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perc-o-prince

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Location
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Remember the drama about 7-8 years ago? Well, not this time.

The Char-Broil is finally getting to the point where I can't gaf it any longer. Lost another burner yesterday and had to gaf a hanger for the back of one burner so we'd at least have two. I shouldn't complain, really. But, 7-8 years? That's all things last? The grates are super and the s/s body is great. Where they failed to put a little more money into the construction was the lower body where the burners hang. If we had the room, I'd strip out the insides for the gas part and use it as a charcoal grill. Hm-m-m-m.... wonder if I can push that one by Rich!

In the meantime, I'm looking again. No more drama. I know it's only gonna be good for 4-7 years, so that's it. Did some web comparisons and went to see a few today. Two of the ones I wanted to see weren't set up (Walmart) and the others were all crossed off except for one at Home Depot.

My question is... do any of you have stainless steel grates on your grill? If so, how are they as far as stuff sticking to them? I assume they have to be pre-heated then lightly oiled/sprayed before food goes on, and if the food won't release, it ain't ready to turn yet. What about cleaning them? The link to the one I'm looking at at HD is below.

Thanks in advance,
Chuck

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nexgrill...as-Grill-with-Side-Burner-720-0830H/205449953
 
I have kept my 15+ year old Kenmore with original fit replacement parts from All Parts Grills in Milwaukee at a much better price and UPS right to my door. So far a new 3 burner set and this year the flame tamer things that go over the burners. I dont want to buy a new cheap grill and mine is right back to new. My grills have stuff stick on them at times but I just scrape them off and a pre-heat burns everything away and on to the next meal.
 
We had a "Front Avenue" grill from Costco that lasted a long time.  It had cast iron burners that never deteriorated, but the structural components that held them in place did. 

 

It also had stainless grates.  It was more like stainless outer tubing around rods made of an unknown type of metal.  They held up well and I don't think things stuck to them as much as with cast iron or porcelain enamel.

 

We purchased a Huntington grill a few years ago.  We looked at Char-Broil, and although their flare-up reducing diffuser is a good idea, I didn't like that every time I brushed off the grill, the loosened burnt-on material would end up on the diffuser.  We ruled out the Char-Broil for that reason, and the fact that it, and almost everything except Weber, is made in China.

 

The Huntington is handsome and substantial looking, and it has an enamel finish like a Weber.  It's made in "America," as they have operations in both the U.S. and Canada.  That was enough to sell me on it.  The grates are cast iron and items without much fat content can stick if spray or oil isn't applied to the grates first, but so far everything is holding up well.
 
I've had the same Webber since 1990 and it's still going strong. Of course I've replaced a few items over the years, replaced the porcelain flavorizer bars with SS ones, grates with cast iron. I may have replaced a burner tube but don't recall. I use natural gas so no tanks and such but this thing will last another 30 years with minimal care.
 
Charmglow CC-1

I have a 1970's Charmglow CC-1 double grill (Chef's choice model) that I am still using regular to this day. You can still buy all the parts to keep it going except the main grill body castings which unless you physically broke them will probably never need replacing. I did not realize it but the salesman at the place where I buy my grill parts at told me they were quite collectable and people now search for them and restore them. I had picked up a second CC-1 propane grill with the deluxe ornamental casting wheeled bottom and purchased the parts to restore it. He also offered to buy it (as is) but I declined as I am restoring it for a family member. Bill,

http://bbqparts.com/cc1.html
 
New Weber Genesis

Rich, I envy the use you got out of that Char-Broil. We bought a gorgeous SS Kenmore infrared gas grill the spring after we moved in here, so 2010. Was a great grill for about 3 or 4 summers, then the cooking grates and the infrared emitter plates all rusted/disintegrated. The cooking grates were stainless, so not really rust-maybe heat damage? The emitter plates were enameled cast iron, so maybe the high heat cracked the glaze and let moisture in? Parts for this grill were difficult to find and would have cost $300-400, which I didn't want to spend only to await the next expensive part failure. So we went to PC Richards to check out Webers and their special financing. Figured I'd bite the bullet and get a $600 grill. Nope. I think hubby and salesman were in cahoots, because $1100-some later, they deliver a 3-burner plus Sear Station and side burner hulk of stainless steel to our back yard. (Some of that price included the cover and extra tin foil drip pans that look just like the foil pans at Stop & Shop, but are a special Weber size, of course. But grill-master hubby is happy. He's done the usual burgs, dogs, steaks, and chicken. Last week he used the indirect heat to cook some pork loins. (Meat in the middle, with only the left and right burners lit.). The salesman also got him all excited about using the drip pans to do smoking--we'll see if that happens.

As for the SS cooking grates, they seem to work very well, with no sticking. We always preheat, which may make a difference.

I think the grill that was "built in" when we moved in may have been a Charmglow. It was smallish and was on a pole cemented into the ground. Years of neglect had left it a rusted out shell, but at least we had a natural gas hook up to work with.
 
One word: WEBER!

I have used Weber Genesis grills for years now. I could not be happier. They are very well built and cook like a dream. I know they are a lot of money. However they last 2-3x longer and produce better food. Here are some pics of my machine including one of the flavorizer bars in action.
WK78

whirlykenmore78-2015051712503600513_1.jpg

whirlykenmore78-2015051712503600513_2.jpg

whirlykenmore78-2015051712503600513_3.jpg

whirlykenmore78-2015051712503600513_4.jpg
 
Last year we bought a Weber Genesis grill with the stainless steel grates and flavor bars and it has performed flawlessly. The grill we had before was this uber sized Kenmore Elite that was on clearance at Sears and it lasted us only 4 years if that. The thing was all stainless steel and I thought it would have lasted a lot longer than it did but the burners fell apart and the grates, which were stainless steel over iron rods, the iron was erupting thru the stainless steel. It was hideous to say the least. The last straw was when we were cleaning it and it was a major PITA to clean, the screws holding the burners disintegrated and it became a safety hazard. This thing had the infrared sear section too, but it only worked for stuff put in the center, the outer edges were always cool in temp, the center red hot.
The Weber on the other hand is smaller and better built. I have 4 burners and a side burner as well. Between two burners is what's called Sear Station and it works as advertised, temp control is spot on and one can smoke on this grill too as I bought the smoker box, all that is is a stainless steel hinged box with holes.
For the amount of entertaining you guys do , the Weber will fit the bill perfectly. The price may make you gasp at first, but it will be the last grill you will ever have to buy.
 
I have

A grill "Bakers & Chefs" I got in 1997 from Sams.  The body has held up remarkably well, but as all cheaper grills the burners would go out.  I finally found on eBay a brass "H" burner to fit it...won't rust and should last forever.  Then I found a stainless grate on eBay that was too wide...that's what metal blades are for in a reciprocating saw.  Cut them down to fit and now I have a new grill that should last several more years.  I just don't care for grill designs today.  I saw one online a few years ago that has cast stainless steel burners...but that grill was several thousand $$!  It would be a sin to pay that much for a grill!
 
I don't grill very often, I'm working with my grandfathers Kenmore charcoal grill with cast iron grates(which I need to season). I'm assuming this grill is from the very late 70s or early 80s.
It has held up very well, only the ash tray has needed patched a few times. I plan to use this grill for several more years.

Unfortunately I have no thoughts to share on any modern gas grills

xraytech-2015051721004000024_1.jpg

xraytech-2015051721004000024_2.jpg
 
My Charbroil gas grill did not last more than 4 or 5 years before the burners rotted out. It's a shame because it did cook well on high heat, but absolutely was horrid on "low" (ie did not really go low at all). I usually love to use charcoal instead anyway.

BUT.....I was at a commercial equipment auction about 3 weeks ago to buy some residential refrigs for the shop to resell. Sitting there were 3 used Traeger supersized pellet grills. I ended up buying all 3 for less than 1/3 the price of 1 brand new. The basic Traeger is small in size, but these are extra-large. They use wood pellets as the cooking fuel. I already did many chickens, an overnight cook of 2 12lb pork shoulders, followed up by an overnight cook of 2 13lb briskets. So far, I'm impressed. The pellets are a little pricey, so I am looking to see which home heating pellets I can substitute for the cooking pellets. They're similar, but the bbq pellets cost WAY more than home heating pellets.
 
No problem. I ended up getting the 126 model that's designed to be built-in (no cart). The picture is of the 125 model with the cart. This model retailed at about $1899-1999. I bought all three used ones for under $600 total (for all 3!) I'm going to keep one for parts, refurb one for my oldest brother, and use the other one.

Basically, if you've ever seen a pellet heater for the home, it works similar. There is a hopper. This one holds about 20-30lbs of pellets. The pellets are then fed through an auger to a burn pot. There is a fan to keep the pellets burning. It has a computer control to regulate the fan, auger, and temp. There is a smoke setting and it can go up to about 475* for a hotter cook. So far, I really like it. Flavor-wise, the wood taste is not overpowering. I like wood flavor when I grill, so I wish it was a little stronger, but does impart a great taste. I've been using hickory and apple pellets so far, since that's what was available at the time.

The Jr model that most places sell is about half the size of this behemoth. Like I said in the previous post, I had 2 big shoulders on and had easily enough room for 2 more. Same with the briskets.

runematic-2015051810325609613_1.jpg
 
a thought from my old hardware store days...

One thing I do remember about Char-Broil (a company that goes way back to the 1800's when they built steam engines for Mississippi paddle wheelers) is that it was relatively easy for customers to get free replacement parts. My advice was for them to tell the company "I had a fire!" Most manufacturers hate that. Weber was not quite so generous although I do recall getting a customer a free replacement hose for their natural gas grill. Maybe the fact that it was the local fire department had something to do with it. 

 

you did say well-done didn't you?

twintubdexter-2015051812094104391_1.jpg
 
Malcom

The pellets are sold in most bbq-type retailers. The major home centers (hd & blowes) just sell them online. I have a Bass Pro 35 min in 1 direction and a massive Cabelas 30 min in the other direction. They both carry the pellets in stock. I also have a stove dealer near me that stocks them as well.

A 20lb bag of "cooking" pellets cost anywhere from $13 to $20 on average. A 40lb bag of "heating" pellets can run $5. The big thing using heating pellets is to know what you are buying. Some companies use binders to hold the pellets together that you wouldn't want to cook with. Other companies make 100% hardwood heating pellets that you can cook over. A big difference in cost.
 
New Grill

We bought a new grill this weekend, to replace a well used 15 YO Kenmore grill. It still worked, but you had to light it manually, and the burner was needing a replacement . Pretty good for a grill that we pulled from a junkpile!

 We bought a Huntington, from Menards. Well constructed, and made in America. Ours was made in Huntington, IN, but they have a factory in Tennessee, and Canada .It was a discontinued model, they had 1 left at $299.00 - 11%.

http://www.huntingtonbbq.com/
goatfarmer-2015051908314509012_1.jpg

goatfarmer-2015051908314509012_2.jpg
 
Thanks, all!

Weber- Yeah, not shelling out for one at this point. Once I looked at it, I paid about $32/year to own and use the last grill, not counting propane. I can deal with that. Plus, we see way too many of them at the transfer station. Not as many as the other brands, but still, too many to shell out that kinda cabbage. Where I'm not working right now, I also need to be a bit mindful of outgoings.

I do like the Huntington above, but it looks like the grates may be the lightly porcelain covered cast iron (rough to the feel?)? I'll have to look it up, but I seem to remember being warned against them. DOES ANYONE have new information about these? I ask because what would be a slam-dunk for my next grill has these.

I also stay away from anything with a warming rack that's too small, or has any chrome-plated rods. They rust out and there never seems to be the right replacement.

Not including the above-mentioned slam dunk (Walmart 552842986, and suspiciously similar to the BHG below) I do believe I've narrowed it down to two. Both have s/s grates, and one has a warming grate about 50% larger than I have now! I cook chicken thighs and ribs on the warming grate, so I can't bear a smallish one.

One is a Nexgrill at HD http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nexgrill...-Side-Burner-720-0830H/205449953?N=5yc1vZc5t5

The other is a Better Homes & Gardens (?) at, ahem, Walmart. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Better-Homes-and-Gardens-4-Burner-Gas-Grill-Stainless-Steel/37850136

The plus for the HD grill is that I can get $25 off using a competitor's coupon. The reviews are also slightly higher in general. The minus is that the s/s grates are steel "wrapped" in s/s.

The pluses for the Walmart one are that the grates are solid s/s and the warming rack is bigger. Also, I can get an extended warranty to cover parts for about 10% more.

Opinions on those two, and/or the cast-iron grates that have a light porcelain coating very welcomed!

Thanks again,
Chuck
 
Thanks, Kenny. Did anyone give you any idea as to seasoning and the possibility of rusting? That's the only thing stopping me from going for the grill that I passed on because of the main grates. The warming area is XL and has a porcelain dipped grate, and it's a 5 burner grill which will be helpful when I'm doing indirect cooking/smoking!

Chuck
p.s.- the link is for the one I passed on but am now considering as the #1 if the grates aren't high maintenance! Still got 4 stars with 90 reviews!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/37850144
 

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