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Cleaning ashes with a high que grate?

kbutler84
kbutler84 Posts: 140
in EggHead Forum
Recently got a high que grate, and I like it.  However, in the past I've always used a shop vac to clean out the ash before a cook.  With the new grate, the ash has more/larger chunks in it and seems to get stuck in the hose of the vac.  How do those of ya'll with the high que grate prefer to clean your ashes out?
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Comments

  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    I just use the ash tool to rake everything (ash, small pieces of lump) into a bucket.  

    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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  • ksmyrl
    ksmyrl Posts: 1,050
    SmokeyPitt said:
    I just use the ash tool to rake everything (ash, small pieces of lump) into a bucket.  
    +1 I do this. I used to use a shop vac, but my vac is in the basement, not convenient...yadda yadda. Plus I like KISS solutions. The ash tool is simple, easy, and hanging under my egg.
    Fish, Hunt, Cook....anything else?

    1LBGE, 1MMBGE, somewhere near Athens GA
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  • johnkitchens
    johnkitchens Posts: 5,234
    I use a little fireplace broom to sweep everything out into a dust pain. The convenience of the Hi Que is well worth the small chunks of lump left behind. I love mine. 

    Louisville, GA - 2 Large BGE's
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  • BigWader
    BigWader Posts: 673
    I use the ash tool to the BGE shovel and then into a galvanized metal bucket.  Shaking the ash in the bucket I can separate the little chunks and save them for low temp smoking for Canadian Bacon or sausage.  The finer clean ash sometimes gets spread under the pine tree to neutralize the soil.

    Toronto, Canada

    Large BGE, Small BGE

     

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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Just be careful when sucking up ashes in a typical (plastic) shop vac. I just use the ash tool and scrape into a metal pan. I've used a vac twice, I think... in over five years!

    "Proper Fireplace Cleaning Methods

    When you clean your fireplace, there are a few things to keep in mind.

    1. You should always place discarded fireplace ashes in a heavy metal container, moisten the ashes and cover the container with a metal lid. NEVER USE A PAPER BAG, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash bag in the cleaning pro- cess. Never use a vacuum cleaner to pick up ashes.

    2. Ashes should be kept in a metal container outside, away from the house, to cool. Your garage, house, or deck are dangerous locations for ashes to cool. After ashes have cooled in a metal container, it is necessary to find a suitable disposal site. Never dump fireplace ashes until they have had at least four days to cool. Even after four days, great care should be given in selecting a dump site. Wooded areas should always be avoided."

    From... http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr/educate/fireplace_and_ashes_safety_tips.pdf 

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • itsmce
    itsmce Posts: 410
    It's the ash tool for me.  Scrape into a bucket and as someone else mentioned, shake the bucket a bit and the "big" pieces will come to the top which I pluck out and toss back on the top of my new fuel for the next cook.
    Large (sometimes wish it were an XL) in KS
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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,528
    Ash tool. It also fits between the fire box and the base. You do not need a vacuumed egg. In fact, further to what @Carolina Q says above, it is best to leave at least a ¼"-½” of ash in the bottom of the fire box, same with a wood stove, protects the bottom of the egg or stove from direct heat that can cause cracks in the ceramic or the firebricks. 

    Like the others here, I pull the larger chunks from under the grate and just throw them back in the top. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    If wait till I absolutely have to clean it out this gives those small pieces of lump s chance to burn and not be wasted.  When I do clean out I use the ash tool and leave 1/4" or so of ash in the bottom just as @skiddymarker described 

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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  • SmokyBear
    SmokyBear Posts: 389
    I have one of these that I use..

    http://www.amazon.com/Dustless-Technologies-MU305-Cheetah-Vacuum/dp/B0006FKJFU

    I typically will pull out any tiny pieces of lump that's in the bottom amidst all the ash, then vac the ash up.

    The vac is designed for hot ash (including fireplaces) so to the best of my knowledge is firesafe.  (Thing's built like a tank and has a 100% metal container).

    I keep the vac in a SS table, so even IF there were a problem (highly doubtful / impossible), there's nothing combustible anywhere around.
    Mini BGE, KJ Classic - Black, Cookshack SM025, Weber Gasser (mostly for Kamado storage!)
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  • DaveRichardson
    DaveRichardson Posts: 2,324
    I've done this....  Cut a small piece of window screen and put it on the end of the hose with a hose clamp. I can easily flick the larger pieces off back into the bite ic and keep vac-ing the ashes. 

    LBGE since 2014

    Griffin, GA 

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  • Chubbs
    Chubbs Posts: 6,929
    SmokeyPitt said:
    I just use the ash tool to rake everything (ash, small pieces of lump) into a bucket.  
    +1. Take 15 seconds
    Columbia, SC --- LBGE 2011 -- MINI BGE 2013
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  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    I was using my shop vac, then I had to clean up some water so it moved to the basement. Now using the ash tool and wondering why the hell I ever drug that shop vac around the house!
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  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,782
    +1 with ash tool.
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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  • THEBuckeye
    THEBuckeye Posts: 4,232
    Ash tool into an old lump bag - used for trash, drip pans, etc. 


    New Albany, Ohio 

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  • DaveRichardson
    DaveRichardson Posts: 2,324
    Forgot to mention that I have one of the mini shop-vacs, maybe a 1 gallon unit that lives in the deck box.  Great for vaccing those wasp nests, too!

    LBGE since 2014

    Griffin, GA 

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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,528
    Mattman3969 said:
    If wait till I absolutely have to clean it out this gives those small pieces of lump s chance to burn and not be wasted.  When I do clean out I use the ash tool and leave 1/4" or so of ash in the bottom just as @skiddymarker described 
    What can I say? Great minds......
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • kbutler84
    kbutler84 Posts: 140
    Ok, I'm convinced - I need the ash tool and pan.  Off to amazon I go.
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