How to clean the ash out of the large?

I have both, and use the same method, except I use a coffee can add when full pour in the compost containes.

Just rake it out as normal but make an ash scoop for about a buck.

The Egg Ash Pan accessory from BGE works very well in conjunction with the Ash Rake.

http://www.biggreenegg.com/thermo.html

But just about anything convenient to rake the ashes into is good. A shop vac is also very handy. Just make sure your ash isn't hot.

I use a wok spoon to clean out the old lump from the fire box when I'm doing a thorough clean for a special cook where I want all new lump. Then I vacuum the rest.

Takes about five minutes that way.

Spring "A Clean Egg Is A Happy Egg" Chicken
Spring Texas USA

I have a 3 lbs coffee can and use the ash tool to pull ash into can. Ash goes to compost.
Strip it down and brush out, for anything in between ring or box (need to go get new fire box, it is now five pieces)

I have used various methods over the years.

I like the convenience and cleanliness of a shopvac, and I used it in my first year or so, but my egg is located in a table which sits in my carport all the time. I don't want to keep a shopvac outside by the egg, nor do I want to constantly haul a shopvac in and out of the garage, dragging an extension cord around too. I also noticed that the paper vac filters get clogged with fine ash pretty fast, and it is a dirty job to clean them out or replace them, and if you just run them dirty then it is hard on the vac. Plus I like to keep my vac clean for other uses and I don't want to take up space by having 2 vacs.

I now use a simple aluminum pan, which functions similar to the dust pan shown above, but I made mine from scratch to serve as a spark guard which sits under the front lip of the egg at all times. When the egg is full I just rake it clean with the ash tool and dump the pan in the woods behind my house. And maybe 2-3 times a year I open up the bottom vent, open the dome, remove the fire grate, and hit it with my leaf blower directing the full blast in through the bottom vent. This gets all the hidden ash out from behind the firebox and fire ring, blows it all right out the top of the egg, leaving it spotless, and I don't have to remove the more fragile ceramic parts either. Of course it blows fine ash all over the place but I just wheel the table out into the driveway and let it rip. I also use this to clean out my table too, since my table is enclosed and eventually gets some dust and cobwebs inside. Quick and easy, works for me.