turkeys, it said 22x25..it's more like 16x14! We may as well have bought the one for $100 less. We are keeping it because we need it for smoking the Thanksgiving turkey, but we are very disappointed in the size for the price we paid. We will update and let you know how it works. We had the Smokey Mountain series smoker for years but the regulator just blew out, so hoping this model will at least smoke us up some good meats and fish!Best Deals for GrillPro 31845 Heavy-Duty Vertical Propane Smoker
We're really happy with this smoker. It was easy to assemble, maintains a constant temperature over long periods (8+ hours), and is easy to clean. Assembly was straighforward and nothing was missing. It is not, however, a huge smoker. The internal "floor area" is 14" x 12". But this is more than enough for most fowl chicken and duck. A goose would be a tight squeeze as would a big Butterball turkey. For the price, I couldn't have asked for more. A very well-built and well-designed unit.Honest reviews on GrillPro 31845 Heavy-Duty Vertical Propane Smoker
I have been smoking ribs for years using a regular gas grill; this is my first dedicated smoker box. Generally I give it high marks. I can do 4 racks of ribs at one time (more than enough for my needs) if cut into 2 or 3 sections, first. All parts were there and easy to assemble. It is slightly off-square (my assembly?) so the door does not close tightly (small issue). It is a bit difficult to control the temperature as low as I would like (300F) but again, not a big problem. It comes with the best wood tray on the market (as far as I can find). It is 8x8 inches and almost 3 inches deep; stainless steel. The size and depth are important for using "chunks" of wood rather than chips (I always use both) so as to get long lasting smoke. Unfortunately, I cannot find this to purchase a second one, even at Grillpro part sites. Having a second is important to be able to swap in a new tray once the first one is exhausted.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for GrillPro 31845 Heavy-Duty Vertical Propane Smoker
First, it was missing parts (no knobs). The faceplate of the gas supply was scratched. The thermometer was horribly off by 150 degrees. Finally, after the 3rd smoke, it stopped working. The flame just sputtered out. I tried cleaning it to no avail. DO NOT BUY!!!!Sunday, December 28, 2014
Buy Outset F810 Grill Surface Thermometer
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $18.99
Sale Price: $7.13
Today's Bonus: 62% Off

Works well, but be careful using on charcoal grills. If you put the thermometer down on the cooking grate just after dumping the coals, and the coals are still super hot, the glass on the thermometer will cloud up a bit.

List Price: $18.99
Sale Price: $7.13
Today's Bonus: 62% Off

Works well, but be careful using on charcoal grills. If you put the thermometer down on the cooking grate just after dumping the coals, and the coals are still super hot, the glass on the thermometer will cloud up a bit.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
The Outset F810 Grill Surface Thermometer is a fair product it does measure the heat of your grill but it does not adjust quickly if you move it from one location to the next... most likely because of the high heat it must take. It will let you know which part of your grill is the hottest and coldest, but again it takes a while to read the temp. I felt it was pretty accurate if left in one spot. I also used it to read my different temps for different gas settings.Best Deals for Outset F810 Grill Surface Thermometer
I wouldn't recommend this product. It gets moisture on the inside and after several months of use it froze at about 200 degrees.Honest reviews on Outset F810 Grill Surface Thermometer
While I find the thermometer accurate,the ability to read the temperature is difficult because of the small lettering. Also, the interior of the glass surface clouds over while in use and makes it completly unusable during the cooking process. As a result, I found the item was a waste of my money and would not recommend the product.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Outset F810 Grill Surface Thermometer
After just a few uses the glass became cloudy and unclear. In addition, the text on the gauge became blackened and unreadable. I did try to clean it, but the result was the same. It seemed to work fine the few times I was able to use but soon became UNUSABLE. Now looking for a new thermometer. I would not recommend this one.Thursday, December 18, 2014
Nemco Food Equipment Easy Grill Scraper (10-0417) Category: Grill Reviews
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $49.00
Sale Price: $43.89
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

First, this is a great scraper. It's big and heavy, certainly overkill for my 24" griddle (so I love it). It's big enough to handle a commercial hibachi grill. It's actually a NEMCO N55825, and ReStockIt sold it for a good price ($33.74 plus $8.15 shipping).
Problem is, this was listed as "new", but it arrived pre-assembled and without any packaging. In addition, the single page of documentation that came with it indicates it should have come with a 6-pack of replacement blades. It didn't.
After 2 days, the response from ReStockIt was "this is how it comes from the manufacturer" (right), and that since the item description doesn't indicate it includes replacement blades, they are not responsible for those. They did, however, issue me a 15% credit for "poor packaging".

List Price: $49.00
Sale Price: $43.89
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

First, this is a great scraper. It's big and heavy, certainly overkill for my 24" griddle (so I love it). It's big enough to handle a commercial hibachi grill. It's actually a NEMCO N55825, and ReStockIt sold it for a good price ($33.74 plus $8.15 shipping).
Problem is, this was listed as "new", but it arrived pre-assembled and without any packaging. In addition, the single page of documentation that came with it indicates it should have come with a 6-pack of replacement blades. It didn't.
After 2 days, the response from ReStockIt was "this is how it comes from the manufacturer" (right), and that since the item description doesn't indicate it includes replacement blades, they are not responsible for those. They did, however, issue me a 15% credit for "poor packaging".
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Durable construction and effective. It has a good design and does what it is supposed to. comes apart easily so you can clean or replace the scraper.Best Deals for Nemco Food Equipment Easy Grill Scraper (10-0417) Category: Grill
Built solid, no complaints on the quality. Design however is questionable. The Razor blade is too sharp and hard, much harder than the grill surface. I don't like it due to the fact its WAY TOO EASY to cut UNREPAIRABLE gouges out of the grill. Even when your being as careful as humanly possible, it develops micro burs on the edge. You'll be scraping along just fine and boom, surprise, now you got a nice scratch in your grill top. The corners of the blade are particularly nasty when it comes to digging in and gouging the surface. I do not use mine for the grill any more, 100X better off sticking with a grill block. If the edge wasn't so sharp and didn't cut so easily into the surface of the grill it'd be a 5star item! Maybe if the edge was filed or sanded it might be more user friendly? Good luckHonest reviews on Nemco Food Equipment Easy Grill Scraper (10-0417) Category: Grill
I received this and it scratched the griddle. The blade on the product was unlevel and has notches in it causing the griddle to be scratched badly. This was given as a gift and I regret buying it whole heartedly.Saturday, November 29, 2014
Review of Old Smokey #18 Replacement Bottom Grate
I love our Old Smokey! This is the second one we've had and any time a part needed replacing the item was in stock and shipped quickly and at a reasonable price.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Did the job I asked it to do with no complaints from either me or the bottom grate. I recommend.Best Deals for Old Smokey #18 Replacement Bottom Grate
Just what I needed for my Old Smokey to keep cooking for years to come. Quick shipping, economical. You can't beat an Old Smokey!Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Marshall Excelsior MEGR-9984 2-Stage Automatic Regulator Review
My RV (a Chalet A-frame trailer) came with a Marshall Gas Controls 254-00 regulator, which after 10 years was not doing a good job of regulating. Marshall Gas Controls (a different company than Marshall Excelsior) went out of business in December 2012 and the 254-00 regulator is no longer available. This MEGR-8884 regulator mounts and connects exactly as the old 254-00 regulator and appears to work very well!
After consulting with local RV store and researching online reviews, it seems that these regulators are known to be unreliable. I've now installed a " Camco 59005 RV Propane Double-Stage Auto-Changeover Regulator" (also available on Amazon for less money)...this regulator works flawlessly even at altitude in CO--all appliances have plenty of pressure to operate simultaneously.
one tank ran dry, not so. In my application level window is hard to see I had
to add a mirror.
The lever on the 254-00 points to the service tank. When the service tank is empty the indicator turns red and the regulator switches to the reserve tank. The user switches the lever to point to the reserve tank and it becomes the service tank. The empty tank can be removed and filled. This gives the user a full tank when the service tank is empty.
The service tank on the megr-9984 is on the left and the reserve is on the right. When the lever is pointed to the left, gas is taken from the service tank. When the service tank is empty, the indicator turns red and the regulator changes to the reserve tank. The user points the lever the lever to the right, fills the service tank and then points the lever to the left. This give the user an unknown quantity of reserve when the service tank is empty. The reserve tank will eventually be empty and provide no reserve. The only way to have a full reserve tank is to fill both tanks at the same time.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
We installed an on demand water heater and were having issues with it cutting on and off. The original Marshall regulator would only allow 195,000 btu of gas, 10psi, and 11" water column. This units allows 235,000 btu of gas, 10 psi, and 11" water column. This unit resolved my issues and I now have continuous hot water, even when the range and heater are on.Best Deals for Marshall Excelsior MEGR-9984 2-Stage Automatic Regulator
Replaced identical defective regulator (original less than two-years old) on my Keystone Alpine RV. After installation, there was minimal gas flow...not enough to light the furnace at altitude in Colorado. Suburban water heater flame was also minimal with yellow flame. Finally, lit stove burners: minimal flame on one, and unable to light more than one.After consulting with local RV store and researching online reviews, it seems that these regulators are known to be unreliable. I've now installed a " Camco 59005 RV Propane Double-Stage Auto-Changeover Regulator" (also available on Amazon for less money)...this regulator works flawlessly even at altitude in CO--all appliances have plenty of pressure to operate simultaneously.
Honest reviews on Marshall Excelsior MEGR-9984 2-Stage Automatic Regulator
Product works preety much as advertised. I expected auto switchover whenone tank ran dry, not so. In my application level window is hard to see I had
to add a mirror.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Marshall Excelsior MEGR-9984 2-Stage Automatic Regulator
The megr-9984 is sold as a replacement for the 254-00. It is not.The lever on the 254-00 points to the service tank. When the service tank is empty the indicator turns red and the regulator switches to the reserve tank. The user switches the lever to point to the reserve tank and it becomes the service tank. The empty tank can be removed and filled. This gives the user a full tank when the service tank is empty.
The service tank on the megr-9984 is on the left and the reserve is on the right. When the lever is pointed to the left, gas is taken from the service tank. When the service tank is empty, the indicator turns red and the regulator changes to the reserve tank. The user points the lever the lever to the right, fills the service tank and then points the lever to the left. This give the user an unknown quantity of reserve when the service tank is empty. The reserve tank will eventually be empty and provide no reserve. The only way to have a full reserve tank is to fill both tanks at the same time.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Cheap Music City Metals 65993 Gloss Cast Iron Cooking Grid Replacement
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $124.95
Sale Price: $90.88
Today's Bonus: 27% Off

2 years ago I bought some Char-Broil infrared grill that was, well, a mistake. Hated it. Just never got hot enough. It would gently warm food into submission. Instead of getting a new grill, which I was about to do, I bought these and some ceramic rocks. Now it is a normal 4 burner grill and it is (FINALLY) a usable grill. It gets more than hot enough and these very heavy grates get hot and hold heat very well.
It bums me out that I have invested about $100 or so to make a $500 grill work, but that is on Charbroil.
I recommend these grates for anyone.

List Price: $124.95
Sale Price: $90.88
Today's Bonus: 27% Off

2 years ago I bought some Char-Broil infrared grill that was, well, a mistake. Hated it. Just never got hot enough. It would gently warm food into submission. Instead of getting a new grill, which I was about to do, I bought these and some ceramic rocks. Now it is a normal 4 burner grill and it is (FINALLY) a usable grill. It gets more than hot enough and these very heavy grates get hot and hold heat very well.
It bums me out that I have invested about $100 or so to make a $500 grill work, but that is on Charbroil.
I recommend these grates for anyone.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Was happy to get these grates, but after a couple of uses they started to rust in spots and with cleaning and reoiling, that did not help. They continued to rust even more and was afraid to use them. Was very disappointed and had to go back using the old thiner grate. Still have not found one to replace the grate I ordered.Best Deals for Music City Metals 65993 Gloss Cast Iron Cooking Grid Replacement
Instead of giving away my Char-Broil grill in disgust because the stainless steel infra-red grids totally rusted out in 3 years(and I keep it under cover all year, by the way the grids never cooked anything to a sear like they should and are a pain to clean.. and you do that allot they plug easy). I thought "HEY" I love cast-iron, low and behold these fit perfect. So on receiving them I oiled and put in the oven at 350 for an hour to season them then back on the grill with a layer of lava rocks in the bottom of the grill. Well let me tell ya I put first on Italian sausage for spaghetti the ultimate test. OMG! Preheating the grids first the sausage did not burst and what great grill marks. If you are replacing infra-red grates be careful and watch your heat with these they cook fast. Cast-iron grids have made BBQing fun again I highly recommend these. Infra-red is not what's it's cracked up to be go back to the basics I hope Char-Broil reads this it's a great BBQ except for the grids I've seen other comments similar to mine.Honest reviews on Music City Metals 65993 Gloss Cast Iron Cooking Grid Replacement
I ordered the wrong part for my grill, but the return process was outstanding and extremely easy. This was the first time since I have been using Amazon that I had to return something and it was the best process ever.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Music City Metals 65993 Gloss Cast Iron Cooking Grid Replacement
It would have been nice if hey included some cleaning guidelines. They were packed very well. Fore more words required is kind of a silly requirement ... I'm just saying Amazon.Friday, October 31, 2014
Buy Music City Metals 19561 Stainless Steel Burner Replacement
Monday, October 20, 2014
Weber One Touch Gold 22.5 Inch Charcoal Grill Review
When it came time for us to get a new charcoal grill I searched every site and checked out dozens of different grills, some costing many hundreds of dollars, all promising some advantage.
Some units were really interesting, and not too expensive, but upon close inspection many of these proved to be tinny and cheaply made. The very expensive systems were very nice, but did not offer rotisseries and other useful accessories and were just too expensive for us anyway.
So, we ended up with another Weber, the Gold Model. In the many years since our last Weber, there have been a lot of improvements that kept it attractive. The ash catcher really does make cleanup much easier and the vent system is more functional. The grill itself has the new flip-up hatches that allow you to add more coals and move them around without having to lift up the grill. I did that all the time with the old grill.
The optional little bent-wire style of charcoal retainers do help to keep the coals out to the side when you want to use a drip pan in the center.
Others have recommended the chimney style charcoal start for ecological reasons. It is also just plain faster to use as well, and it is made of heavy gauge metal that is both attractive and long-lasting.
I love the optional rotisserie (see those reviews) and it comes with an extension ring that is also useful for other cooking options.
We got the green colored kettle and it looks very nice on the patio. The general design and those odd white-wall tires give it a kind of vintage look.
This is a well-made and very functional grill with all sorts of interesting available accessories that really work well. There is a reason for the popularity of the Weber. I looked, I bought. Hard to beat.
...............
Update 7/2012. Still good, used daily all summer and even in the rain under my porch cover. Something I came up with that could be interesting to the more dedicated user. I essentially bought a downed oak tree and have been splitting it for firewood for next winter. Had a lot of small, crooked, knotty, twisted pieces that couldn't easily be split. I cut them up into 1" cubes on a band saw, hoping to use them as briquettes in the Weber. A newspaper sprinkled with cooking oil got them started in the Weber chimney starter quite quickly. The secret is to be a bit patient so that they stop flaming and turn to glowing coals. And then you have a genuine oak BBQ, just like on a ranch. Very good, but a lot of work and dangerous enough even on a band saw. And it messes up the blade and rollers. The other more accessible method would be to simply start an oak campfire in the Weber, using regular old pieces of oak like you would in a fireplace. It would take some time to burn down to coals, but even more of an excuse to drink too much and then burn the food because....well, everyone has done this. Right? Anyway, flaming oak imparts a kind of bitter taste while glowing oak coals make it delicious. I do this research for you.
__________________________
Update 2, on cooking an expensive steak. This works and requires no skill. I went out and bought the most expensive steak ever, an organic, grass fed, free range whatever ribeye at a boutique market and the attractive butcher girl probably had her thumb on the digital scale besides. I about died when I saw the price. Hmmm, can't afford to cook this any way but perfectly.
I once saw a YouTube video on how to properly cook a steak using high heat and this is my BBQ grill interpretation of that.
Use the coal retainers to block off a section of the lower grill and fill up that smaller portion with lots of hot coals. It cannot be too hot in this case.
Put on the cooking grill and let the previous session's grease flame off, which of course also heats it up hotly and is somewhat entertaining and makes you feel guilty about what you are eating...
Put on the steak. Having those long tongs helps a lot. You can rub it with olive oil if you want, but it is unclear to me if that is necessary and it causes more flame-ups. No BBQ sauce though. Lid off! Deal with the flame-ups by maneuvering the steak around. Some people use a water spray. This is hands-on, attentive work.
Stand by. It will cook fast. Have your other food well under way. Within minutes the down side will have that crust of goodness, short of burnt of course. Turn it over and do the other side. When that side is seared, remove the steak and insert a digital cooking thermometer, taking care to place it in the very center, from the side (not stabbed in from the top). I use a Polder and the line from the sensor to the display seems to hold up in high heat, but don't string it out over the coals. Run it out the back. Set the alarm for 130.
Put the steak back over the un-coaled area. The effect now is that this is a very hot oven, not a grill. Put on the lid, make sure all vents are open. Watch the temp rise, amazingly fast so don't wander off.
Remove the steak, with tongs, to a plate and cover it with aluminum foil, resting it as they say on cooking shows. By the time everything else is served up, maybe 10 minutes or so, it should be ready to serve.
This gives you a steak that looks exactly like the ones in advertisements, medium rare with a great crust. You can throw it back on and in a couple of minutes the temp and doneness will go up. There is no shame in putting food back on the fire, but there is shame in over-cooking it! If you paid the big bucks for your meat, burning it will make you cry.
BTW, this works for other meat like thick cut pork chops (thick ones are easier to cook properly). Use the same method, but run the temp up to 140-145 (145 being the new govt standard, and in fact it is the standard for all meat other than poultry. If you were brought up on thin, over-cooked pork chops (we all were) you have a revelation coming. Chicken parts don't require the high heat, but a quick sear and off the the oven part works very well for them.
It is suggested that the steak be served with salt and pepper, applied after it is cooked as it may be a bad idea to subject the salt and pepper to high heat. The more expensive the meat, the less you should put on it. Cooks always suggest kosher salt and it is indeed very good for this, and ground pepper is better as well. I really think BBQ sauce is too much for expensive beef, but if you want to fancy it up, slowly heat up some butter and garlic and let it meld together. Strain it and serve it on the side, or simply pour it on. What the heck, you have already gone well over the fat grams or whatever for the month anyway...
If you have to cook more than maybe 3 or 4 large steaks, you could fill the entire bowl with coals and then finalize them in the kitchen oven set very high, like 450, and with the temp probe stuck in the most representative steak. This gives you 90% of the grilling experience and taste.
The only complaint I have about this grill is that the handle for the lid can get really hot when it's been sitting on the grill for a while. You can remedy this by wearing a grilling mitt when removing the lid. I'm not sure if a wood handle would make a difference. Just a minor complaint.
The big cooking grate is terrific. I can throw all kinds of stuff on the grill at once and it doesn't matter where it lies, if you spread your coals evenly, everything cooks great whether on the outskirts of the sides of the grate or on the center of the grate. I attribute this to the Weber design and the grill's ability to distribute heat evenly and well.
The ash catcher is one of the nicest features on this grill. If you are trying to decide between the silver and the gold Weber grill, make no mistake that this is the better option hands down. The ash plate on the silver model will most likely get filled up with ash quickly, not to mention it is a possible fire hazard if hot charcoal bits fall off the side of the ash plate. The ash catcher on the gold model is like a pan and can hold a lot of ash and hot charcoal bits with no problem. Spend a little bit more and get the better feature and you won't regret it.
The ash-catcher is super, the one-touch vent system is a big improvement (no more knocking each vent with a trowel), the plastic handles stay cooler... you get the idea. Nothing dramatic, but good progress.
But here's the clincher: setting one of these up (takes about 20 minutes, even if you make a mistake or two) just makes you feel like you're in heaven. It's summer embodied. People rhapsodize about the new car small... well, fughettaboutit. The look of a shiny new grill that you've assembled yourself is about as good as it gets.
Highly recommended accessory: the charcoal companion. Put your lighter fluid (or your MatchLight) away and use this instead-it works flawlessly, and it's better for the environment.
Installation was a snap. No tools required, except for a hammer to tap the wheels onto the base. The kettle itself is porcelain-enameled, which means it doesn't rust. All of the parts seemed to be built to last. The lid forms a nice seal with the base of the kettle, and the "one touch" vent adjustment works well.
I debated whether to get the Silver version or go for the Gold. The grills are basically identical, but the Gold version has a hinged cooking grate and an enclosed ash catcher (and costs $50 more). The Silver has a standard cooking grate and an ash pan. The hinged cooking grate is an essential feature for anyone who likes to grill indirectly. Adding charcoal or wood chips without disturbing the food on the grill is quick and easy. However, Amazon sells a hinged cooking grate for under $20. I'm not sure if the enclosed ash catcher is worth $30 because you could just set a coffee can on the ash pan. Then again, if the grill lasts about 10 years (which it should with proper care), then it's only $3 more per year.
I saved the best for last. I noticed that the assembly manual pictured two parts, a pair of charcoal rails, that were not included in the box. I called Weber customer support, and they explained that the wrong manuals were sent out with some of the grills, and I wasn't actually missing the charcoal rails. Then they offered to send me the charcoal rails for free anyway! That kind of customer service is rare in my opinion and sets Weber apart. I'm very confident that they'll stand behind their products if anything happened to go wrong.
To sum up:
THE GOOD
quality construction
great customer service
good ventilation
lots of cooking area
hinged cooking grate
enclosed ash catcher
THE BAD
Silver version may be a better value
This baby would get five stars if Weber was still offering the cast iron grate upgrade for the kettles. It's been discontinued this year, but I hear some are still out there to be found. Even without cast iron, you can't go wrong with this as a charcoal grill, and being a Weber, it will last for years and you'll get great customer support if it is ever needed.
Some units were really interesting, and not too expensive, but upon close inspection many of these proved to be tinny and cheaply made. The very expensive systems were very nice, but did not offer rotisseries and other useful accessories and were just too expensive for us anyway.
So, we ended up with another Weber, the Gold Model. In the many years since our last Weber, there have been a lot of improvements that kept it attractive. The ash catcher really does make cleanup much easier and the vent system is more functional. The grill itself has the new flip-up hatches that allow you to add more coals and move them around without having to lift up the grill. I did that all the time with the old grill.
The optional little bent-wire style of charcoal retainers do help to keep the coals out to the side when you want to use a drip pan in the center.
Others have recommended the chimney style charcoal start for ecological reasons. It is also just plain faster to use as well, and it is made of heavy gauge metal that is both attractive and long-lasting.
I love the optional rotisserie (see those reviews) and it comes with an extension ring that is also useful for other cooking options.
We got the green colored kettle and it looks very nice on the patio. The general design and those odd white-wall tires give it a kind of vintage look.
This is a well-made and very functional grill with all sorts of interesting available accessories that really work well. There is a reason for the popularity of the Weber. I looked, I bought. Hard to beat.
...............
Update 7/2012. Still good, used daily all summer and even in the rain under my porch cover. Something I came up with that could be interesting to the more dedicated user. I essentially bought a downed oak tree and have been splitting it for firewood for next winter. Had a lot of small, crooked, knotty, twisted pieces that couldn't easily be split. I cut them up into 1" cubes on a band saw, hoping to use them as briquettes in the Weber. A newspaper sprinkled with cooking oil got them started in the Weber chimney starter quite quickly. The secret is to be a bit patient so that they stop flaming and turn to glowing coals. And then you have a genuine oak BBQ, just like on a ranch. Very good, but a lot of work and dangerous enough even on a band saw. And it messes up the blade and rollers. The other more accessible method would be to simply start an oak campfire in the Weber, using regular old pieces of oak like you would in a fireplace. It would take some time to burn down to coals, but even more of an excuse to drink too much and then burn the food because....well, everyone has done this. Right? Anyway, flaming oak imparts a kind of bitter taste while glowing oak coals make it delicious. I do this research for you.
__________________________
Update 2, on cooking an expensive steak. This works and requires no skill. I went out and bought the most expensive steak ever, an organic, grass fed, free range whatever ribeye at a boutique market and the attractive butcher girl probably had her thumb on the digital scale besides. I about died when I saw the price. Hmmm, can't afford to cook this any way but perfectly.
I once saw a YouTube video on how to properly cook a steak using high heat and this is my BBQ grill interpretation of that.
Use the coal retainers to block off a section of the lower grill and fill up that smaller portion with lots of hot coals. It cannot be too hot in this case.
Put on the cooking grill and let the previous session's grease flame off, which of course also heats it up hotly and is somewhat entertaining and makes you feel guilty about what you are eating...
Put on the steak. Having those long tongs helps a lot. You can rub it with olive oil if you want, but it is unclear to me if that is necessary and it causes more flame-ups. No BBQ sauce though. Lid off! Deal with the flame-ups by maneuvering the steak around. Some people use a water spray. This is hands-on, attentive work.
Stand by. It will cook fast. Have your other food well under way. Within minutes the down side will have that crust of goodness, short of burnt of course. Turn it over and do the other side. When that side is seared, remove the steak and insert a digital cooking thermometer, taking care to place it in the very center, from the side (not stabbed in from the top). I use a Polder and the line from the sensor to the display seems to hold up in high heat, but don't string it out over the coals. Run it out the back. Set the alarm for 130.
Put the steak back over the un-coaled area. The effect now is that this is a very hot oven, not a grill. Put on the lid, make sure all vents are open. Watch the temp rise, amazingly fast so don't wander off.
Remove the steak, with tongs, to a plate and cover it with aluminum foil, resting it as they say on cooking shows. By the time everything else is served up, maybe 10 minutes or so, it should be ready to serve.
This gives you a steak that looks exactly like the ones in advertisements, medium rare with a great crust. You can throw it back on and in a couple of minutes the temp and doneness will go up. There is no shame in putting food back on the fire, but there is shame in over-cooking it! If you paid the big bucks for your meat, burning it will make you cry.
BTW, this works for other meat like thick cut pork chops (thick ones are easier to cook properly). Use the same method, but run the temp up to 140-145 (145 being the new govt standard, and in fact it is the standard for all meat other than poultry. If you were brought up on thin, over-cooked pork chops (we all were) you have a revelation coming. Chicken parts don't require the high heat, but a quick sear and off the the oven part works very well for them.
It is suggested that the steak be served with salt and pepper, applied after it is cooked as it may be a bad idea to subject the salt and pepper to high heat. The more expensive the meat, the less you should put on it. Cooks always suggest kosher salt and it is indeed very good for this, and ground pepper is better as well. I really think BBQ sauce is too much for expensive beef, but if you want to fancy it up, slowly heat up some butter and garlic and let it meld together. Strain it and serve it on the side, or simply pour it on. What the heck, you have already gone well over the fat grams or whatever for the month anyway...
If you have to cook more than maybe 3 or 4 large steaks, you could fill the entire bowl with coals and then finalize them in the kitchen oven set very high, like 450, and with the temp probe stuck in the most representative steak. This gives you 90% of the grilling experience and taste.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
We bought this grill as our first grill based on reviews. The Weber grill is a solidly built grill. You don't feel they skimped on materials when they built this. Assembly was only difficult when installing the base ring for the ash catcher but once I got past that, it was easy. The metal grate for the charcoal is smart for allowing air to come up beneath the charcoals, helping keep them hot, which the cooking grate is smartly designed, with two sides able to be flipped up so that you can add more charcoal if you need to. The two handles on the cooking grate make it easy to move the grate. The wheels make it easy to roll the grill around, although I would have preferred rubber wheels as opposed to plastic wheels.The only complaint I have about this grill is that the handle for the lid can get really hot when it's been sitting on the grill for a while. You can remedy this by wearing a grilling mitt when removing the lid. I'm not sure if a wood handle would make a difference. Just a minor complaint.
The big cooking grate is terrific. I can throw all kinds of stuff on the grill at once and it doesn't matter where it lies, if you spread your coals evenly, everything cooks great whether on the outskirts of the sides of the grate or on the center of the grate. I attribute this to the Weber design and the grill's ability to distribute heat evenly and well.
The ash catcher is one of the nicest features on this grill. If you are trying to decide between the silver and the gold Weber grill, make no mistake that this is the better option hands down. The ash plate on the silver model will most likely get filled up with ash quickly, not to mention it is a possible fire hazard if hot charcoal bits fall off the side of the ash plate. The ash catcher on the gold model is like a pan and can hold a lot of ash and hot charcoal bits with no problem. Spend a little bit more and get the better feature and you won't regret it.
Best Deals for Weber One Touch Gold 22.5 Inch Charcoal Grill
You're probalby thinking that there's no reason to update the 10-year-old Weber you've got in your back yard. Well, turns out Weber has made some smart improvements over the years-the new "gold" model is worth the upgrade.The ash-catcher is super, the one-touch vent system is a big improvement (no more knocking each vent with a trowel), the plastic handles stay cooler... you get the idea. Nothing dramatic, but good progress.
But here's the clincher: setting one of these up (takes about 20 minutes, even if you make a mistake or two) just makes you feel like you're in heaven. It's summer embodied. People rhapsodize about the new car small... well, fughettaboutit. The look of a shiny new grill that you've assembled yourself is about as good as it gets.
Highly recommended accessory: the charcoal companion. Put your lighter fluid (or your MatchLight) away and use this instead-it works flawlessly, and it's better for the environment.
Honest reviews on Weber One Touch Gold 22.5 Inch Charcoal Grill
I'll admit from the start that I'm biased. I swear by Weber products. I've been happy with my Smokey Joe, but I just needed a bigger grill. Enter the 22" One Touch Gold. A friend of mine has an 18" One Touch, but I think that the ~$20 price difference is a marginal cost for the extra size. Four inches doesn't seem like a lot of extra room, but it really is.Installation was a snap. No tools required, except for a hammer to tap the wheels onto the base. The kettle itself is porcelain-enameled, which means it doesn't rust. All of the parts seemed to be built to last. The lid forms a nice seal with the base of the kettle, and the "one touch" vent adjustment works well.
I debated whether to get the Silver version or go for the Gold. The grills are basically identical, but the Gold version has a hinged cooking grate and an enclosed ash catcher (and costs $50 more). The Silver has a standard cooking grate and an ash pan. The hinged cooking grate is an essential feature for anyone who likes to grill indirectly. Adding charcoal or wood chips without disturbing the food on the grill is quick and easy. However, Amazon sells a hinged cooking grate for under $20. I'm not sure if the enclosed ash catcher is worth $30 because you could just set a coffee can on the ash pan. Then again, if the grill lasts about 10 years (which it should with proper care), then it's only $3 more per year.
I saved the best for last. I noticed that the assembly manual pictured two parts, a pair of charcoal rails, that were not included in the box. I called Weber customer support, and they explained that the wrong manuals were sent out with some of the grills, and I wasn't actually missing the charcoal rails. Then they offered to send me the charcoal rails for free anyway! That kind of customer service is rare in my opinion and sets Weber apart. I'm very confident that they'll stand behind their products if anything happened to go wrong.
To sum up:
THE GOOD
quality construction
great customer service
good ventilation
lots of cooking area
hinged cooking grate
enclosed ash catcher
THE BAD
Silver version may be a better value
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Weber One Touch Gold 22.5 Inch Charcoal Grill
I'm a big Weber fan-I've used a Genesis gas grill for six years and a Smoky Mountain Cooker for two. Recently purchased the Kettle Gold. Great charcoal grill! The enclosed ash catcher is particularily useful if you grill with lump charcoal versus briquettes, like I do. It catches any sparks and small pieces of lump that drop through the charcoal grate. Hinged grate is also a big plus. I like to use the Weber charcoal holders to hold my lump when grilling steaks-push them together in the center to sear (brings charcoal about 2 inches from meat) then push them to the outer edge for indirect cooking. I also added a thermometer to the lid to check and adjust cooking temps.This baby would get five stars if Weber was still offering the cast iron grate upgrade for the kettles. It's been discontinued this year, but I hear some are still out there to be found. Even without cast iron, you can't go wrong with this as a charcoal grill, and being a Weber, it will last for years and you'll get great customer support if it is ever needed.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Buy Weber 7401 Tool Holder
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $10.99
Sale Price: $3.99
Today's Bonus: 64% Off

Your tools may get incredibly hot while hanging on this tool holder. It also interferes a little with the lid setting properly. Technically, it does indeed hold your tools, but the heat issue deters me from using it. I don't recommend this product, even if it is cheap.
The Bad:
-Made grill lid not fit correctly
-Fell off when lid was taken on and off grill
-Need to balance tools or else it will be heavy on one side and fall off
-gets hot and can burn if you accidentally touch it
The Good:
-Nothing...
Overall, I really am happy with this purchase. I had no issues with my grill lid not closing all the way after a tiny bit of sanding. There were a few minor issues that I ran into (but being an engineer) I was able to provide cheap fixes that allows this product to work wonderfully.
After using this item and reading some of the problems that other users hadi came up with a few solutions that work well for me.
_________________________________________
Problems:
Prob 1: the metal on the holders gets hot
My solution: get some heat resistant rubber and place it around the areas that directly touch the grill this preventing heat transfer to the metal
Prob 2: tools don't fit
My solution: simply get some rope or zip ties and make loops around your tools that allow them to easily hang on the hook
Prob 3: grill lid doesn't close all of the way
My solution: take A little sandpaper and grind down the lip of the grill where you wish to have the tool holder resting (I suggest using an electric sander)
__________________________________________
Overall, I would suggest this product. Not only is it cheap, but it works really well with a f minor modifications
[more updates to come in the future]

List Price: $10.99
Sale Price: $3.99
Today's Bonus: 64% Off

Your tools may get incredibly hot while hanging on this tool holder. It also interferes a little with the lid setting properly. Technically, it does indeed hold your tools, but the heat issue deters me from using it. I don't recommend this product, even if it is cheap.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Not recommended.The Bad:
-Made grill lid not fit correctly
-Fell off when lid was taken on and off grill
-Need to balance tools or else it will be heavy on one side and fall off
-gets hot and can burn if you accidentally touch it
The Good:
-Nothing...
Best Deals for Weber 7401 Tool Holder
Convenient...handy....fits good on the Weber Round Grill. You just have to make sure that all of the utensils you wish to hang on it have a hole in them the right size and not too small. The tongs I bought didn't fit so I'll have to either improvise or look for other tongs that do fit!Honest reviews on Weber 7401 Tool Holder
I have the Weber 22.5" One Touch Gold grill and I needed a good way to hold my tools during my grilling sessions. Before this, I just set them on a little side table next to the grill, but that made a mess of the table. I decided to try this even with the mixed reviews.Overall, I really am happy with this purchase. I had no issues with my grill lid not closing all the way after a tiny bit of sanding. There were a few minor issues that I ran into (but being an engineer) I was able to provide cheap fixes that allows this product to work wonderfully.
After using this item and reading some of the problems that other users hadi came up with a few solutions that work well for me.
_________________________________________
Problems:
Prob 1: the metal on the holders gets hot
My solution: get some heat resistant rubber and place it around the areas that directly touch the grill this preventing heat transfer to the metal
Prob 2: tools don't fit
My solution: simply get some rope or zip ties and make loops around your tools that allow them to easily hang on the hook
Prob 3: grill lid doesn't close all of the way
My solution: take A little sandpaper and grind down the lip of the grill where you wish to have the tool holder resting (I suggest using an electric sander)
__________________________________________
Overall, I would suggest this product. Not only is it cheap, but it works really well with a f minor modifications
[more updates to come in the future]
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Weber 7401 Tool Holder
This product does what it is intended to do, but it has a tendency to fall off the grill if you aren't careful. So it's not as useful and practical as it could be. I think if the clips went deeper into the grill, it would work better.Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Summerset Grills Summerset Cover For 32" BuiltIn Grills Grillcov32 Review
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $70.00
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 14% Off

Fits perfect. The draw string was not good quality so we just changed it out. It is a good qulity fabric and has held up wellunder the south Georgia weather.We live where we get a lot of wind, so we also put 2 straps around the bbq. That works great.

List Price: $70.00
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 14% Off

Fits perfect. The draw string was not good quality so we just changed it out. It is a good qulity fabric and has held up wellunder the south Georgia weather.We live where we get a lot of wind, so we also put 2 straps around the bbq. That works great.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Review of Eastman Outdoors 37206 Outdoor Gourmet 18-Inch Carbon Steel Wok
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $59.95
Sale Price: $44.39
Today's Bonus: 26% Off

Bought this for a large annual family reunion several years ago. Works great for making large quantities of scrambled eggs and frying bacon. Everyone at camp loved it. Works best on the large single propane burners. Works best if you start warming it and pour in a small amount of oil and coat the inside surface using some paper towels or a clean rag.
This pan works great, easy to clean, does the job.

List Price: $59.95
Sale Price: $44.39
Today's Bonus: 26% Off

Bought this for a large annual family reunion several years ago. Works great for making large quantities of scrambled eggs and frying bacon. Everyone at camp loved it. Works best on the large single propane burners. Works best if you start warming it and pour in a small amount of oil and coat the inside surface using some paper towels or a clean rag.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I have a large outdoor wok burner, 65000 BTUs, which I got from a RV cataloge.This pan works great, easy to clean, does the job.
Best Deals for Eastman Outdoors 37206 Outdoor Gourmet 18-Inch Carbon Steel Wok
I have a 14" and a 24" wok that I use often. This wok is a nice shape, but feels a lot thinner than my others. My others are solid and don't deform at all. This one flexes easily (one finger pressure). I'm not sure how it will perform yet, but the lack of heft gives me some concern.Honest reviews on Eastman Outdoors 37206 Outdoor Gourmet 18-Inch Carbon Steel Wok
I bought this to go along with the Eastman Outdoor Portable Kahuna Burner. It works fabulously! We use it when we go camping to cook breakfast, fajitas, etc. Heats up very quickly (be careful) and cooks evenly and fast. I love these woks and would highly recommend them.Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Best Napoleon 62121 Ultra Chef Universal Grid Lifter Deals
Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $13.99
Sale Price: $12.98
Today's Bonus: 7% Off

I have some pretty hefty grates that I like to move around or remove to access the smoker box. I have often thought of ways to make something to ease the chore but never got it together. This simple gadget is just the ticket. Stick the end through the center of the rack bars, twist a quarter turn and lift. The grate balances nicely, and I don't get greasy or burned.
This may be a nice device for a small light weight grill, but I would not recommend this product for a cast iron grid.
I also have a Napoleon Mirage M485RSIB and the infrared side burner is great. The only problem is that I forget to move the grid into the searing position before I turn it on so I have to use my tongs to move it. This makes my job much easy.
Another great product made by Napoleon!

List Price: $13.99
Sale Price: $12.98
Today's Bonus: 7% Off

I have some pretty hefty grates that I like to move around or remove to access the smoker box. I have often thought of ways to make something to ease the chore but never got it together. This simple gadget is just the ticket. Stick the end through the center of the rack bars, twist a quarter turn and lift. The grate balances nicely, and I don't get greasy or burned.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
forget to move the grates before heating? well this product is easy to fit between grates to raise and lower.Best Deals for Napoleon 62121 Ultra Chef Universal Grid Lifter
I purchased this grid lifter along with a cast iron grill for my large Big Green Egg. The first time I attempted to lift the grid to see how the device work the handle snapped in half. The handle is made of light wood with the metal extending approximately half way into the length of the handle. I was holding the grid lifter near the end, which is where I would hold it if I was placing it on a fully lit BGE to avoid the heat. The handle snapped in half right where the metal ended inside the wood handle. Fortunately this didn't happen over flames or when hot.This may be a nice device for a small light weight grill, but I would not recommend this product for a cast iron grid.
Honest reviews on Napoleon 62121 Ultra Chef Universal Grid Lifter
Works really well and seems well made. Picks up the heavy grates on my Vision Kamodo without any problems. Recommended.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Napoleon 62121 Ultra Chef Universal Grid Lifter
I must say that this grid lifter has been extremely helpful with my grilling. I use my grill 3 to 4 times a week so needless to say, it is quite dirty. The last thing I want to do is pick up my grids (hot or cold) with how dirty (or should I say, "well used") they are. I use the Napoleon Smoker pipe quite often and I sometimes forget to put it in before I turn the grill on so this is a nice tool to use when the grids are too hot to move around.I also have a Napoleon Mirage M485RSIB and the infrared side burner is great. The only problem is that I forget to move the grid into the searing position before I turn it on so I have to use my tongs to move it. This makes my job much easy.
Another great product made by Napoleon!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Review of Brinkmann Corporation 810-8502-0 5-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Poorly made and won't last a year. Metal is very thin and cheap. Don't know what I was thinking. Should have gotten a better one with reviews. This one had not been reviewed at the time of my purchase so I thought I would take a chance. I am sorry I did.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I purchased this grill in May of 2011. It was used for less than three months, with the Brinkmann OEM cover used from the start, before surface rust began to form. The quality of materials used in this grill is terrible. There is no back to the lower cabinet, and coupled with the light, cheap metals used, caused the grill to blow over in a rain storm. After 2 summers, and 4 additional blow overs and a substantial amount of additional rust, I shoved this pile to the curb and replaced it with a used Weber. Good riddance. This will be the first, last, and only Brinkmann I ever own.Best Deals for Brinkmann Corporation 810-8502-0 5-Burner Propane Gas Grill
My wife and I purchased this grill to replace a previous grill we had purchased from Wal-Mart. That grill was a Brinkman as well, however, our intent was not to replace the previous grill with a Brinkman; but after researching the various brands and considering the features they offered, quality of construction and price we decided on the Brinkman. Works fine for us. We are happy, so far, with the choice and would recommend this grill to others.Honest reviews on Brinkmann Corporation 810-8502-0 5-Burner Propane Gas Grill
have only had this grill for a few weeks and the grill is not working wanted to return the product and it said return time is up. When someone pays money for a product the company should have pride in their product and not ripe off the customer. You should be able to return at any time. the grill is only 5-weeks old shame on you.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Brinkmann Corporation 810-8502-0 5-Burner Propane Gas Grill
We bought this grill because we needed more cooking space for family cookouts. This grill has an enormous amount of space for grilling, easily fitting burgers or steaks for 12 on the bottom shelf, while a top shelf handles veggies, buns, etc. As a bonus, the full size burner to the right easily handles a big pot of boiling water for corn or whatever else you'd make outside (lobster, steamers, etc.) On the left is a sear burner that nicely browns meat before grilling. This grill came assembled and was easy to connect a propane tank to. My father loved it so much when he visited that we bought him one, too. My only complaint is that the price was $100 less at Home Depot versus amazon, but you can't beat amazon's delivery service. Highly recommended product.
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