Kick Ash Basket Question?

Sonny3 · August 2015

I read plenty of remarks and recommendations on the forum about the KAB and it seems to make a lot of sense.

I see on their site that the one for the XL is now available. Can't find a phone number for them so I put the question to you folks.

Why do they state that for the XL (and not the others) you should leave the BGE firebox grate in? Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose of the KAB? If you just lift and shake to dump ask during the cook, you are just going to clog the holes in the grate and then have to deal with it anyway. And when cleaning out ash pre-cook, you would have to take it out and dump otherwise you are still dealing with the build up on the grate.

Somebody straighten me out on this one please. I really like the idea of using them in both the XL and Med.

mahenryak · August 2015

@Sonny3 I believe you need to see the 'HD' (heavy duty) in the product item number before you can safely assume that you do not need to use the firebox grate. I know if you email Chad directly at chad@kickashbasket.com he will answer your question. He has been very quick in responding to my questions.

bweekes · August 2015

Sonny3 said:

I read plenty of remarks and recommendations on the forum about the KAB and it seems to make a lot of sense.

I see on their site that the one for the XL is now available. Can't find a phone number for them so I put the question to you folks.

Why do they state that for the XL (and not the others) you should leave the BGE firebox grate in? Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose of the KAB? If you just lift and shake to dump ask during the cook, you are just going to clog the holes in the grate and then have to deal with it anyway. And when cleaning out ash pre-cook, you would have to take it out and dump otherwise you are still dealing with the build up on the grate.

Somebody straighten me out on this one please. I really like the idea of using them in both the XL and Med.

The non-HD version was prone to warping/bowing due to the large surface area, combined with the high temps. Thus, it was recommended that you retain the charcoal grate for added support. This may change w/ the HD version, but you should confirm with Chad. I use my non-HD XL KAB with the charcoal grate and have no problems with clogging or air flow.

bweekes · August 2015

bweekes said:

Sonny3 said:

I read plenty of remarks and recommendations on the forum about the KAB and it seems to make a lot of sense.

I see on their site that the one for the XL is now available. Can't find a phone number for them so I put the question to you folks.

Why do they state that for the XL (and not the others) you should leave the BGE firebox grate in? Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose of the KAB? If you just lift and shake to dump ask during the cook, you are just going to clog the holes in the grate and then have to deal with it anyway. And when cleaning out ash pre-cook, you would have to take it out and dump otherwise you are still dealing with the build up on the grate.

Somebody straighten me out on this one please. I really like the idea of using them in both the XL and Med.

The non-HD version was prone to warping/bowing due to the large surface area, combined with the high temps. Thus, it was recommended that you retain the charcoal grate for added support. This may change w/ the HD version, but you should confirm with Chad. I use my non-HD XL KAB with the charcoal grate and have no problems with clogging or air flow.

Also, I would recommend shaking the ash somewhere other than in your egg. I always wait until the next cook, so the ash is cool and shake directly into an industrial size garbage bag. If the ash is still hot, you can always get a tin garbage can.

WeberWho · August 2015

I'd see no issue with leaving the grate in the XL with the KAB. I leave the fire grate in my large with the KAB. I can see an improved performance with the KAB with the grate. In all honesty I like the KAB for clean up. All you have to do is take it out and give it a couple shakes. No stirring around the lump and worrying about the grate getting clogged up. The main reason why I can't wait for the small version to come out

mahenryak · August 2015

bweekes said:

... If the ash is still hot, you can always get a tin garbage can.

+1 on in the use of a metal garbage can and I also do not shake the KAB in the egg as this kind of defeats the purpose. I keep a small metal garbage can next to my lg bge.

jaydub58 · August 2015

I had been using a High-Cue grate in my Large for a couple of years and loved it.
I did like the idea of the KAB, and just set it on the High-Cue. No bowing, no clogging. Great!

Sonny3 · August 2015

Thanks guys, just sent off an email asking the question. Will wait for reply.

Sonny3 · August 2015

@bweekes , I am looking for a metal can to dump ash too. My thought is to be able to take the KAB out when I am done cooking and use the can to snuff the coals. I like the idea of being able to bring the egg temps down more quickly that way. Seems like a good fire prevention idea to me.

mahenryak · August 2015

Sonny3 said:

@bweekes , I am looking for a metal can to dump ash too. My thought is to be able to take the KAB out when I am done cooking and use the can to snuff the coals. I like the idea of being able to bring the egg temps down more quickly that way. Seems like a good fire prevention idea to me.

FWIW, and just to clarify my +1 post above, I always wait for the ashes to cool before I shake the KAB.

Chubbs · August 2015

I would kick my own ash if I named this product. About as bad as the conveggtor. Heesh

Theophan · August 2015

Sonny3 said:

@bweekes , I am looking for a metal can to dump ash too. My thought is to be able to take the KAB out when I am done cooking and use the can to snuff the coals. I like the idea of being able to bring the egg temps down more quickly that way. Seems like a good fire prevention idea to me.

Well, except for the fact that the BGE is made to hold hot embers, and a tin trash can is made to hold garbage... I think there might be a big difference between using a metal can for ashes just in case there might be a small, stray ember in ashes you thought were cold, and dumping what might be a large bunch of small but still very hot embers into a pretty thin metal can. Sooner or later, maybe it would eat through the can, the way a cheap offset smoker made of thin metal does.

HeavyG · August 2015

Theophan said:

Sonny3 said:

@bweekes , I am looking for a metal can to dump ash too. My thought is to be able to take the KAB out when I am done cooking and use the can to snuff the coals. I like the idea of being able to bring the egg temps down more quickly that way. Seems like a good fire prevention idea to me.

Well, except for the fact that the BGE is made to hold hot embers, and a tin trash can is made to hold garbage... I think there might be a big difference between using a metal can for ashes just in case there might be a small, stray ember in ashes you thought were cold, and dumping what might be a large bunch of small but still very hot embers into a pretty thin metal can. Sooner or later, maybe it would eat through the can, the way a cheap offset smoker made of thin metal does.

I've used one of those small (6 gallon-ish?) galvanized cans for years to empty ash and still glowing embers into with zero evidence of it burning thru or even discoloring the metal. It has an airtight lid and once you seal it up any living embers will be dead in just a few seconds anyway.

Sonny3 · August 2015

Thanks guys for the personal use feedback. I am still waiting to hear back from KAB, I sent them an email about 5-6 hours ago. The question is about using the KAB with or without the BGE grate.

HofstraJet · August 2015

I use the HD KAB in my large with no grate and it works fine. Before every cook, I shake and then shop vac the ash (best suggestion I received from this forum). I tried shaking into my trash can but what happens is that the ash sits there and then if you throw something heavy into the can, it kicks up the ash. Easier to leave it in the egg and vacuum it up.

theyolksonyou · August 2015

Damn, you guys clean a lot. I might pull the guts and clean thoroughly after burning through 20#. Or if I'm cooking while I sleep.

pescadorzih · August 2015

The guts on mine gets pulled out about every 100# or so. I'll rake out the ash every 20#. The XL breathes well and can hold a decent amount of ash.
I would like a KAB for my MM though.

Kick Ash Basket Question?

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