Weber Ceramic? Guesses?

Dondgc

I am trying not be biased against a non-ceramic product, but wow - its hard to look at that kettle and description and feel all warm and fuzzy - and the price is out of sight. 

bgeaddikt

 Air insulation IMO seems like it wouldn't retain heat nearly as good as ceramics do. I still can't get over that price tag. What happened to no chemicals or gases? I couldn't imagine an egg having a contraption like that on the side. Or it blows if you leave it unattended on a high heat cook.

Jeremiah

Its nice but not $1500 nice. Maybe $500-700 nice? I doubt BGE or Kamado Joe is too worried about it for competition either.

lousubcap

Upon further review, I am a bit surprised that the buffalo hasn't been along to take care of this thread.  Perhaps BGE is in agreement with @Jeremiah and it is better to just let this thread run its course than to respond like it matters.

dougcrann

Lost interest at "air acting as an insulater" or whatever the claim is....

tgs2401

Move along. Nothing to see here.

BigWader

I think this will help sell eggs in Canada...

Here is the popular BBQ Store price - $2499 CDN

http://www.bbqs.com/all-products/bbq-s-charcoal/summit-charcoal-grilling-center.html

Can you say Ka-Ching! 

dougcrann

Chug chug chug......dude...your not supposed to drink the bong water....

mgd_egg

It wok's too...

https://youtu.be/qcQh0ErTD8U

kl8ton

^^^^^^^^IS THAT VIN DIESEL MAKING FOOD?  

blind99

the bottom half isn't insulated at all.  I bet it does low and slow easier than a regular kettle but not as well as a kamado. 

if I were looking for a charcoal grill I might spend $300 for this vs $150 for a regular weber kettle... but certainly not $1500.  Or $600 for the cart and all the accessories similar to a performer setup.

johnnyp

Whoa!  That price is outrageous. Honestly, if the pricing was reasonable, I'd probably buy one.  But $1500???  Yikes.

Hans61

Looks like the hinged grid gourmet bbq system will fit a xl egg. 452 square inches of cooking space. May purchase that part and use it in my egg.

Legume

the damper on top is 'rapid-fire' so that's got to be worth something.  must save a bunch of time when adjusting the top airflow.  I see the their indirect piece is also double-walled, um, I mean air-insulated metal.

I guess on the plus side, if you overshoot on temp, this should come down much more quickly since it's not a heat sink, but that probably means it doesn't hold temp as steadily, probably oscillates a bunch more in windy and rainy conditions which shouldn't matter as long as it's not too wide of swings.

Focker

mgd_egg said:

It sautes too...

https://youtu.be/qcQh0ErTD8U

Ftfu
Screw the new Summit, I want that blue bullet in the background.

jimithing

I'm looking at this thing and I'm just not understanding what they did here.  The only thing this grill has that my egg does not is the gas assist.  Other than that I think this thing is disappointing in just about every way.  I'm a huge Weber fan - I've owned probably 6 Genesis grills, 4 WSM's, and 5 Performers but I just can't see this thing doing well. 

The side table is atrocious IMO for a "Summit" level grill.  And there's just no innovation there.

jimithing

Focker said:

mgd_egg said:

It sautes too...

https://youtu.be/qcQh0ErTD8U

Ftfu
Screw the new Summit, I want that blue bullet in the background.

That's what I'm talking about.  Would love to see some color options on the WSM's.  Wonder if that was a one off for testing or if they had it powder coated.

PSC

I like it. Not $1,500 like, but like it.

I think BGE has a couple of things to learn from this Weber that can apply to improve the egg...

Legume

Such as...

Ozzie_Isaac

My Eggs all have gas assist.   Its called a weedburner. 

HeavyG

blind99 said:

the bottom half isn't insulated at all.  I bet it does low and slow easier than a regular kettle but not as well as a kamado. 

if I were looking for a charcoal grill I might spend $300 for this vs $150 for a regular weber kettle... but certainly not $1500.  Or $600 for the cart and all the accessories similar to a performer setup.

The bottom half does have an inner and outer shell. From the AmazingRibs review:

"Summit's outer body is Weber's signature black porcelain-enameled coated steel that has proven it's durability for more than 60 years. The lining of the lower bowl is also black porcelain-enameled steel. It terminates, open-ended, at the lower coal grate position allowing hot air to be trapped between the outer and inner walls. "

Eggcelsior

dougcrann said:

Lost interest at "air acting as an insulater" or whatever the claim is....

Air is an excellent insulator due it its poor conduction properties. This is why mammals have hair on their skin and windows have air gaps between panes. Poor energy transfer = heat retention.

 It's not a claim, it's thermodynamics.

Don't get me wrong, this item is vastly overpriced at 1500 dollars.

dougcrann

Eggcelsior said:

dougcrann said:

Lost interest at "air acting as an insulater" or whatever the claim is....

Air is an excellent insulator due it its poor conduction properties. This is why mammals have hair on their skin and windows have air gaps between panes. Poor energy transfer = heat retention.

 It's not a claim, it's thermodynamics.

Don't get me wrong, this item will vastly overpriced at 1500 dollars.

Not denying that air acts as an insulator...I built a door on my Reverse Flow. Built it like it was going to be insulated but only tacked the outer layer on so I could perform an experiment. With just,air between the 2 layers of .250" plate outer layer was to warm to touch bare handed. With 3" of Rockwood  (?) Can lean on it...
Have never been a big believer in "theory"....more interested in "real world" experiences...no disrespect meant to any of you needy scientific types....

HeavyG

Eggcelsior said:

dougcrann said:

Lost interest at "air acting as an insulater" or whatever the claim is....

Air is an excellent insulator due it its poor conduction properties. This is why mammals have hair on their skin and windows have air gaps between panes. Poor energy transfer = heat retention.

 It's not a claim, it's thermodynamics.

Don't get me wrong, this item will vastly overpriced at 1500 dollars.

I'd have to look it up to be sure but I believe that an inch of dead air has about the same R value as an inch of ceramics.

Regardless, this new Weber should absolutely be way easier to keep steady temps in cold, rainy. windy weather than a plain kettle.

stompbox

Airspace is only insulation until it is not sealed right?  I.E. Vacuum sealed.

willymcnilly

The biggest question is - will this air insulated unit be stable while I go away for the day with my family?  Will it be able to handle 7 hours of smoking during freezing cold winter blizzards like my BGE?  When I lift the lid to check on the meat, how much tinkering will it need to come back to stability?  When there is no heat sink I think it will fluctuate all over the place after lifting the lid. 

Makes more sense to buy a BGE and several Weber kettles and still be under this price.  Just sheer madness that price point.  I expected about $750 Canadian for what I see here.  Plus the igniter is completely unnecessary.

BizGreenEgg

Eggcelsior said:

dougcrann said:

Lost interest at "air acting as an insulater" or whatever the claim is....

Air is an excellent insulator due it its poor conduction properties. This is why mammals have hair on their skin and windows have air gaps between panes. Poor energy transfer = heat retention.

 It's not a claim, it's thermodynamics.

Don't get me wrong, this item will vastly overpriced at 1500 dollars.

It's a good insulator if it's not moving, but the design on this is open so air can flow up into the shell (at lest according to Amazing Ribs vid).  Once the convection flow starts, it's going to move heat pretty well.  The video claims this reflects heat back in, but thermodynamics tells me it's also going to reflect out, as wasted energy.  Maybe it's a great marketing pitch from them, but a silly design IMHO.  Maybe a vacuum insulation will be next.  We can watch them crumple during their first sear.

lkapigian

dougcrann said:

Eggcelsior said:

dougcrann said:

Lost interest at "air acting as an insulater" or whatever the claim is....

Air is an excellent insulator due it its poor conduction properties. This is why mammals have hair on their skin and windows have air gaps between panes. Poor energy transfer = heat retention.

 It's not a claim, it's thermodynamics.

Don't get me wrong, this item will vastly overpriced at 1500 dollars.

Not denying that air acts as an insulator...I built a door on my Reverse Flow. Built it like it was going to be insulated but only tacked the outer layer on so I could perform an experiment. With just,air between the 2 layers of .250" plate outer layer was to warm to touch bare handed. With 3" of Rockwood  (?) Can lean on it...
Have never been a big believer in "theory"....more interested in "real world" experiences...no disrespect meant to any of you needy scientific types....

It is the Radiant Heat you were feeling, if had a  Low Emittance ( shiny ) surface in between the plates you would have noticed less heat, otherwise Air Alone in your case is around  R 0.16..I imagine the Weber has the Radiant Barrier

Eggcelsior

dougcrann said:

Eggcelsior said:

dougcrann said:

Lost interest at "air acting as an insulater" or whatever the claim is....

Air is an excellent insulator due it its poor conduction properties. This is why mammals have hair on their skin and windows have air gaps between panes. Poor energy transfer = heat retention.

 It's not a claim, it's thermodynamics.

Don't get me wrong, this item will vastly overpriced at 1500 dollars.

Not denying that air acts as an insulator...I built a door on my Reverse Flow. Built it like it was going to be insulated but only tacked the outer layer on so I could perform an experiment. With just,air between the 2 layers of .250" plate outer layer was to warm to touch bare handed. With 3" of Rockwood  (?) Can lean on it...
Have never been a big believer in "theory"....more interested in "real world" experiences...no disrespect meant to any of you needy scientific types....

Thermodynamics aren't a theory. They are 4 laws that explain "real world" experiences, of which I gave you two. Animals fluff their fur/hair in cold temps to hold onto air and therefore, retain heat. Windows that are double glazed are much more efficient than single pane. You even gave an example of "real world" experience with the experiment you mentioned. Nothing needy about that! Saying "whatever that claim is" is a tacit denial by discounting what they are saying, even though you then proved the claim by discussing your experiment. Logic is hard!

hondabbq

Excerpt from a Canadian news article.

The Summit Charcoal Grill combines three of the best grilling features found in the original Weber Kettle, the innovative Performer grill and the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker, in one-multi-functional, ultimate charcoal grill. Available in black, the Weber Summit Charcoal Grill is available at select Canadian stores and is priced at $1,999.99 (MSRP).

Consumers will have the option to upgrade to the Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Centre which includes all of the features found on the Summit Charcoal Grill listed below plus a stainless steel tabletop and wire storage basket, diffuser plate storage area, and Char-bin storage container that holds up to 20 lbs. of charcoal (MSRP $2,499.99).