No, I'm not talking about platinum fronts.
A few years ago (maybe 5?) Mama said "Go get a new grill for your birthday." I did. A Charbroil 48,000 BTU (I understand Charcoal is delicious. It is also a PITFA, and I don't have the patience for it.)
Anyway, it took about two years for the burner covers to go, as well as the thermometer. Then the bottom (under the burners) rusted out, and the grates are slowly disintegrating. I've cleaned the burners out a couple times, but they're still pretty spotty.
The receipt is long gone, but I've considered sending them an email and saying how much I love their products, etc, and see if they'll send me freebie replacement parts. Otherwise, it'd cost an arm and a leg to replace everything that needs replacing.
SO: Mama has been saying "Just go out and get a new grill," which is counter-intuitive to me. I told her IF I did go that route, I'd be getting the Iron Duke motherberkeleyer of grills that would last a hundred years.
I don't need fancy technology, lots of buttons and knobs, side burners, etc. I just need something that's not going to fall apart, and the ability to cook 5lbs. of wings at once is a "nice to have." I need a bigger work surface than the teenie-tiny jobs. I have a buddy with a 20 year old Weber that he got for free. Never covers it. Never cleans it. It works like a champ. I don't know if the new Webers have the same reputation, but with prices starting around $700, they'd damn well better last a while.
Thoughts?
tuna55
UltraDork
3/27/12 10:29 a.m.
I'd be willing to bet there is no such thing. Making one from scratch with the appropriate grades of stainless would cost hundreds. I am afraid the grill, like the electric drill, has become a replaceable appliance.
What about one of these? I have eaten many scrumptious meals off similar rigs. They are easy to repair and modify.
I stick with the old fashioned charcoal grill. PITFA.... MA. Let it cool and dump it in a box. You will be a happier, more satisfied poop.
As for the grates- I will suggest finding cast iron grates.
Not because they are perfect, but just more durable. It takes a whole lot longer to rust through them than most metal does. And I really, really like the sear I get on a very pre-heated grill.
Mucho stainless. And even that will corrode in the combustion environment in a grill...
( I have a Weber that has lasted quite a few years, and it was offered with cast iron grates. have had to clean the gas burners a few times, but they do a good job- and IIRC, it's about 10 years old now)
Fletch1
HalfDork
3/27/12 10:37 a.m.
I've heard good things about Weber's, that's all I can add. Thanks, now I'm watching Steven Raichlen on Youtube.... so hungry.
I have one of the new Webers. A Summit 670 in black. Most I've ever paid for, well, probably about anything aside from a house or car. (Come to think of it, it was significantly MORE than I paid for my car.)
I love it. I'm a year in, and the thing looks like brand new. But I didn't buy it for looks, I bought it because I flat love to grill, and I do it too often for charcoal to be practical. The grill surface is huge, the sear burner is awesome, the heat control is phenomenal due to the large number of burners, the smoker box works great, the rotisserie is excellent, and the lid is actually heavy enough to make indirect cooking/smoking work well. Plus there's a stainless undertray and grease-catching foil trays that make it easy to keep clean, and a clean grill is a grill that lives a long time.
I don't cover it, but it does live on my screened-in porch. (Yeah, first time I ever had a "house grill." I feel a little be like the farmer who got a silly little house pet, but whatever.)
Would I do it again? You betcha. Only possible downside is that it's a bit of a gas hog when I've got everything roaring, but as I said, there are enough burners to only use what you need, when you need it.
By the way, I graduated from an old OMC that I also loved, and basically cooked into the ground. Took more than 10 years of outside use to kill it, though I did usually cover it. If you don't want to go for the Weber, look into their stuff.
Margie
Right. Webber. Thats what I was trying to think of.
Weber. I have the one pictured below but all stainless. It was a lot of ching... like $550. It has a 25yr warranty.
Before I bought it - I had a series of $200 Charbroils and the like ... to the tune of $800 worth in a decade. If this really lasts 25yrs... berkeleying bargain. If it doesn't... it does a really nice job of cooking E36 M3 anyway.
the weber charcoal kettle grills have every damn part available for them it seems. theres also so few parts that little can go wrong.
but it sounds like you're looking for a propane option? i dunno about weber parts availability on their propane models but I have to imagine its pretty good.
We have a weber performer that we got from craigslist for $75. propane start option doesnt work but who needs it?
tuna55
UltraDork
3/27/12 10:48 a.m.
oh - and I charcoal everything - gas has a lot more parts to rust out and charcoal takes MAYBE 20 minutes longer than gas.
Master forge jet light grill:
Charcoal cooking with a propane starter = ready to cook in 10 min, not a half hour like regular charcoal, but still get the good smokey flavor, Front door for adding more charcoal without having to yank out all the food, Plenty of cook space, warming rack, easy to adjust heat/smoke, not too hum ongous that it takes up your whole patio (then margie comes over and expands it the same day your douchey neighbor turns up missing)
Got it for $130 with a coupon at Lowes, regularly close to $200 I think. Had it a year now, cooked in it a dozen or more times last summer, and, with a little effort to keep grease off the paint, and having kept it under a cover when not in use, she still looks like new...I give it an A+ (nicest grill Ive ever had)
The Big Green Egg has a lifetime warranty on everything. And it's awesome. It pulls double duty as a brick oven and grill. Smoke a pork butt on it for 24 hours at 225F on less than a full load of charcoal or blast a steak at 1,000F by force feeding the thing with a hairdryer. It is the king of charcoal grills, unless you step up another notch in price, size and fanciness for a Komodo.
I've used it for almost everything. Cakes and pies (mesquite smoked raspberry pie = awesome), pizzas, all sorts of meat, baked beans, etc. It makes everything taste better.
Pricey for a charcoal anything, and you won't find them used because they're passed down to next-of-kin, but totally worth it.
Hi, I would stay away from some of the 400 webers at Home Depot. Weber bought Ducane grills a few years ago and the quality isn't as good overall. If you need to know which grills are ducane, just go on the website and it will be obvious.
The propane grills that you want (used though) are the older genesis series. They have the no doors at the bottom, and have varying sizes. some even have a burner on the side. They can be scored on craigslist for $40-100. The things to check are clogged/rusted burners, rusted frame (hardest thing to fix in my opinion), and chipping enamel. Some people also change out the flavorizer bars, but really i dont think that is necessary. In my opinion the chunks of angle iron shouldn't need replacing ever but people do it anyway for piece of mind.
The best thing is that Weber has all the parts readily available here: http://store.weber.com/parts/ and customer service is awesome.
This is an awesome thread on TVWBB for restoration:
http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6440039023/m/951100796
When I get a house, I will definately pick up one of these.
The Weber performer is also an awesome setup- propane start with the burn of charcoal. The older version with the stainless top is higher quality, but only available used. They got for $125-175 on CL when they pop up. The newer version with the plastic top is just as functional, but a little cheesy in construction.
Good luck with your decision.
RossD
UltraDork
3/27/12 11:08 a.m.
This will get your charcoal hot in about 5 minutes or so, with just the consumption of a little cooking oil on one full sheet of newspaper shoved in the bottom area:
New grills are garbage. 3 years ago my sister and I bought our mother a new Kenmore grill. It was really nice, a bit pricy, and seemed perfect. Within one year the knobs all broke (plastic mounts), the tray underneath rotted out, & the "stainless steel" started to rust. This was covered anytime it was not in use. They just don't make them like they used to.
^^^ everyone I know that has one of these says the same thing. I need to get me one.
The Mrs picked this up for me about 5 years ago. It lives outside and gets used almost every night I'm home. The chimney starts the coals quickly and there is a little removable can on the bottom all the ashes fall in so it takes about 30 sec to empty. It's a knock off weber from Sears I don't think she paid $50 for.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Weber. I have the one pictured below but all stainless. It was a lot of ching... like $550. It has a 25yr warranty.
Before I bought it - I had a series of $200 Charbroils and the like ... to the tune of $800 worth in a decade. If this really lasts 25yrs... berkeleying bargain. If it doesn't... it does a really nice job of cooking E36 M3 anyway.
That's where a little of my "New Weber" apprehension is coming from: The $700 one I was looking at yesterday only had a 5 year warranty. I thought that was kinda weird, as I thought Weber had a super-long warranty. I'm okay with that kind of scratch for something that'll last 25 years; rather than paying $200 every 5 for a POS Charbroil. Not so much if they're pretty sure it's going to die in 6, hence the 5 year warranty.
I guess it's worth mentioning that we grill a LOT. I have been known to do 10-15 pounds of wings in the middle of winter.
jrw1621
PowerDork
3/27/12 11:26 a.m.
Interesting comparison grid that says Weber Summit is 10 yr for burner.
http://gas-grills-review.toptenreviews.com/
Napoleon??
25 yr burner.
While this isn't exactly what the OP wants it is a grill that will last 25 years: Lodge sportsman grill, 99% cast iron, the handle is a thick chunk of stainless wire.
While I'm following this thread with interest, I'm afraid I don't have anything to add, except:
When I got to this part, for some reason my head automatically read it like Wesley from The Princess Bride explaining to Prince Humperdink the meaning of "to the pain".
poopshovel wrote:
Anyway, it took about two years for the burner covers to go, as well as the thermometer. Then the bottom (under the burners) rusted out, and the grates are slowly disintegrating. I've cleaned the burners out a couple times, but they're still pretty spotty.
Marjorie Suddard wrote:
I have one of the new Webers. A Summit 670 in black. Most I've ever paid for, well, probably about anything aside from a house or car. (Come to think of it, it was significantly MORE than I paid for my car.)
Whoa, you can't even bring that guy to the Challenge!
Raze
SuperDork
3/27/12 11:40 a.m.
I'd say see if you can find a Member's Mark all stainless steel grill around you that needs work, I say that because only the grates (easily upgradeable to stainless), burners (cheap replacements available or a good cleaning), and the bottom drip pan (cut out and replace with a sheet of aluminum or stainless) and the thing will literally last forever. I got mine from my father in law after 5 years of heavy use, I replaced the burners and grates and have 2 years under my belt with it, and don't ever plan on upgrading as the whole unit is SS...
I have an old, two burner Weber. Still works like new, and you can get parts for it if you do need anything. So far I haven't. Sits outside in Colorado, often under a foot of snow. Never had a problem.