Ash removal

ChillyWillis

I use the 1.5 gallon shop vac with the normal bags that you can find at Walmart. @jmcnutt5‌ it's worked just fine for me. Been doing it for a year with no issues so far.

Zmokin

I don't understand vacuuming out the ash.  As soon as you go to use it there will be ash in it again.
Do you vacuum out your fireplace as well?
I just remove the bulk of it to insure good air flow. 

ChillyWillis

It's pretty simple really @Zmokin‌. Vacuum the egg clean. Add the lump you feel will be the best for the cooks you plan on doing for the next few days. Cook away, stirring the lump before each cook till it's gone... Then vac out and repeat. You will always have perfect airflow.

No need to vac out my fireplace because I'm not trying to achieve and hold a specific temp, however in my egg I am.

Zmokin

ChillyWillis said:

It's pretty simple really @Zmokin‌. Vacuum the egg clean. Add the lump you feel will be the best for the cooks you plan on doing for the next few days. Cook away, stirring the lump before each cook till it's gone... Then vac out and repeat. You will always have perfect airflow. No need to vac out my fireplace because I'm not trying to achieve and hold a specific temp, however in my egg I am.

Sorry, my method works just fine for me, I don't have to drag the shop vac out from the garage to the backyard and then have to put it away again.  I've never had a problem holding a specific temp and I've never vacuumed my BGE.

NPHuskerFL

Shop Vac

ChillyWillis

I used to be the same way. I started with this method when I started using different lump types for different cooks. I figure if I'm getting all the lump out anyways to use a different type may as well get all the ash out as well to get the best possible airflow.

IMHO the place where it I've found it most beneficial is when trying to go slow and very low (200-225). I've found it's very difficult to sustain a 200ish temp for 7-10 hours without using the shop vac to maximize airflow in the egg beforehand.

nolaegghead

I store all of my ash in urns to pay proper tribute to the animals that have sacrificed themselves for my carnivorous pleasure. I had to rent a storage module to accommodate the vast amount of urns that I have amassed...

ChillyWillis

I've finally figured out who @nolaegghead‌ is........

sctdg

I second the Kick Ash Basket . Just got one a couple weeks ago and makes clean up a breeze .
Lift the basket out of egg .Shake over ash pail and I'm done . Minimal amount of ash remains in egg .I have the egg ash shovel that has lip which hooks on to channel for lower vent .Pull ash out with tool on to shovel and I'm done .

r8rs4lf

I used to use a shop vac, but it seemed more trouble than it's worth.

I usually try to clean up the ash when there is little lump so I just scoop it out and use a small brush and dustpan to get all the ash out. I usually take the fire ring and box out as well. 

DaveRichardson

I use this little Bucket top vac/blower from the orange big box. It's small enough that it's very portable, but both vacs and functions as a blower if needed. I can vac out under the grate in no time!

Just be sure you check the hose placement before attacking ash... The ports are not labeled for vac or blower; you'll only make the blower mistake once!! Talk about a cloud of ash!

hondabbq

I just place a low profile rectangle shape Tupperware under the bottom vent and use the ash tool to scrape it out. Takes me less than a minute. When its full I take it and toss it over by the trees. After a few cooks I take everything out, usually prepping for a long low and slow, ill take everything out and clean it out.

Don't understand paying $12 for a couple of bags when you don't need to.

bbqlearner

hondabbq said:

I just place a low profile rectangle shape Tupperware under the bottom vent and use the ash tool to scrape it out. Takes me less than a minute. When its full I take it and toss it over by the trees. After a few cooks I take everything out, usually prepping for a long low and slow, ill take everything out and clean it out.

Don't understand paying $12 for a couple of bags when you don't need to.

The tupperware doesn't burn at that high heat?

Mickey

The two L-shaped: Large and Mini.

bbqlearner

I used the BGE ash tools for my large and small. For mini, I just took everything off.

keepervodeflame

I use a kick ash basket and the PowerSmith Ash Vac with a cleaning attachment. I can vac out the air holes and all the way down to the ash that drops  onto the kettle floor outside the firebox. I can also snake the cleaning tube through the bottom vent and around the kettle between the outer wall of the firebox and the inside wall of the kettle. A complete clean takes less than 10 minutes and I never have to touch or move either the fire box or the fire ring. The filter in the ash vac is double lined and designed to work without blowback on even the finest ash. Works like a charm. I recommend this cleaning system. 

hondabbq

bbqlearner said:

hondabbq said:

I just place a low profile rectangle shape Tupperware under the bottom vent and use the ash tool to scrape it out. Takes me less than a minute. When its full I take it and toss it over by the trees. After a few cooks I take everything out, usually prepping for a long low and slow, ill take everything out and clean it out.

Don't understand paying $12 for a couple of bags when you don't need to.

The tupperware doesn't burn at that high heat?

I have my egg in a table and sitting on a table nest. the Tupperware slides under the table nest and I just scrape it out with the ash tool. I dont remove ash when its hot!!!

Rusty Rooster

Ash tool for the bulk of it and when I think they need cleaning behind the firebox....the leaf blower blasts it out and off the deck.  :-)  Never have had to take the firebox out of any of them.

SeahawksEGGHead

Every other cook, I remove everything out of my large BGE, fire ring, the basket, and with a pair of gloves, I brush the ash out the opening into a cardboard box.  It ensures a cleanish ash box, plus I take the opportunity to ensure the air vents are clear.  It takes only a few minutes and I feel comfortable knowing I have an ash-free egg for my cooks.

caliking

@keepervodeflame - WOW! That's the  cleanest used egg I've ever seen!

keepervodeflame

Caliking, 

I had just done a high heat pizza cook and let it sit at 650-700 for about 15 minutes post cook. I have gotten into doing CI Pan Seared Chicken lately and have done maybe 4 in the past 2 months. Pan Seared Chicken is a great cook but there is a chicken fat splatter factor to deal with.

Mickey

caliking said:

@keepervodeflame - WOW! That's the  cleanest used egg I've ever seen!

I have to stop posting pictures :-t I must have the dirtiest Egg out the there. But nothing sticks.

MeTed

The BGE ash tool works great and I use it before every cook, Money well spent.

MeTed

Vacuum my Egg? NO!

Cmyachtie

My first post here after getting my NSBGE(not so BGE) actually a minimax, and I have used an old coal/ash shovel I picked up at an auction sale years ago fits perfectly under the Egg ashremoval /vent hole. Believe you can still find these at Hardware stores where they sell wood stoves and such.

Cmyachtie

Now after reading here AND since I built my table for the minimax it will be much easier to use a small shop vac for me in future, there isn't much space under the table due to the lower firebox of the minimax and a vacuum is just the thing for this now for me.

Killit_and_Grillit

Metal bucket, metal scooper and fire starter. Keeps me from burning the house down. 

This spring when I build my table I will use the shop vac. And find an overhang to leave it outside. (Lessons learned. Hot ash and plastic)

Ozzie_Isaac

I sell my used egg on CL and just get a new clean egg.

Mattman3969

I bought a KAB and my eggs suddenly turned into self cleaning eggs.  What's next a SM cap that is auto adjusting?

thetrim

Shop vac for me makes me HAPPY