Kick Ash Baskets has answered my email about Grate/No Grate on the XL

Sonny3 · August 2015

I received an email this morning from Chad at KAB, in response to my question about the recommendation to leave the charcoal grate in the XL grill when using the KAB. Looks like it is a personal choice now and not something dependent on structural considerations of the KAB.

"Sonny, thanks for your interest in our Kick Ash Baskets.

The original intent of the KAB was to simply make it quicker and easier to clean the ash from your left over lump charcoal. Now over a year later, we have learned that guys find it easier to remove the lower charcoal grate and that provides easier access for cleaning the bottom of your grill but it also provides better air flow too. So we now have heavier gauge wire for all of our models so that you can use it with or without the lower charcoal grate. With that said though, the XL has a 17" bottom diameter and that is a fairly large span so I have recommended that you still use the lower charcoal grate in the grill.....BUT, I have a bunch of customers that have used the original thinner gauge wire XL basket without the lower grate and they have not had any issues.

With that said, I really think the choice is yours with the new XL HD model. Use with or without the lower charcoal grate. Just know that the original intent was the ease of cleaning and starting your grill. And it definitely accomplishes that whether you have the grate in the grill or not.

As for the Medium.......take it out or leave it in. The choice is yours.

Hope that helps a bit. We look forward to your order.

Chad Romzek
KAB"

WeberWho · August 2015

I'd give them a test run each way and see what best works for you. The XL shouldn't have any air flow issues with that size grate. It might be different with the medium

bweekes · August 2015

Sonny3 said:

I received an email this morning from Chad at KAB, in response to my question about the recommendation to leave the charcoal grate in the XL grill when using the KAB. Looks like it is a personal choice now and not something dependent on structural considerations of the KAB.

"Sonny, thanks for your interest in our Kick Ash Baskets.

The original intent of the KAB was to simply make it quicker and easier to clean the ash from your left over lump charcoal. Now over a year later, we have learned that guys find it easier to remove the lower charcoal grate and that provides easier access for cleaning the bottom of your grill but it also provides better air flow too. So we now have heavier gauge wire for all of our models so that you can use it with or without the lower charcoal grate. With that said though, the XL has a 17" bottom diameter and that is a fairly large span so I have recommended that you still use the lower charcoal grate in the grill.....BUT, I have a bunch of customers that have used the original thinner gauge wire XL basket without the lower grate and they have not had any issues.

With that said, I really think the choice is yours with the new XL HD model. Use with or without the lower charcoal grate. Just know that the original intent was the ease of cleaning and starting your grill. And it definitely accomplishes that whether you have the grate in the grill or not.

As for the Medium.......take it out or leave it in. The choice is yours.

Hope that helps a bit. We look forward to your order.

Chad Romzek
KAB"

Thanks for reporting back! Seems like it has everything to do w/ structural considerations:

"So we now have heavier gauge wire for all of our models so that you can use it with or without the lower charcoal grate."

This was my initial take on your question, after talking to Chad re: my non-HD XL version at the Toronto Eggfest back in June.

Kick Ash Baskets has answered my email about Grate/No Grate on the XL

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