Love for Kick Ash

Thanks, great story.  Love the baskets and can,  I only wish they would create a small can.  

Very cool story. I probably own more BGE accessories that I might not purchase again, but the KAB is one I wouldn't want to be without.

Met Chad and his wife at a couple Eggfests. Awesome people, great product!

Thanks for sharing.  I had never heard of the Kick Ash Can before.  I don't have the KAB but thinking it might be worth it with the Can to ease clean out.  Does taking out the stock fire grate and replacing with the KAB significantly impact temp control?

I guess I'm just ignorant.  Can someone please explain why the KAB is so effective?  Do you use it on top of the stock charcoal grate?  Or do you remove that grate and put the basket in the very bottom of the egg?  

I guess I've never really had issues with airflow and I don't mind stirring the coals before every cook and using the BGE ash tool to scrape out the ash every 5 cooks or so.

Getting to my reason for current curiosity - I recently acquired a XXL (was that out loud?) and I'm wondering if there is a role for a KAB - or any other product, I'm open to suggestions - for concentrating the coals for smaller cooks.  If so, what size would be appropriate - maybe the KAB for a medium or a large?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Foghorn said:

I guess I'm just ignorant.  Can someone please explain why the KAB is so effective?  Do you use it on top of the stock charcoal grate?  Or do you remove that grate and put the basket in the very bottom of the egg?  

I guess I've never really had issues with airflow and I don't mind stirring the coals before every cook and using the BGE ash tool to scrape out the ash every 5 cooks or so.

Getting to my reason for current curiosity - I recently acquired a XXL (was that out loud?) and I'm wondering if there is a role for a KAB - or any other product, I'm open to suggestions - for concentrating the coals for smaller cooks.  If so, what size would be appropriate - maybe the KAB for a medium or a large?

Thanks in advance for any input.

I've found my Small air flow works better with the KAB and no fire grate.

My Large doesn't make much of a difference with the KAB and fire grate. So I keep the fire grate in place with the KAB. It makes clean up easier and it doesn't clog up the holes in the fire grate. 

I'm not sure if the air flow on the XL and up would help much with a KAB as the holes in the grates are bigger. They would help out with clean up though.

My main reason for my large and small was for air flow and clean up. I like how you can remove all the lump in seconds to clean up ash. I can see what I'm scoping out from above with no lump in the way when using the ash tool. 

I think you'll get a mix of people leaving the charcoal grate in or out. I leave mine in, but not really sure why or that it makes a difference. I have a large. For me, it makes clean up easier and it does make a difference in better/more consistent air flow. I think the smaller the BGE, the more important it would be to have something like a KAB.

Foghorn said:

I guess I'm just ignorant.  Can someone please explain why the KAB is so effective?  Do you use it on top of the stock charcoal grate?  Or do you remove that grate and put the basket in the very bottom of the egg?  

My original grate in the LBGE was cracked and slowly going to die.  So since I was going to have to replace the cost delta wasnt much to get the KAB and I pulled the grate.

Airflow is Airflow at the grate or KAB.  I notice more changes in flow with the amount of heat deflection or things on the grate.

Is there anyone here with an XL who uses the KAB?

I have had a KAB in my XL for a few years. I still keep the stock charcoal grate in, as this was the suggestion from the manufacturer, I believe because of the large area that needed support. I have no issue with airflow, and it sure makes shaking the ashes off a lot easier. I only pull the charcoal grate every month or so to clean out what falls through. The XL can take a lot of ash in the bottom.

Foghorn said:

I guess I've never really had issues with airflow and I don't mind stirring the coals 

Brother Horn, my experience as well. I certainly understand that people enjoy accessories and cool gadgets. Nothing wrong with that at all. But the Kick Ash basket and Smokeware cap seemed to solve a problem that I never encountered. Thus I still use the Daisy Wheel and a High Q grate. 

500 said:

Is Kick Ash a better product that similar baskets at cheaper prices?  

Unfortunately I don't think the KAB is made in the United States anymore either. 

500 said:

Is Kick Ash a better product that similar baskets at cheaper prices?  

Yes, it's a higher quality stainless steel than the cheapies you see on Amazon.  They have been through several designs making them stronger and better over the years.  The owner is a product engineer.  They also come with a warranty--others do not.