Cordless Vacuum Options for Ash Removal

SonVolt · July 2018

I've been using my 16 gallon shop vac for ash removal every 3rd-4th cook to really get in there and get all the powder out. It works great, but it's a pain in the ass to haul that thing around, not to mention searching for an outlet and/or extension cord. Surely there's got to be a cordless option...

I went by Home Depot and saw that Milwaukee has a cordless vacuum around $99. I don't know how powerful it is, but I like the fact that its portable.

What are you guys using to remove your ash? Anyone using anything cordless and can recommend?

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caliking · July 2018

I don’t know if my hands would be considered cordless, but they have worked pretty well so far

SonVolt · July 2018

caliking said:

I don’t know if my hands would be considered cordless, but they have worked pretty well so far

I use an ash removal rake and a bucket most of the time... i'm talking about when I want a deep clean.

fishlessman · July 2018

i stick the handle side into the lower vent and swish it around

SonVolt · July 2018

fishlessman said:

i stick the handle side into the lower vent and swish it around

Speaking of... I did find a better ash removal tool than the official BGE version, and for half the price. The Weber ash rake is $14 and works so, so much better.

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GrillSgt · July 2018

Shop vac every 2 or 3 cooks. I have been meaning to buy one of the little ash shovels. Maybe I'll do it right now.

Edit: done

TEXASBGE2018 · July 2018

I don't do a major cleaning on my egg until I've burned through about 10-12 full fireboxes worth of lump. So I don't mind getting a little dust on my hands then. Its probably been done once a month or so since I've had the egg. That doesn't seem like a bad deal if you are doing a deep clean as often as you are.

frazzdaddy · July 2018

Galvanized bucket and a ash tool. Clean burn or pizza once a month. With my luck and a vacuum cleaner I would get a rare live coal and well poof.

fishlessman · July 2018

SonVolt said:

fishlessman said:

i stick the handle side into the lower vent and swish it around

Speaking of... I did find a better ash removal tool than the official BGE version, and for half the price. The Weber ash rake is $14 and works so, so much better.

i burn alot of wood for heat so the coal shovel is always on the deck and handy. ive gone thru 2 bases (actually 3 but one was water damage) and ive come to the conclusion that some ash covering and protecting the lower base section from heat is a good thing, i leave it half full of ash now

Cornholio · July 2018

When I do empty all the lump and scrape the ash out I hit it with the cordless leaf blower.

RRP · July 2018

You ought to open it up to see if it has any kind of bag to empty. Then slip a cover over it. That fine ash dust will go thru most vacuum filters and wreck the motor.

SonVolt · July 2018

Cornholio said:

When I do empty all the lump and scrape the ash out I hit it with the cordless leaf blower.

I'd evacuate the neighborhood with a leaf blower.

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SonVolt · July 2018

RRP said:

You ought to open it up to see if it has any kind of bag to empty. Then slip a cover over it. That fine ash dust will go thru most vacuum filters and wreck the motor.

That's a good point. My wife tried to suck up sheetrock dust once in her vacuum and it was blowing out dust in the exhaust as fast it would suck it up.

Cornholio · July 2018

SonVolt said:
I'd evacuate the neighborhood with a leaf blower.

I’ve never noticed a big mess doing this since I’ve already scraped the bulk of the ash out. I get a bigger dust cloud from dirt on my driveway.

northGAcock · July 2018

Dyson V6

RRP · July 2018

SonVolt said:

RRP said:

You ought to open it up to see if it has any kind of bag to empty. Then slip a cover over it. That fine ash dust will go thru most vacuum filters and wreck the motor.

That's a good point. My wife tried to suck up sheetrock dust once in her vacuum and it was blowing out dust in the exhaust as fast it would suck it up.

Yes - drywall dust and lump ash have a lot in common being so fine. I have 3 shop vacs - that have corrugated paper drum filters. I just slip a piece of my wife's ruined panty hose leg pieces over them. That saves me a ton of time cleaning those filters, let alone money replacing them.

SonVolt · July 2018

northGAcock said:

Dyson V6

Are you my wife? I keep telling her a $500 piece of flimsy plastic has no place near my grill. Dyson's build quality isn't even up to Walmart standards, which is hard to fathom.

THA · July 2018

I tried it with an air compressor to blow it out. It worked great--- once, not again

TEXASBGE2018 · July 2018

As Cornholio said. Just use the leaf blower after you have removed most of the ash. If you use the scrapper to get rid of most of the ash then the only parts left will be between the fire ring and the base. Just make sure to leave your dome open too. Do it on a Saturday morning when everyone else is mowing their lawns. No Biggie.

MattBTI · July 2018

I used a cheap-o vac from walmart. Its the smallest shop vac they make. I've found the ash tool and a galvanized bucket to be much less hassle.

northGAcock · July 2018

SonVolt said:

northGAcock said:

Dyson V6

Are you my wife? I keep telling her a $500 piece of flimsy plastic has no place near my grill. Dyson's build quality isn't even up to Walmart standards, which is hard to fathom.

I got one of these for free. I wouldn’t use it on my egg.....but you can. I think it was only $160 on Amazon.

Mattman3969 · July 2018

I not part of the vac pac. That is wasted time, effort and money IMHO. I might drag the ash out every 4-5 cooks. The ash acts as an insulator. Maybe once or twice a year on my large I’ll pull the cuts and sweep it out, twice that on the small and every 3wks or so on the mini.

nolaegghead · July 2018

I have a SS canister shop vac out by the grills. I don't vac inside often, but it's good to get the ash out from the outside of the fire box now and then. Mostly it is good for cleaning up ash or whatever normal reasons you would have a vacuum for.

I learned early on a bag is the best for fine particles like ash (or drywall dust). You can buy the paper bags for just about any shop vac. They don't clog. In fact, they fill up the entire inside of your vacuum. However you can't suck up any liquids.

blasting · July 2018

Vacuum for me. It's cleanest, and does the best job. My vac is dedicated, so it's always plugged in and handy. If I had to go hunting for it, I may think differently.

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HeavyG · July 2018

SonVolt said:

northGAcock said:

Dyson V6

Are you my wife? I keep telling her a $500 piece of flimsy plastic has no place near my grill. Dyson's build quality isn't even up to Walmart standards, which is hard to fathom.

Our Dyson Animal bought 15 or 20 years ago has been trouble free.

pgprescott · July 2018

I use this one. The batteries haven’t been changed in over 15 years!

I used a corded shop vac for a while with a bag. Worked fine, but I can scrape into my steel bucket by the time I get it out. I have a nest set up though. Not as easy if in a table or cart I’ll admit.