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ash tool

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alimog
alimog Posts: 11
edited November -1 in EggHead Forum
I haven't had the egg for long, just got it for Christmas. I don't have an ash tool for it, but I'm going to get one. Is the Big Green Egg tool the best option, or is there something else out there that's better?
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Comments

  • Fidel
    Fidel Posts: 10,172
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    a shop-vac works a lot better for me -- just make sure everything is cold before sucking up the ash.
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  • Crimsongator
    Crimsongator Posts: 5,797
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    Most dealers give a tool with the purchase. You may want to ask
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  • alimog
    alimog Posts: 11
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    I got a bundle of some sort that came with the eggmates and the nest. I was sort of surprised at no ash tool though. I just assumed that came with it.
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  • dhuffjr
    dhuffjr Posts: 3,182
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    I've gathered that the ash tool with the Egg is more hit and miss. I got had to buy mine for my original Egg.

    I've got a friend that used a plastic spoon. Flexible and got 'around the bend' pretty good. Just not useful for anything when the Egg is hot.
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  • Crimsongator
    Crimsongator Posts: 5,797
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    I have gotten one with each egg I've bought.
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  • Grandpas Grub
    Grandpas Grub Posts: 14,226
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    Some dealers do & some don't. Ask your dealer if it should have been included.

    If yes, then problem solved. If no it wasn't included, there are some good workarounds. I don't see much sense buying one.

    Some folks use one side of a small window curtain rod "L" shapped.

    RRP, made one out of brass, very nice, I tried to search out his post but couldn't find it. Hopefully he will see the post and put up his picture.

    You could go to a local hobby store or hardware store and get some thin wide stock, aluminum, brass, steel make a bend at the end - the same idea as the curtain rod - "L" shape.

    If you make one then I would make the short side of the "L" a little longer than the original ash tool.

    My dealer told me to use the ash tool as a grid lifter. That worked OK but I ended up buying a 'thirdhand' from thirdeye (here on the forum). Much better than using the ash tool or the original grid lifter IMO.

    GG
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  • civil eggineer
    civil eggineer Posts: 1,547
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    I have a medium and remove all the egg innards and use two plastic drywall knives. It takes very little time and completely cleans all the ash out. I also clean it before every cook.
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  • honestlou
    honestlou Posts: 1
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    I highly recommend the Big Green Egg ash tool. It does seem ridiculously expensive ($15.00), but mine has lasted years, in the weather, and is as good as new.

    I use it for stirring and moving coals when starting a fire, as well as stirring and removing ash. I wouldn't try that with plastic. :)

    I do a very thorough cleaning if I'm doing a long grill or smoke, but in my opinion it is almost never necessary to take the egg apart. For shorter cooks I simply stir around the leftover coals to get the ash and smallish chips to fall through the holes, and I remove the ash once in a blue moon with the ash tool.

    One other thing: I have a large BGE and the small/medium ash tool I find to be the right size--easily reaches where necessary.
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,897
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    Being a tinker I made this for my large and medium eggs using this old edge guide fence for a saw. It works quite well.
    IMG_2787.jpg

    Then for my small and mini I made this from strap steel and pop riveted on a rectangular piece of brass.
    IMG_0962.jpg
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • Davekatz
    Davekatz Posts: 763
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    I got mine with my large BGE, but only really use it to stir up the old lump before adding new. I use a shop-vac for cleaning out the ashes.

    Dave
    Food & Fire - The carnivorous ramblings of a gluten-free grill geek.
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  • Grandpas Grub
    Grandpas Grub Posts: 14,226
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    "top picture" - new tool looks good.

    Thanks for posting the picture.

    GG
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  • Lab Rat
    Lab Rat Posts: 147
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    Personally I'd skip it. I've used mine less than 4 times over three years. I use a shop vac for all my cleaning - just do it when the ash is cool!
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  • Single Action Egger
    Single Action Egger Posts: 21
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    I'm like honestlou; I really like mine.

    My Large Egg is only on feet on the patio, thus low to the ground. I found that the ash tool made it easy to scrape out the ash. I know my dealer takes out the ceramic inserts to clean out his egg. I'm not that thorough.

    I also like the tool for moving hot lump around. I'm very glad I got mine. (I purchased my egg at a 25% discount so I wasn't expecting anything else to be included with the purchase).
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