New Mini........kinda

qprhooligan

Just an update to those following... Usabestdealz sent me a nut and washer that was missing from my grill.

Lowflyer

Mine came today w no problems. Just 1 nut and washer missing. Headed to the beach on Sat w it and bought a new Sig 938 today as well. All in all a good day, except for my backing killing me from setting down the Kub earlier ( had surgery in Nov).

Pork N Stein

Mine arrived today as well, no issues, cracks, or missing hardware. Now I just need to take the knob off the top vent and the rubber washer off the thermometer before they melt, clean the adhesive off the grate, and I think its ready for its first fire.

Aviator

Lowflyer said:

Mine came today w no problems. Just 1 nut and washer missing. Headed to the beach on Sat w it and bought a new Sig 938 today as well. All in all a good day, except for my backing killing me from setting down the Kub earlier ( had surgery in Nov).

Forget about the back, we are glad you are alive. Or is it spousal abuse that caused the pain?

Lowflyer

Aviator said:

Lowflyer said:

Mine came today w no problems. Just 1 nut and washer missing. Headed to the beach on Sat w it and bought a new Sig 938 today as well. All in all a good day, except for my backing killing me from setting down the Kub earlier ( had surgery in Nov).

Forget about the back, we are glad you are alive. Or is it spousal abuse that caused the pain?

Haha! All is good here, except the back. Mama is cool w everything, she's just ready to get to the ocean. I've got 4 days to start walking straight again, sux.

Proser

I purchased one of the Vision Grill Kubs from usabestdealz for $160.00 delivered to Texas. It arrived on time but had a crack about 1" under the felt gasket about 5" long. Usbestdeals offered to send me a replacement outer bowl the next day. I elected glue the cracked piece with JB Weld and take a $100.00 credit from the seller. Works like a champ, now if I can for figure the difference cooking on it vs the LBGE

Tunaguy

Hello, Been lurking a while and finally thought I had something worth adding. My parents went to Costco in Victorville CA and bought the kub yesterday for $99.00, said they still had 11 left after they bought one. Hope this helps somebody.

qprhooligan

Costco is listing them online now, but for $219.

caliking

qprhooligan said:

Costco is listing them online now, but for $219.

Holy mark-up!   :-O

williamadamsesq

http://www.costco.com/Vision-Grills-Kamado-Classic-P-Series-Grill-----.product.100032181.html

jaydub58

Amazing!  Now the issue of quality compared to the BGE mini will definitely come into play.  Can't say I'd be interested at that price!

qprhooligan

BGE mini costs more but I think they are higher quality, and the customer service from BGE is leaps and bounds ahead of Visions crappy CS.

Pinkfacemark

How are people liking these?  Seems like a good cheap alternative if you can get it for under $150.

Eggcelsior

At least Costco has the lifetime customer satisfaction policy. That's as strong a lifetime warranty if you don't mind having to purchase a new one down the road instead of just fixing it.

td66snrf

Pinkfacemark said:

How are people liking these?  Seems like a good cheap alternative if you can get it for under $150.

I've found three things that are easy fixes that made a world of difference:

1. Get rid of the plastic piece on the daisy wheel it will melt. An 8/32 screw with a nutsert to replace the plastic piece works well. It's way easier to do this when you take the top apart.

2. While you have the top off remove the center screw and cut the spring in half. Crimp the cut end closed a little and put the cut end towards the screw head. This allows you to tighten the screw until it  stops and allows the daisy wheel to slide much easier, especially when it's hot.

3. Remove two screws off of one end of the draft door and slide out the "screen" and the door. You'll need a 4mm allen and an 8mm wrench, 8mm is what came with it. The screen part has numbers and lines stamped into it which are raised and  catch or click on the draft door guide. Bad idea. Take the screen door and a ball peen hammer over to your vice and carefully hammer the raised areas flat. Be careful not to change the curvature of the door. Now take the door and you'll find two small raised areas top and bottom which are made to hold the door tight in the track. Problem is too tight. Give these little raised spots the same treatment as you gave the numbers. Put it all back together and the whole system will slide pretty smooth.

Hope this helps

 

fishlessman

Pinkfacemark said:

How are people liking these?  Seems like a good cheap alternative if you can get it for under $150.

it really is a nice cooker and has some features that bge should have upgraded to a long time ago. the daisy isnt as nice though and im going to try the fix that was mentioned. if this deal hadnt come along i would of never gone out and paid 400 for the mini bge

Gogogordy

fishlessman said:

Pinkfacemark said:

How are people liking these?  Seems like a good cheap alternative if you can get it for under $150.

it really is a nice cooker and has some features that bge should have upgraded to a long time ago. the daisy isnt as nice though and im going to try the fix that was mentioned. if this deal hadnt come along i would of never gone out and paid 400 for the mini bge

Im with you there, and for what its worth This competiive product has shown the value of the Mini-sized ceramic cooker to many of us who wouldnt have taken the plunge otherwise. So in terms of collateral, future business Im sure BGE will sell some Minis as a result of these KUBs being purchased and discussed onthis forum.

Aviator

I like mine. Very easy to start and do small cooks. I paid 79.99 and is a steal.

corbina

So first post here! 

TD66snrf - Nice mod's.  I'll be trying those out soon.

Thought I'd share my my mod as well.  Like an earlier poster I found that the grill was a tight fit.  During use when I went  to remove the grill to add in some wood chunks, I found it had expanded to the point it would not come out.  Yikes!  Over time I wonder if this would crack the ceramic?

After cool down I closely inspected the grill and found the culprit:  The grill grates extended perhaps 1/8" beyond the circumference of the grill (sorry no pictures).  Therefore the grill had plenty of side to side space but not front to back due to the oversized grill grates. 

 

To fix this I dremeled off the hang-over grill grate sections with a cut-off wheel.  15 minutes later and the problem was fixed.  Grill now has ~ 1/4" play in all directions and after heat up the grill does not expand and lock into place.

 

Hope this helps others.

 

 

Lowflyer

What are folks using to go indirect w the Kub?

Proser

Lowflyer said:

What are folks using to go indirect w the Kub?

I use a mini woo from Ceramic Grill Store. I had to grind some groves in the fire ring do it didn't slide around. Works great now

fishlessman

Lowflyer said:

What are folks using to go indirect w the Kub?

i found a tank end at work but any pan the right size with some holes put in it would work, it makes it inderect and raises the grill

SkinnyV

This thread would be similar to discussing a KIA on a Toyota forum.

Hey guys I got a new Camry.... Kind of...

SmyrnaGA

Update on my cracked kub.  The guys at http://usabestdealz.com gave me a full refund 2 weeks ago so I didn't have to wait for the USPS insurance claim they are filing.  It's now sitting in my garage waiting for the call from USPS inspectors for examination.

So far, I've had a good experience with this company.  I will buy from them again.

Pinkfacemark

They had the Akorn JR. aka Little Red Kamado at Menards last night.  They had quite a few of them left at my local store and they were priced at $150.  ($133.50 after 11% rebate thru 01/11)

I thought about picking one up, but was kind of curious what the forum thought before I did.  Also, I am in the middle of painting some rooms in my house and will be going back a few times this week.  If any one has any questions they want answered I can take a look at the demo. 

Link:

http://www.menards.com/main/spring-fever/grills-smokers/little-red-kamado-grill/p-1917884-c-10141.htm

Also, do you think a mini place setter would fit in one of these?

Aviator

My lil kub is going strong....

Don't know much about the Akorns.

sumoconnell

Cooking area is interesting..

• 154 sq. in. total cooking area

That's a 14" grill surface.  

Mini egg is 10" - 79 sq in.

Small is 13" -  133 sq in.

Medium is 15" -  177 sq in

So, its comparable in cook size between a medium and a small..

I don't think mini accesories will work.  In fact, with the odd size, you are most likely in DIY land for accessories.  Might not be a bad thing, can be done - but you wont get and AR

I don't have input into how steel holds up, etc, but it sure is interesting!!

sumoconnell

I was wondering.. Lump burns real hot.  I'm not confident the steel will hold up.. from the manual:

WARNING:  DO NOT OPERATE ABOVE 700 ̊ F / 425 ̊ C 

The firebox will have lump much hotter then 700, my bet is the steel firebox eventually gives out, even if you hold temps low.  

For that price, you aren't expecting a lifetime grill.

Pinkfacemark

sumoconnell said:

For that price, you aren't expecting a lifetime grill.

Agreed, it would be a fun toy that would last a few years.  

EazyE

Not to change the subject from the Kub, but I was just in my local Sams club, and they had a "Large" vision grill for $589, and that comes with a cover. It has the side tables like the Kub and a nest for it. Looked like a great deal for $589 for someone looking for a second egg or cheaper one maybe.