Cleaning the PBX

[Grillin Dad]

I’m wondering if anyone has any tips for cleaning the PBX? I’ve got the ash catcher plate, and the idea is that you can just dump the ashes on the plate into the garbage. However, the larger plate for the PBX is too big to easily dump into a standard kitchen garbage can. I know some line the bottom of their barrels with aluminum foil and I haven’t yet tried this. But again, the PBX is 22” in diameter, and that is bigger than standard aluminum foil. I could probably crimp a pair of aluminum sheets together, but I’m not certain that this would hold. Currently, I do my cook, let everything burn and cool overnight, and suck up the ash with my shop vac the next day (or two). This works, but there’s always a fair amount of gunk that gets stuck in the tubing of the shop vac. But maybe I’m being a little too prissy, it is a shop vac.

Also, does anyone bother cleaning the rebars? Mine are starting to get gunked up and messy to work with. I have, periodically, cleaned them with a scotch pad and dish soap in the garage sink, but am worried about scrubbing the coating off. But it’s just rebar. Again, maybe I’m being too prissy.

Any thoughts/insights are appreciated. Thanks!

[Panhead John]

Prissy…😂 I like that! Do you have an outdoor trash can you can use? I have a 35 gallon trash can in my garage, the opening at the top looks to be big enough to handle your needs. That would be my first choice. I use 45 gallon bags in it to dispose of outdoor garbage and I also dump my kettle ashes in it. If the outdoor garbage can doesn’t work for you, I’d just buy some heavy duty 35 or 45 gallon trash bags to dispose of your ashes in. Then I guess just stash the bag somewhere till you need it again. It’s gotta be less work than lining the plate with foil for every cook.

[jfmorris]

Quit being so prissy!

If you must use foil, get the 18" heavy duty, and just overlap two pieces maybe, before putting the ash catcher in? You could even fold/crimp them in the overlap area. And like PJ says, just dump into a larger trash bag - after the ashes have cooled a day or two!

I've found over the years that with my kettle or kamado, I can THINK everything is cold, and find out there is still a smoldering coal or two a day later. I bought a 2 gallon galvanized steel bucket that I shovel ashes into and dump them into these days, and only dump that into a trash bag if I confirmed it was all truly cold.

I don't think cleaning the rebars is a problem. I too would want the gunk and grease off, for handling purposes.

[Oak Smoke]

I can’t be of any help with the ash problem but have a solution for the rebar. Get a Bernzomatic propane torch at Ace hardware and just heat the rods until all the gunk turns to ash. I checked on line and the road are not coated but say they are made from high temp coated steel. That means they used hot roll steel and left the mill scale on them as a protective coating. Heat them up or throw them in a fire they’ll be just fine.

[Grillin Dad]

Thanks, I may try this. Never liked the idea of cleaning them in the sink anyway. Never liked the idea of getting the gunk in the pipes.

[Spinaker]

I just pick the thing up and dump it into my garden. I would shop vac it out if you really want too. One think you do want to do is get the ash out of the barrel. It is corrosive to metal, so better to get it out of the barrel. Nothing has to be perfectly clean on the sides of the barrel. You want the sides and the lid to gunk up as much as possible so you have a good seal on the lid. It also helps to level out the temps in the barrel.

I never clean the rebars, there really is no need for that. If you do clean them, I would not worry about the coating. If it comes off, then oh well. All you are doing is using them to hang meat. Plus, they will "re-gunk" on the next cook.

One of the things I love about the PBC is that you do not have to do any real maintenance. Dump out the as, and then just get ready for the next cook.

[shify]

I slide the ash pan into an empty garbage bag or paper shopping bag then pick it up so it dumps all the ash into the bag. That is the extent of my cleaning. Never cleaned nor considered cleaning the rebars

[RichieB]

I have the Jr. so no issue dumping in a can. Clean the rebars? OK.

[jecucolo]

I use foil on the PBC. If I don’t have the large role I simply crimp to sheets together. Then I place them over the lid to indent the diameter on the foil. Fold it along the circle and put it in the bottom of the barrel. It won’t tear if you replace it after each cook. Pretty easy. I also have a small brush and small dust pan I use to sweep up anything that collects over time.
I never cleaned the rebar. I usually just take a paper towel with me to grab the rebar. I actually use a paper towel to grab the hook and to remove rebar after the cook. Much easier for me than the hook.

[Duanessmokedmeats]

I just use a pizza pan wrapped in foil. Pull out dump ashes in a low area, and fold up foil and throw away. Reapply foil on pan.
Haven't cleaned my rebars.

[jecucolo]

I like the pizza pan idea!

[N227GB]

I would dump the coals and ashes into a galvanized metal bucket and fill it with water before disposing of them in the bushes. I used a pair of pliers to move the rebars and placed them into a stainless steel steam table pan. I never considered cleaning them.

[Jim White]

I find it easier to wear gloves when handling gunky parts than to clean the parts.