Hi all,
I'll be finally getting my PBC on fathers day. (Or if I don't, I'll be ordering it on fathers day since at that point I'll be done waiting!) I'm covertly buying accessories so that I'll be able to use it right away. I was just wondering if anyone uses theirs on a wooden deck, and if so what do you put underneath it to protect the wood from burning. Also, how close to the deck rails can it be placed?
John "JR"
Minnesota/ United States of America
******************************************** Grills/Smokers/Fryers Big Green Egg (Large) X3
Blackstone 36" Outdoor Griddle 4-Burner
Burch Barrel V-1 Karubeque C-60 Kamado Joe Jr. (Black) Lodge L410 Hibachi Pit Barrel Cooker Pit Barrel Cooker 2.0
Pit Barrel PBX
R&V Works FF2-R-ST 4-Gallon Fryer *******************************************. Thermometers
FireBoard (Base Package)
Thermoworks ThermaPen (Red)
Thermoworks MK4 (Orange)
********************************* Accessories Big Green Egg Plate Setter
Benzomatic TS800 High Temp Torch X 2 Bayou Classic 44 qt Stainless Stock Pot
Bayou Classic 35K BTU Burner Eggspander Kit X2 Finex Cat Iron Line FireBoard Drive Lots and Lots of Griswold Cast Iron Grill Grates Joule Water Circulator
KBQ Fire Grate Kick Ash Basket (KAB) X4 Lots of Lodge Cast Iron Husky 6 Drawer BBQ Equipment Cabinet Large Vortex Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum Marquette Castings No. 13 (First Run) Smithey No. 12 Smokeware Chimney Cap X 3 Stargazer No.10, 12 ******************************** Fuel FOGO Priemium Lump Charcoal Kingsford Blue and White B&B Charcoal Apple, Cherry & Oak Log splits for the C-60 ************************************************* Cutlery Buck 119 Special
Cuda 7' Fillet Knife Dexter 12" Brisket Sword Global Shun Wusthof ********** Next Major Purchase Lone Star Grillz 24 X 48 Offset
I use a piece of slate under the legs. Don't think you need worry about radiant heat from the sides all that much. The coal basket is a good 2 or 3 inches from the barrel skin.
Sous Vide Joule® Turbo Sous Vide
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker, Bluetooth, 800W
Accessories
SNS
Steelmade Flat Top for Outdoor Grill (Griddle Insert)
BBQ Guru DigiQ (for PBC and 22" Weber Kettle)
BBQ Dragon
Grill Grates for Blaze grill
Hovergrill
About me
Name: Jim
Nick name: Bear
Location: Spokane Valley, Wa.
Born at a very young age at Egland AFB, Ft. Walton Beach, FL.
USAF vet, ECM (F4 & B52)/B52 Crew Chief, Computer Systems NCO, disabled
Former Computer Tech/Admin
Campus Manager/Lead Tech/Tech (IT) for The Kemtah Group contracted to Intel, Rio Rancho, NM.
Short Term Missionary to the Marshall Islands with MAPS of DFM of AOG
If not cooking outdoors, I am cooking on the stovetop with my 14" carbon steel wok, 12" CI skillet, or in the oven with my two Lodge CI pizza pans, or two dutch ovens. I've also got a nifty Lodge carbon steel grill pan that rocks for veggies outdoors.
I like your optimism! Unless I order the PBC myself and give it to the wife and said "put a bow on this" I seriously doubt I will get the PBC I would also like for Father's Day. Especially since she won't tell me what SHE wants for mother's day!
I remember as a teenager giving my mom a game for the Atari 2600 on Mother's Day - Frogger I think it was. She played it once with me... I think a grill or smoker for the wife for Mother's Day would go over even less well.
Thank you all, I will pick up some pavers next time I'm at Lowe's. I'm going to order the ash pan as well. Are there any other "must have" accessories for day one? Should I get the cover as well or does it stay dry with the lid on?
I use a hand garden rake with 3 tines to help me lower the basket in since my chimney is too large. Also, get a chimney starter if you don't have one yet. Third, look for a wide, galvanized steel bucket with a lid to put ashes in (13gal). The ash pan helps, but it is kinda awkward dumping it out.
> Weber Genesis EP-330
> Grilla Grills Original Grilla (OG) pellet smoker with Alpha/Connect
> Grilla Grills Pellet Pizza Oven
> Pit Barrel Cooker (gone to a new home)
> WeberQ 2000 (on "loan" to a relative (I'll never see it again))
> Old Smokey Electric (for chickens mostly - when it's too nasty out
to fiddle with a more capable cooker)
> Luhr Jensen Little Chief Electric - Top Loader circa 1990 (smoked fish & jerky)
> Thermoworks Smoke
> 3 Thermoworks Chef Alarms
> Thermoworks Thermapen One
> Thermoworks Thermapen Classic
> Thermoworks Thermopop
> Thermoworks Square DOT
> Thermoworks IR-GUN-S
> Joule Turbo Sous Vide Circulator
> Searzall torch
> BBQ Guru Rib Ring
> WÜSTHOF, Dalstrong, and Buck knives
> Paprika App on Mac and iOS
Should I get the cover as well or does it stay dry with the lid on?
If it will be where it can get rained (or snowed) on, you'll want to get the cover. The lid surface is "recessed" a bit below the rim and water will definitely pool on it. I've had the PBC cover for roughly three years and it's still in good shape.
Thank you all for the responses. I have a couple more questions.
1) For a short chimney starter, I've seen mixed reviews between the Weber Compact and the Char Broil Halftime. Has anyone tried the Custom Pit Barrel Chimney Starter? Which of the three do you use?
2) Should I start with using KBB, and experiment with other charcoal later? Or is there a better charcoal to start with? I haven't cooked with charcoal much since I lived my parents which was about 12 years ago. My dad has always used KBB for his Weber kettle.
FYI, I ended up buying a nice 24"x24" paver to put the PBC on. Can't wait to place it next to my Weber Summit Gasser (last year's $400 CL find)!
I have been happy with my weber half chimney (except when I set the handle on fire but that's another story). I know fzxdoc switched to another chimney (I can't remember which) and she has found it better then the weber. I'd start with the KBB like Noah suggests until you feel comfortable with your PBC and then start experimenting.
goosebr160 use some flat concrete blocks to elevate it if you are cooking on a wooden deck and give it a couple of feet from deck rails. I hate to tell on myself (but I will). I was doing a cook on my son-in-laws deck with my PBC and didn't give it a second thought. I just used the standard ring it sets on. He now has a very nice dark deck board in one spot. As Homer Simpson says: DOH! He still likes me to come over and cook and we get a good laugh about it but I still owe him a replacement board....
just tell him you were using the Japanese technique of "shou sugi ban" which actually burns the wood to seal it. For real, check it out, whole houses made of charred wood.
I have actually seen that being done on Linked In. I was amazed. I didn't know that actually existed. Probably wouldn't work well with my vinyl siding though.......
2) Should I start with using KBB, and experiment with other charcoal later? Or is there a better charcoal to start with?
I think good advice for a new PBC owner is to follow Noah's advice in the videos on the PBC site. Once you get to know your cooker, then experiment. This may save some frustration in the beginning.
Breaking news! I got the ok to order my PBC! My awesome wife said, "wouldn't you like to use it on father's day rather than get it on father's day?" She didn't have to ask me twice. Ordered last night, will be here Thursday!
Thank you all for the responses. I have a couple more questions.
1) For a short chimney starter, I've seen mixed reviews between the Weber Compact and the Char Broil Halftime. Has anyone tried the Custom Pit Barrel Chimney Starter? Which of the three do you use?
2) Should I start with using KBB, and experiment with other charcoal later? Or is there a better charcoal to start with? I haven't cooked with charcoal much since I lived my parents which was about 12 years ago. My dad has always used KBB for his Weber kettle.
FYI, I ended up buying a nice 24"x24" paver to put the PBC on. Can't wait to place it next to my Weber Summit Gasser (last year's $400 CL find)!
I've used the PBC starter and now I use a Char Broil Halftime. Both work for me but as fzxdoc says, the Charbroil gets more coals lit over the same period of time. I too give a nod to the Char Broil.
As for #2, many will recommend starting with KBB and following the instructions on the PitBarrel site. That's a good way to go. I did not go that way. I don't care for the odors from KBB when it's first lit, smells too chemically for me. I started with Kingsford Pro. Only adjustment I had to make was to light the coals for 12 vs 15 minutes since I'm using the Char Broil starter and KP runs hotter than KBB, at least initially. I have no issues getting my PBC to settle right down in the 280-300 range running Kingsford Pro, the key is getting the lighting technique down. So, I say use what you want and adjust.
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