PK Original vs. Weber Kettle - Initial thoughts…

[BBQandLove]

This is my third cook on my new PK Original. I’ve cooked many hundreds of times on my Weber Kettles so I am constantly comparing the two. Here’s a few initial thoughts.

Overall, a grill is a grill. Once you understand a few principle of thermodynamics, food science, etc. you can cook excellent food on almost any grill. So for me, it comes down to ease of setup, how easy is it to control the temperature, ease of moving from one zone to another, and the ease of cleanup. Also, there is the fun factor. Some frills are just more fun to cook on than others.

The PK Original is fun to cook on. Maybe it’s because it’s new to me, but I think it’s just a fun little grill.

I like the neat and tidy layout of the PK. An oblong zone for two zone cooking just makes sense to my brain, as does the vent layout. Open the vent under the coals and over the food. Nice movement of air.

It seems a bit sturdier than the Weber Kettles. Their wobbliness doesn’t bother me, but I like how sturdy the PK is.
I have not transported the PK, but I can’t figure out any way to haul it that is not more hassle and less secure than hauling my Webers. It looks like either I remove the capsule and figure out a way to secure the capsule, or use straps. The Webers are so easy. No straps needed. I can load a Weber Kettle in just a couple minutes with minimal hassle.

The Weber is more refined. A precision stamped steel unit will have better fit and finish than a semi-crudely cast aluminum. I don’t know that one is inherently better than the other. I am just noting the difference. This applies to the air control vents too.

The Weber grates are more solid than the stock PK grate. The PK grate is easy to bump out of place. Maybe the heaview SS grate would solve that.

The one place where the Weber shines and the PK flat out sucks is the ash management and containment system. I see it building up in the bottom of the PK. What do I do with it? It’s not that the PK is that bad, it’s just that the Weber is so advanced, it makes the PK look bad. If I ever drift away from the PK, it will be for the hassle of the ash management. Sure, I can buy an ash vacuum, but that’s a cost and hassle I’d like to avoid.

Overall, three cooks in, I like the PK a lot, but I don’t see it replacing my Webers. I think it will be a handy, fun addition to my setup.

Am I missing anything?

[hoovarmin]

One thing I noticed when I was at ACE the other day is that most of the rig is aluminum, but they used stainless steel nuts around the cart. Those two don't get along well and the aluminum will eventually lose that battle. I'd replace them with aluminum if you can. But I have to say, my MCS went into hyper-drive when I saw that little grill. I loved it.

[jfmorris]

Boy are you right there. I cannot tell you how many times I've gone to take something apart, to find dissimilar metals have welded themselves together due to corrosion. Most recently it was a garden hose where apparently the hose cart used aluminum for its fitting, while the hose itself used stainless, and the two are never going to separate - you can see the corrosion in the threads. I'm going to have to cut the hose off the old hose cart and put a new end on it.

[GolfGeezer]

Yeh, it is surprising that PK did not adopt the same approach to ash management as they do in their PK360, as well as the higher grade SS grates in the 360. Of course, there's a $300 price difference as well....

[jfmorris]

Well, the PK Original design predates the PK360 design by 50 or 60 years at least!

[GolfGeezer]

Yup, must be really, really expensive to change the mold for the cast aluminum bottom in 50-60 years! Sorry, just being snarky.

[jfmorris]

GolfGeezer they actually have recently done that. The "PK300 New Original" has shields over the bottom air intakes to help prevent them from getting blocked by ash.

[bbqLuv]

PK, my choice after a pellet grill, Traeger.

[tenphases]

My weber is easier to use, cleans up better, I can control temp better but I still prefer my PK and im not sure why but I do, its knock the weber off the deck and hangs out with the blackstone as my evefyday go to cookers now.

[TripleB]

Nice write up. I have Weber kettles and the PK Original. Both are ‘portable’, but neither fold up for packing. I purchased the PKTX folding stand and PKGO tailgate stand for that very purpose a while back. I used the PKGO stand this past 4th and it was perfect. Fit right in the back of my little RAV4 with room to spare. Could not do that with the original stand.

I would like to comment, with the utmost respect, on a couple of your points:

The PK capsule is made of marine grade aluminum. That capsule will outlast any Weber kettle. I have retired one Weber kettle to a plant pot because of the welds disintegrating and corrosion on the lid. I have another Weber heading in that direction. Also, since the PK lids are heavier than the bottom, they seal when smoking. No smoke wafting out around the lid. Can’t say that with the Webers.

With regards to ash management, the old Webers you had to pick up the whole unit and tip it over to dump out the ash. The newer models, with ash cans, are much better, but you do sacrifice lower vent control. Ash management on the PK Original is not stellar, but the aluminum is light in weight and and easy to lift and dump. It takes me longer to clean the ash out of a Weber with an ash can than it does emptying the PK Original. Mainly because I’m anal retentive on getting ‘all’ the ash out of my grills. If ash management is one of your concerns, then don’t ever buy the PK360.

Again great write up. Thanks for posting.

[jfmorris]

I had one of those old Webers with 3 bottom vents, and was always dumping it upside down to get rid of ashes, and the legs were always coming off when I did so. I really didn't care for my Weber kettle until I got a Performer with the ash sweeps and bucket.

[BBQPhil]

Great comparison. I find a rectangular shape is just more efficient for both locating the grill on my deck (allowing me to have more grills!) and for packing more food on the grill. I'm using a M16 and PKGO and both provide great efficiency of space while the PKGO still allows me to cook two steaks both direct and indirect. And the fit and finish of the PKGO is much improved over the original, allowing a very good seal without the need to sealing tape. My old Weber kettle was sturdy but wobbly, took up a lot of space and the finish faded over time and developed rust spots.

[58limited]

It is hard to decide whether I like my PK original better than a Weber with an SnS. Both are great! The PK is more durable but I think I can fit more food on the Weber.

I have transported the PK with the original stand, not a big deal but I bought what used to be called the PKGO tailgater stand which makes the whole unit more compact for transport. It takes up less space in my SUV than a Weber.

I think both are great and recommend them to friends.

[Michael_in_TX]

I started out with a PK-style grill. It was my father's and was purchased sometime in the late 1970s. My frustrations with it are why I got a Kettle and they are exactly what you mentioned: you look at it wrong and the vents change their settings and ash cleanup is annoying compared to the Kettle.

(Also, burning your hands trying to adjust the vents that are underneath the grill hurts!)

[fillirican]

BBQandLove Thank you for this write-up. I have been on the fence about getting a PK. The biggest setback to me is the price. I would never replace my kettle but having an additional cooker would be nice.

[drobinson]

Have been tempted by the Franklin PK, but since I've only been cooking on the Weber Kettle since 1970 (on my third one after selling the first two in yard sales). I doubt that I have another 50+ years to learn the ins and outs of the PK.

[klflowers]

Is that Rodney Scott in your photo? Man am I jealous...

[Livermoron]

I like the PK, but the rotisserie set up on the Weber has always been the deciding factor for me. I use the kettle rotisserie ring A LOT...

[RlsRls]

My thoughts as a new PK360 owner. I do miss the ability to use a rotisserie on it. Plus I have noticed that a freshly lit chimney of coals tends to lose heat a little faster than on a Weber kettle or my old Kamado because one has to spread the coals to a more shallow layer than in a kettle or a kamado where they maintain more of a "flu-like" pile which concentrates the heat a little better. a minor adjustment however, and two zone cooking as wel las three zone cooking is a breeze! The clean out of the PK360 isn't too bad. Just as in a fireplace, I always leave behind some ash and small bits of coals that reignite and contribute to the next cook. While it doesn't have the insulation qualities of a kamado I don't anticipate having a problem using it all winter either. Overall pretty happy with it , and at $900 bucks,... promissed my wife "it's the last grill we'll own", just like the $560 Callaway Driver will be the" last club I buy, I promiss!"

[Goldenbear]

My thoughts as a new PK360 owner. I do miss the ability to use a rotisserie on it. Plus I have noticed that a freshly lit chimney of coals tends to lose heat a little faster than on a Weber kettle or my old Kamado because one has to spread the coals to a more shallow layer than in a kettle or a kamado where they maintain more of a "flu-like" pile which concentrates the heat a little better. a minor adjustment however, and two zone cooking as wel las three zone cooking is a breeze! The clean out of the PK360 isn't too bad. Just as in a fireplace, I always leave behind some ash and small bits of coals that reignite and contribute to the next cook. While it doesn't have the insulation qualities of a kamado I don't anticipate having a problem using it all winter either. Overall pretty happy with it , and at $900 bucks,... promissed my wife "it's the last grill we'll own", just like the $560 Callaway Driver will be the" last club I buy, I promiss!"

https://theburnshopwf.com/product/pk-santa-maria-grill/

This looks intriguing.

[MsTwiggy]

Quick, don't read this!! RUN AWAY 😆 some
people man. Now I'm in for the PK and the Burnshop SM. Better buy it now before they discontinue it 🫣🤪

[RlsRls]

That is intriguing!! And it wouldn't be breaking my promiss to my wife as it's an accessory and NOT a new grill!!
Thanks!!