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Kick Ash Question

Steve76
Steve76 Posts: 60
in EggHead Forum
I'm lovin my KA Basket, but not sure the best way to use it...  Should I remove the cast iron bottom plate in the fire bowl, or leave it in with the KAB on top of it. Suggestions???
Lutz, FL (next to the swamp), LBGE, Pizza stone, Egg Handler, Flame boss 300, Thermapen, Kick Ash basket &  Webber Summit for odds and ends and short, or "honey do", cooks!  
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Comments

  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,137
    I would remove the cast iron piece if you are using this in your Large Egg. No real benefit if you leave it in.
    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,455
    I agree with Darian. I only use the KAB in my small and large. OTOH I believe that the KAB company recommends using a grate under their product for XL users.
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 19,170
    Photo Egg said:
    I would remove the cast iron piece if you are using this in your Large Egg. No real benefit if you leave it in.
    I respectfully disagree. The fire grate provides support for the KAB and keeps it from sagging. I believe leaving the grate in extends the life of the basket. My KAB is in great shape after 3.5yrs of heavy usage. It’s got at least another couple years left in it. 
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  • Jupiter Jim
    Jupiter Jim Posts: 3,351
    I have thrown away all my original cast iron BGE grates and go naked with the Kick Ash Basket, no problem with the KAB sagging for several years now. Although I would like to think I'm an expert on many topics I could be wrong. 

    I'm only hungry when I'm awake!

    Okeechobee FL. Winter

    West Jefferson NC Summer

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  • tikigriller
    tikigriller Posts: 1,389
    If you leave the grate in, that kind of moots out the whole purpose of better air flow provided by the KAB and turns it into just an easier way to shake out the ash..which I know was the original purpose, but still......remove the grate here......it also makes it easy for me when there is lump left and I want to use the vortex, to just pick up the KAB with the left over lump or a lump change of some kind
    Just bought an Egg?  Here is what you get to look forward to now:

    Plate Setter, FlameBoss 200, Spider, PSWOO-CI, Additional Rig Shelf for dome cooking, Thermapen, iGrill2, Cast Iron, Blackstone, Cooking Accessories for the Blackstone, Cover for the Egg and the Blackstone, shopping for Rub like a fine wine or IPA, and a new fascination with lump and what brand is the best-all to be debated every Friday Night.  Next desires-Joetisceriie, Adjustable Rig, Grillmates, table and more eggs

    Livermore, California
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  • jwallace83
    jwallace83 Posts: 35
    I go without the bottom grate and just use the KAB.  I love it.
    3- BGE’s  2(Large) 1(Mini Max) 
    1- Santa Maria Outfitters Pit 
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  • cookingdude555
    cookingdude555 Posts: 3,196
    I had high que grates before, and I use them below the KAB. Keeps smaller pieces from falling all the way through too. 
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  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,137
    DoubleEgger said:
    Photo Egg said:
    I would remove the cast iron piece if you are using this in your Large Egg. No real benefit if you leave it in.
    I respectfully disagree. The fire grate provides support for the KAB and keeps it from sagging. I believe leaving the grate in extends the life of the basket. My KAB is in great shape after 3.5yrs of heavy usage. It’s got at least another couple years left in it. 
    I understand your logic, but have never seen an issue of sagging reported with the newer thicker baskets used on a Large Egg.
    I am using a custom, heavy gauge grate below my KA basket on my XL.
    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
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  • Steve76
    Steve76 Posts: 60
    Thanks to you all for the comments. So far, I've left the cast iron grate installed, guess I'll give it a try without the grate, and see how a couple of cooks go... 
    Lutz, FL (next to the swamp), LBGE, Pizza stone, Egg Handler, Flame boss 300, Thermapen, Kick Ash basket &  Webber Summit for odds and ends and short, or "honey do", cooks!  
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  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,261
    There are several BGE XL owners that have The KAB, and coincidental to them removing the grate, and just going solo with the basket, had bases that cracked. Some severe, some not so much.
    I am one of them. It could have been a bad run on bases, or whatever, but leaving the grate in is not an impending issue to air flow.
    Your call, but several will not run without it, for obvious reasons.
    KAB folks are amongst the best out there for customer service, no issues with that. However the issue evolved  whether or not the KAB by itself was the culprit or not, better safe than sorry. Food still comes out fab.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
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  • dstearn
    dstearn Posts: 1,705
    I use the grate for that very reason. My use of the KAB is for ease of clean up and conserving the lump. Airflow was never an issue for me.
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  • EggbertGreenII
    EggbertGreenII Posts: 253
    I agree with YukonRon, I leave the original cast iron grate in my XL simply because I don't want the KAB sitting on the bare bottom. I don't think that arrangement effects the airflow to any significant degree, in fact, I think it might improve airflow as it allows airflow under the KAB.
    Tampa Bay, Florida
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  • StillH2OEgger
    StillH2OEgger Posts: 3,896
    I'm not sure it makes any difference, but I have kept my cast iron grate in my large. Never had things clog up and the air flow is improved with the KAB.
    Stillwater, MN
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  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,137
    EggbertGreenII said:
    I agree with YukonRon, I leave the original cast iron grate in my XL simply because I don't want the KAB sitting on the bare bottom. I don't think that arrangement effects the airflow to any significant degree, in fact, I think it might improve airflow as it allows airflow under the KAB.
    Something is wrong as the KA Basket, even with the BGE cast iron grate removed, does not rest on the bottom of the Egg.
    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
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  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,527
    I leave the grate in with my large egg and out with my small egg. 

    I could tell the air flow difference with the grate in place. Anymore air flow I'd have to relearn the vent settings on my large egg.

    I found the small egg runs at hotter temps without the grate. My air flow hasn't ever been that bad with the small but I know it's been an issue with other small egg owners. Game changer to some. 

    The main reason why I own them is for clean up. Air flow hasn't really been an issue for me. The clean up makes everything 10x better with a KAB. That alone is worth the coin
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
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  • smbishop
    smbishop Posts: 3,061
    As with most questions, there is rarely consensus with the answers, I leave the grate in my Large and Small, no problems with airflow and easy clean-up.  The beauty of the Egg is that it is adaptable to all of our opinions!  Egg on!
    Southlake, TX and Cowhouse Creek - King, TX.  2 Large, 1 Small and a lot of Eggcessories.
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  • Ridgehunter
    Ridgehunter Posts: 29
    I too and grateful for everyone's comment i have a KAB on order.
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  • Toxarch
    Toxarch Posts: 1,900
    I leave the stock grate out of mine. My experience was too many holes gets plugged when a coal falls into it, even with the basket.
    Aledo, Texas
    Large BGE
    KJ Jr.

    Exodus 12:9 KJV
    Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

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