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KAB for a large Egg

Powak
Powak Posts: 1,412
in EggHead Forum
I’m getting ready to pull the trigger on a Kickash Basket for my large egg. I’ve heard a lotta good stuff about these rigs and like the idea of being able to shake off the ash burn up the good stuff. I just want to know if there is a correlation of these and cracked bases? And if you really need to run the egg with the cast iron grate under the KAB? I saw the discussion a week ago or two about the extra large egg base cracking without the grate. I’ve seen my grate glowing red hot before so it doesn’t seem like should really make a difference in blocking heat from the bottom of the base. 
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Comments

  • hoosier_egger
    hoosier_egger Posts: 6,808
    2+ years with a KAB minus the stock grate. No issues 
    ~ John - Formerly known as ColtsFan  - https://www.instagram.com/hoosier_egger
    XL BGE, LG BGE, Med BGE, BGE Chiminea, Ardore Pizza Oven
    Bloomington, IN - Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

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  • Jeremiah
    Jeremiah Posts: 6,412
    Love the baskets. Should be factory. 
    Slumming it in Aiken, SC. 
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  • Jonathan1970
    Jonathan1970 Posts: 156
    I like using them on my Large and Mini-Max. 
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  • Jupiter Jim
    Jupiter Jim Posts: 3,351
    Many years with no grate under KAB no problems, wont go without KAB now.

    I'm only hungry when I'm awake!

    Okeechobee FL. Winter

    West Jefferson NC Summer

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  • RRog17
    RRog17 Posts: 573
    Jupiter Jim said:
    Many years with no grate under KAB no problems, wont go without KAB now.
    Same. 
    Canton, GA
    LBGE, Joe Jr., 28” Blackstone
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  • Kent8621
    Kent8621 Posts: 843
    i have one for each egg, one is 4 years old and one is 2 no issues, I put it in my second one from day one.

    2 Large Eggs - Raleigh, NC

    Boiler Up!!

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  • RichH
    RichH Posts: 41
    Two thumbs up for the KAB. It's quite handy to be able to lift out the basket, shake the lump over a trash can to get out the ash. it also makes it much easier to get the ash out of the bottom of the egg without shoveling it out the vent. 
    Large Egg with adjustable rig, Smokeware Chimney, Kick Ash basket, Rutland Gasket and BBQ Guru DigiQ

    St. Petersburg, FL
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  • kl8ton
    kl8ton Posts: 6,433
    Egg is 8 years old.  KAB is 2 years old. No base issue ever.
    Large, Medium, MiniMax, 36" Blackstone
    Grand Rapids MI
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  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    There isn't enough information out there to know.  KAB works fine with the grate left in. KAB works fine with the grate removed. Leaving the grate in place does reduce radiant heat on the bottom. Is is necessary? We don't really know.  

    Why did BGE use ceramic fire grates for years (now cast iron) and not less expensive open wire grates?  Why does BGE use ceramic fireboxes and fire rings? I tend to think that maybe they were trying to provide a bit of protection to the base.  Its also good to reread the section of the BGE warranty that discusses what will void the warranty - food for thought.


    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
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  • alaskanassasin
    alaskanassasin Posts: 8,965
    ColtsFan said:
    2+ years with a KAB minus the stock grate. No issues 
    Do you cook pizzas or clean burn running ash basket with no grate?  I love my ash basket and I run the grate, there is no reason not to.
    South of Columbus, Ohio.


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  • Miked125
    Miked125 Posts: 481
    I have one for 2+ years also no cracks; use it for pizzas all the time. My was the original model so the base is a little wider so I use it with the high q grate I had from before. The new ones a great isn't needed.
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  • cookingdude555
    cookingdude555 Posts: 3,196
    I use a high que grate under mine. Because I had them before converting to kick ash baskets.  I have a large egg with a cracked base, firebox, and ring that occurred long before using a kick ash basket.  I finally got around to using the warranty. The dealer told me that their distributor asked if I was using a kick ash basket.  I told them not until after the cracks occurred. They are warranting all 3 parts.  Does this mean they are looking for KAB issues, maybe.  Maybe they are collecting data to determine if there is a root cause.  I plan on keeping the high que underneath it as it gives me a cross hatch pattern that keeps some of the smaller pieces from falling through, but still allowing a lot of airflow, as much as I need anyway. 
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  • hoosier_egger
    hoosier_egger Posts: 6,808
    alaskanassasin said:
    ColtsFan said:
    2+ years with a KAB minus the stock grate. No issues 
    Do you cook pizzas or clean burn running ash basket with no grate?  I love my ash basket and I run the grate, there is no reason not to.
    Do pizza often. 600-700* range
    ~ John - Formerly known as ColtsFan  - https://www.instagram.com/hoosier_egger
    XL BGE, LG BGE, Med BGE, BGE Chiminea, Ardore Pizza Oven
    Bloomington, IN - Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

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  • TideEggHead
    TideEggHead Posts: 1,345
    I say run it! I really like my KAB, I run mine with the grate in. It makes life a lot easier! No reason for using the grate, I’ve been using the KAB for a year with no problems. Only difference is I wish I would have gone with the stainless version. 
    LBGE
    AL
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  • Austin Egghead
    Austin Egghead Posts: 3,966
    Have one in the small...Now going to get one for the large.
    Large, small and mini now Egging in Rowlett Tx
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  • 1voyager
    1voyager Posts: 1,161
    I use mine without the grate. No problems.

    KAB enables the user to have much better temperature control than with the grate. 20+ hours low and slow is easy now. 16 hours or so was the maximum I could do using the grate, even though the Rockwood would almost be touching the Platesetter. Temperature screams up to 600 - 650 degrees for pizza in less than half the time. Another benefit - You will use less lump, therefore saving $$$. 
    Large Egg, PGS A40 gasser.
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  • Powak
    Powak Posts: 1,412
    1voyager said:
    I use mine without the grate. No problems.

    KAB enables the user to have much better temperature control than with the grate. 20+ hours low and slow is easy now. 16 hours or so was the maximum I could do using the grate, even though the Rockwood would almost be touching the Platesetter. Temperature screams up to 600 - 650 degrees for pizza in less than half the time. Another benefit - You will use less lump, therefore saving $$$. 
    Man I’m getting more and more pumped!! Just put in the order my KAB last night. Should be here sometime this weekend or early next week.
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  • Terrebandit
    Terrebandit Posts: 1,750
    I use mine with grate.  No problems in 3 or 4 years. 
    Dave - Austin, TX
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