I've read fxdoc's review and some other notes...any difficulty controlling temps, and did it take along time for coals to ash over? I bought weber briquettes last summer on clearance at target and never ended up using them.
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stickbit , I still plan on using the Weber briquettes in my PBC. Because they make so much ash, I was going to prop the coal basket legs up a bit with patio pavers. Some people mix the Weber with Kingsford Professional, or start the fire with KP in the chimney and then let the Weber carry the cook the rest of the way. The Weber is supposed to give a longer, hotter burn, but so far for me that has not been the case.
FWIW, keeping a bag of any charcoal on the deck for a long time might possibly result in damp charcoal, no matter who's the vendor, unless you have it in an airtight bin, which I'm assuming you do, but I had to mention it just in case. I store all my charcoal in Rubbermaid bins in the garage.
Honestly, stickbit, if it was me, I'd give the Weber a try. You may have results different from mine and may really like it. Experimentation is part of the fun of a cook.
KathrynComment
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Weber charcoal was different than the KBB but it was fine. I would use it again - just have to modify start up process etc.
I was completely sidetracked with my lid still leaking. I tried Pam spray around the lid,I used weights on the lid, and I hit the lid with a rubber mallet...and after all of that...if I got really lucky and spun the lid just right i was able to keep the smoke isolated to the rebar holes. FRUSTRATING!! Way to much work. I guess I need to try the lava lock and hope that works.Attached FilesComment
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Yeah, stickbit once my PBC rim started leaking, (after 2 years of use), the only recourse was to Lava-Lok the lip of the lid. I tried everything else first, though. No problems since the Lava Lok.
In the meanwhile, crimping a length of aluminum foil (about 4 inches wide and however long you need it) around the area that leaks, wrapping the edge seam tightly from lid to under the barrel rim, works great. Of course you have to take the foil off each time you want to lift the lid. But with my lid leaks, they were worse at the beginning of a cook but not too bad--as in they didn't affect the PBC temp--after a few hours into the cook.
Good to hear you're giving Weber briquettes another go. I want to like them because of the long burn they give.
KathrynComment
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fzxdoc thanks for the note - I'm going to order the lava-lok and hopefully that's the solution. which one did you get? can you post a link? seems there are several on Amazon.
Also, do you think you're going to try Weber or another brand again? Or stick with Kingsford competition?
Thanks again for all your help!Comment
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stickbit I got my Lava Lok seal from Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/Technology-Bi...lava+lock+seal
For sure I'm going to try Weber again. I've got about 6 bags of it, all bought on sale at the end of the season last year when it was pretty cheap. A couple of bags I got for $5.99 as I recall.
I'm going to try it out in my WSCGC with and without the SnS and see how it does there. It makes so much ash that I feel that it clogs my PBC for long cooks. Others report that it burns in their smokers (not PBCs) for a very long time. I didn't have that experience because the coals kept ashing over and the underside of my PBC coal basket was packed with ash, so several of the coals were unburned at the end of my long PBC cooks.
On my PBC, I'm going to raise the basket up a little bit on paver tiles to see if that helps the stuff to burn better during long cooks.
It seems fine for short cooks, but since its claim to fame is a long steady burn for hours, I'd like to use it for that. If I still have problems, I'll mix it with KBB or Professional and see how that goes.
As far as Kingsford and my PBC: I use Kingsford Professional for short cooks and Kingsford Original for long cooks, usually.
Kathryn
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fzxdoc how do you like that WSCGC ? That looks like one nice grill!
I didn't have that experience of long, hot cooks either with the Weber charcoal...and it did produce a ton of ash. Who knows though as I had my bag out on the deck (not in a bin) for months. Look forward to hearing your experiences when you use it again.
I have a Weber Spirit along with the PBC - seems like a good match. Never owned a Weber kettle ...sadly...but tempted to pick one up. not sure how often i would use it thoughComment
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stickbit , I love that WSCGC. It's fun to be able to smoke either in kamado mode or in kettle mode with the SnS. The flavor profile is a little different from the PBC--both are great cookers though.
I have a Weber Summit gasser, and for a long while the PBC was my only smoker. I agree--a gasser and the PBC are a great combo. That said, I enjoy using the WSCGC as a kettle for charcoal grilling, which I really couldn't do very well on the PBC.
KathrynComment
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FWIW: In addition to "regular" Kingsford briquettes, I have used Stubb's briquettes, Kamado Joe lump, Frontier brand lump, and B&B lump (oak) in my PBC...all with good success. Past the KBB, I can easily recommend any of those others for a good, long, steady burn (assuming they have been shipped and stored properly, of course) in the PBC, like for a brisket cook. The Publix store brand lump is not bad stuff, either. While the Royal Oak briquette can indeed be competitively priced, my personal experience with it was not really good.
I recently had a VERY BAD experience with Trader Joe's store brand briquettes. I opened a bag that had been very carefully stored, and the stuff simply would NOT BURN. When I took the bag back to the store for a refund, a TJ store clerk verified my experience, and said that he too, had inconsistent results with some that he had tried. He also mentioned that TJ were modifying their charcoal formula to address this issue for this year's grilling season.Comment
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Good to know about the Trader Joe's briquettes, lual . I had spotted some the other day while shopping there, and almost grabbed a bag. I'm glad I let the temptation slide, especially after reading your comments.
KathrynComment
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Thank you, fzxdoc, for posting your Amazon link to the LavaLock seal you used on your PBC (as well as all the other GREAT info you have provided!!!). Are you since satisfied with this seal's fit and performance?
Clearly, I need one for my PBC lid, as well...
Last edited by lual; March 25, 2018, 07:26 AM.Comment
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I haven't had even a teensy bit of an air leak problem after adding the LavaLok gasket to my PBC, lual . The lid fits nice and snug, just like it did when I first got my PBC, all the way up to about 2 years later when it began misbehaving.
It's a good thing when a simple fix is all that is needed.
KathrynComment
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Thank you all!! This site has so much great info.
a) I'm definitely going to buy the lava lok soon. Seems well worth it.
b) I want to try some different charcoal...but probably just briquettes...I keep having these nightmares of burning my deck down if I try lump...
c) REALLY wanted to try Trader Joe's charcoal until I read the recent notes...I called them the other day and they said they will e stocked in May...hoping that new formula fixes the problem
d) Think I need to get a kettle...but then not sure the gasser will ever be used again...maybe in a pinch hahaComment
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