OT - Akorn Jr. for $91 @ Amazon

Carolina Q

Definitely the bottom. I looked at the two latches  and thought I'd try some silicone there. Haven't yet. What happens is, the ash tray fills up, but also, the space between the inner and out shell. You can pour it out (mostly), but it's a design flaw for sure.

I suspect once the ash tray fills, water will go out the same way it got in. So it shouldn't get up to the lump. Keep on cookin'!

Legume

Carolina Q said:

Definitely the bottom. I looked at the two latches  and thought I'd try some silicone there. Haven't yet. What happens is, the ash tray fills up, but also, the space between the inner and out shell. You can pour it out (mostly), but it's a design flaw for sure.

I suspect once the ash tray fills, water will go out the same way it got in. So it shouldn't get up to the lump. Keep on cookin'!

Store the ash pan inverted, on the grill.  Bottom open.

Carolina Q

That's a thought. Kind of a pain though, plus you have to wait til the fire goes out. Then the only issue is getting caught in a storm mid-cook.

BTW, different issue...I did a dollar bill test on mine the other day. Wanted to see if that bogus latch is really necessary. It did pretty well for most of the circumference, not so much up near the handle. But I cooked some 400° thighs last night without the latch and temp held pretty well. Probably a good idea to use it at shutdown though.

Legume

Bogus latch = top latch?

you definitely need the bottom ones latched or you'll quickly get to 600+ and get flames licking out that bottom gap.

HeavyG

You can probably get away without hooking the top latch on some cooks but given how light the dome is and the thickness of the gasket I'm guessing it really isn't just "bogus".

Carolina Q

Yeah, the top one. It's just an annoyance so I thought I'd try without. Wasn't bad.

Legume

HeavyG said:

You can probably get away without hooking the top latch on some cooks but given how light the dome is and the thickness of the gasket I'm guessing it really isn't just "bogus".

I usually don't, just shut down / storage, but I don't try to maintain 225 either.

Aviator

Well what can I say, Picked one up from my neighborhood Walmart for 74. Peer pressure. 
Lets see what a steel Acorn can do. 

SemolinaPilchard

Let me be the first to ask, will a Rutland gasket fit the Jr.?

Photo Egg

SemolinaPilchard said:

Let me be the first to ask, will a Rutland gasket fit the Jr.?

It already includes a gasket better than BGE.lol

Focker

You guys overthink everything. Lmao

cookingdude555

Akorn stone arrived today. Fits well in my small woo, which lives in a mini max. This thing will have identity problems ..

GlennM

I've had one for a couple of years at our winter place. They work just fine. For sure they leak. I opened mine up after not using it for a couple of weeks and the grill was all rusty from the moisture sitting in the bottom. A cover is a good idea!

Biggreenpharmacist

cookingdude555 said:

Akorn stone arrived today. Fits well in my small woo, which lives in a mini max. This thing will have identity problems ..

Will a small woo and stone work in akorn jr?

cookingdude555

Biggreenpharmacist said:

cookingdude555 said:

Akorn stone arrived today. Fits well in my small woo, which lives in a mini max. This thing will have identity problems ..

Will a small woo and stone work in akorn jr?

Tried, it won't. Tried the medium too, a little too big. 

Focker

Solid late lunch from Junior with Aldi angus and Italian sassage, RO and JD chips at 275.  Pops is watching the boy tonight, got a free pass for JCM at the fair.  Lady friend is driving, this may get ugly.  
A late pregame meal...


Piehole approved, lol

SemolinaPilchard

Someone I know bought one the other day. He said the bolts for the handle were hard to line up. He drilled larger holes in the handle. Said it made putting the bolts in much easier. 

HeavyG

SemolinaPilchard said:

Someone I know bought one the other day. He said the bolts for the handle were hard to line up. He drilled larger holes in the handle. Said it made putting the bolts in much easier. 

The bolts were a bit tricky but nothing that should have required drilling. A long handled screwdriver did the trick.

Biggreenpharmacist

cookingdude555 said:

Biggreenpharmacist said:

cookingdude555 said:

Akorn stone arrived today. Fits well in my small woo, which lives in a mini max. This thing will have identity problems ..

Will a small woo and stone work in akorn jr?

Tried, it won't. Tried the medium too, a little too big. 

Is it too small so it wont sit on the firebowl/ring?

Focker

My handle bolts were fine, but there is play, just enough to bug the shat out of me, when you grab and lift, by the terrible 3 part design.  So today, I took a couple small pieces of double sided grey 3M tape and wedged it in the bottom of each side with a toothpick.  No more loose play when grabbing the handle.  You can't even see it, and my handle is never coming off.

Mattman3969

SemolinaPilchard said:

Let me be the first to ask, will a Rutland gasket fit the Jr.?

There is a guy.  @henapple has got the hook-up for all things rutland.  Lmao 

epcotisbest

Focker said:

My handle bolts were fine, but there is play, just enough to bug the shat out of me, when you grab and lift, by the terrible 3 part design.  So today, I took a couple small pieces of double sided grey 3M tape and wedged it in the bottom of each side with a toothpick.  No more loose play when grabbing the handle.  You can't even see it, and my handle is never coming off.

Excellent and simple solution to a tiny, but nagging problem. Thanks, I will be copying your idea, but will give you full credit if my wife should ask if it was my idea.

Foghorn

That will be a great conversation.  

"That's a great idea.  Well done."

"It wasn't my idea.  I got it from some Focker on the internet."



@epcotisbest, it seems like you're better off just taking credit.

nolaegghead

My handle went together fine.  You need to screw the bolts in evenly, a little at a time, like you're putting on a tire.  

nolaegghead

If you handle is loose, do what I said above, it might fix it. 

HofstraJet

Griffin said:

If I didn't already have a Mini BGE that I never use, I'd be tempted to pick one up for $74

+1, except its a MiniMax in my case. Still some left at WM near me.

Focker

nolaegghead said:

If you handle is loose, do what I said above, it might fix it. 

I think with mine nola, it has more to do about the 3 pieces and how the two ends loosely fit into the notches on the middle piece, than bolt tightening.  

Not major, but felt cheap every time I lifted it.
It's much better now.

Focker

Foghorn said:

That will be a great conversation.  

"That's a great idea.  Well done."

"It wasn't my idea.  I got it from some Focker on the internet."



@epcotisbest, it seems like you're better off just taking credit.

Lmfao!

SmokeyPitt

Ok I am blaming you guys for this. I decided to check Wal-mart. They didn't have any Akorn Jr's left, but I did end up with Weber Q-1200 for 50% off. My wife wanted a regular grill to cook on and I have been intrigued by this little grill. I have been gasser free since 2010 so I feel a little guilty. I am sticking by the story that it is my wife's grill.

Legume

SmokeyPitt said:

Ok I am blaming you guys for this. I decided to check Wal-mart. They didn't have any Akorn Jr's left, but I did end up with Weber Q-1200 for 50% off. My wife wanted a regular grill to cook on and I have been intrigued by this little grill. I have been gasser free since 2010 so I feel a little guilty. I am sticking by the story that it is my wife's grill.

I bought a new gas grill this year, replaced a dead one.  No shame, I use it for some things.  My wife uses it.  It's convenient.