Do You Pull Out Your Cracked Fire Box?

wdan

I joined the cracked fire box club quite a while ago. Got a new one under warranty and sure enough, it cracked too.[p]Lately, I've been having what seems to be more than usual uneven fire distribution...always noticeably way hotter in the 8:00 to 11:00 zone (relative to the dome handle). I've been learning how to compensate (and indeed, use to my advantage at times)the heat differences from one side of the grid to the other. But this is different from how my BGE used to function...gotta be ash buildup(?).[p]So, per Elder Ward practices and other circulatory issues, I want to get all the ash out behind my fire box. But I don't want to pull it out for fear of the Humpty Dumpty factor that it won't go back together again when I try to put the broken pieces back in place. How do you all clean out your ash without pulling the cracked fire box out? Do you try to get it out at all? Has anybody devised a shop-vac accessory perhaps?

tach18k

WDAN, I have had mine out several times, all 5 pieces. It still works fine, and I still have a new one in the box.

Steve-B

<p />WDAN,[p]I have been doing this before my firebox cracked. I use an aquarium cleaning brush. Just make sure you get one long enough to go in on one side of the firebox and out the other. I just pull it through a couple of times and it does a very good job fast and easy. The spring "handle" part is great because it bends easily while providing enough "umph" to push.[p]Steve-B

Mark

WDAN,
Try the garden hose, a little messy but does a great job.
Mark

chuckls

WDAN,[p]I assume that you remove the iron grate at the bottom of the fire box to clean that out. That leaves the perimeter, where ash falls through the holes in the firebox. If I'm not removing my firebox I just give a good shot with the shop vac and get alot, if not most, of the ash around the perimeter.[p]My firebox too is cracked but amazingly enough it is still in one piece. I lift it gingerly out when I'm doing the semi-annual cleaning. One of these times its going to fall apart in my hands. Hopefully then when the pieces hit the dirt they won't break any smaller![p]Chuck

eggor

WDAN,[p]well i dont remove the firebox any more. maybe pakak got a picture of it, but i did get an adapter for the shopvac that accepts a smaller houshold vacuum hose. just cut the other end off so it's only a floppy hose. then just go lower vent and you can prolly get it just as clean as if you did a total tear down. if i can find a link to the adapter i'll post it, but they are available at any hardware store.HTH[p]Sott

Unknown

eggor,[p]One thing for everyone to keep in mind is that if you suck up burning coals or even little tiny sparks into the shop vac, you get some interesting results. Nothing like lots of forced air to really get that cat hair and sawdust stoking! What's that smell???

jake42

Steve-B,
That looks like an excellent idea. I have taken my fire box out once after three moths to clean out the build up that slips through the air holes. I was looking for another way to do that because I figure the more times I take it out the more my chances of breaking it increase. I went on-line and checked Petsmart for one of those tools but could not find it. Could you tell me where you got yours?[p]Thanks,
jake42

Mark Backer

jake42,[p]here's my thought. After making sure the Egg's cool (as in the next day after cooking), clean it out thoroughly the usual way. Once that's done and disposed of, why not open the lid, put on some safety goggles and point a leaf blower either in the bottom vent or into the top and blow everything out? [p]Sure, it'll put some ash out, but so what? You can just blow off your patio right after that and when you blow the ash into the surrounding yard, it'll enrich the lawn around the deck or patio. [p]Thoughts?

jake42

Mark Backer,
That sounds like a good idea.
I think I'll give it a try.

eggor

found it

[ul][li]adapter[/ul]

Steve-B

jake42,[p]I bought mine at either Walmart or Target. I have the 36 inch version. It cost just over 5 dollars. I also made little shovels (scoops in a V shape) out of cardboard and put them on one end. [p]Steve-B