Weber Kettle Club Forums

Cooking & Food Talk => Charcoal Grilling & BBQ => Topic started by: Lemans on September 28, 2015, 06:16:31 PM

Title: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Lemans on September 28, 2015, 06:16:31 PM
I'm.a Newbie . I only have 4 webers
Smokey Joe, 18 silver, 22.5 silver and
22.5 OTG . So the question is...
Do we use our collection or polish our prizes
Me I vote use. That what they were made for ..
Am I wrong!!!
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Santo on September 28, 2015, 06:29:46 PM
Ultimately, how someone uses (or not uses) their pieces is up to them.  I haven't had the privilege to come across any grill that would be strictly a looker so all of mine get used as often as possible.  To each their own.

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Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: mrbill on September 28, 2015, 06:48:12 PM
I use mine for the most part. the only one I hold off on is my New York Giants logo'd smokey joe. it's the pride of my stable and while it does get used, it isn't frequent by any means. i've had it for just over a year and have only used it once. also, it's the only grill I keep in the house(on top of the fridge). if it wasn't so rare, i'd use it more, but they(nfl logo sj) were only made for one year and in small numbers, so i will only break it out on VERY special occasions.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: jcnaz on September 28, 2015, 07:58:58 PM
Mine are cookers. I just cooked on a 50 year old Texan tonight!
Any that I am not comfortable cooking on I am moving on to other members.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: SmokenJoe on September 29, 2015, 12:06:13 AM
I don't have any BBQ's that anyone would consider rare or endangered.  I have a couple that are dedicated to a particular type of cook; e.g.  I use my new black OTG with my Roti, they stay connected.  I use my original Forest Greens with my Smokenator, their cooking grates have been mod'ed.  All the rest get a turn with the coal.

That being said, recently I've been using my new (to me) C&B Perf Dlx & my '11 OTG for most of my cooks.  Some L&S cooks are done on an 18" WSM.                      SJ
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: fedex on September 29, 2015, 12:10:11 AM
I use everything but one for only special events.

(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/Bob_Whitney/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/IMG_20150412_173202521_zpsapa0jq1q.jpg) (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/Bob_Whitney/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/IMG_20150412_173202521_zpsapa0jq1q.jpg.html)

And I agree there are some that probably should not be used. 
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: 1911Ron on September 29, 2015, 04:15:38 AM
I don't have any rare or collectables so I use mine as often as possible, my Golds get the most use because of the wind at my place when I grill.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: LightningBoldtz on September 29, 2015, 05:00:06 AM
It does depend on the kettle and condition.  Personally, I have 1 kettle that is off limits and that is the '95 NFL edition Master-touch.  It was cooked on once when I got it two years ago and once since then.

Others, I tend to use, I am getting ready for winter so I put away my '76 Red in the shed already after a cleaning but I used it all summer long.  I want to have people over and brag about how their Ribs, steak or whatever came off of a grill as old or older than they are.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: MaxBobcat on September 29, 2015, 05:28:36 AM
(http://i.imgur.com/VDfphtOh.jpg)
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: fedex on September 29, 2015, 05:37:06 AM
(http://i.imgur.com/VDfphtOh.jpg)

NICE!!!!!!  Great Answer.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: harris92 on September 29, 2015, 08:18:11 AM
(http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a553/slieberman92/IMG_3360_zpsv2b8kj5q.jpg) (http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/slieberman92/media/IMG_3360_zpsv2b8kj5q.jpg.html)

However, I WONT cook on this.

(http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a553/slieberman92/IMG_3380_zps1mp7w90d.jpg) (http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/slieberman92/media/IMG_3380_zps1mp7w90d.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Troy on September 29, 2015, 08:33:44 AM
i don't cook on my glen blue.
it was the grill that sparked the fire that is now WKC.
Brian and I put a ton of hours into its restoration and it is no longer capable of high heat.
I cook on all the rest though.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: harris92 on September 29, 2015, 08:40:41 AM
@Troy   someone cooked on it LOL.  When I had it (short period of time), the inside of the lid and bowl needed a thorough cleaning.  I shined it up before it departed for its new (old) home.   :)

i don't cook on my glen blue.
it was the grill that sparked the fire that is now WKC.
Brian and I put a ton of hours into its restoration and it is no longer capable of high heat.
I cook on all the rest though.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Troy on September 29, 2015, 08:42:31 AM
@Troy   someone cooked on it LOL.  When I had it (short period of time), the inside of the lid and bowl needed a thorough cleaning.  I shined it up before it departed for its new (old) home.   :)

i don't cook on my glen blue.
it was the grill that sparked the fire that is now WKC.
Brian and I put a ton of hours into its restoration and it is no longer capable of high heat.
I cook on all the rest though.
Perhaps the same person who removed the vents and swapped out the nice wheels it had

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Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: harris92 on September 29, 2015, 08:46:20 AM
@Troy Did you ever get your replacement vents on?  It would be cool if you post some pics using the half rivets.

Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Troy on September 29, 2015, 08:48:27 AM
@Troy Did you ever get your replacement vents on?  It would be cool if you post some pics using the half rivets.
Yes!

Will be photo shooting soon.
Come to think of it,  I don't think I ever cleaned the inside of the lid.  I gave the lid to Brian to paint while I worked on the bowl cleaning.

This was before we discovered razor scrapers.

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Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: mcgolden on September 29, 2015, 01:25:26 PM
I use most of my collection:

(http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab326/mcgolden67/2015-09-29%2016.08.06_zpskjbx7pkh.jpg) (http://s876.photobucket.com/user/mcgolden67/media/2015-09-29%2016.08.06_zpskjbx7pkh.jpg.html)

I've got a couple that haven't been used (1996 18" Budweiser/Olympic 3-wheeler and an old style (not the beer) 18" Smokey Joe Platinum - NIB) only because I have a 1970s 18" that I use when I need an 18".  I've also got a really nicely cleaned up C-code SJ, but I might cook on that sometime.

I'm really hoping to find a nice old 22" with some color, that I would cook on, but I never find them in my area.  Iowa sucks when it comes to finding good old Webers!

Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: WNC on September 29, 2015, 03:33:01 PM
I'm a cooker for sure, after all that's what they were made for!

If I had a sweet, never used, like @harris92 showed off, with that sweet Aristocrat, yeah probably wouldn't use that one. But if had been cooked on before, it would/will be cooked on again.

Let them live their glory once again!

My oldest cooking
(http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y516/justinperson/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsjqrpkguf.jpg) (http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/justinperson/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsjqrpkguf.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: SmokenJoe on September 29, 2015, 09:25:00 PM
@WNC  That's a beautiful  MBH Avocado  ...  so clean and so happy  ...  I love that light blue smoke  ...  like a fine premium cigar.                   SJ
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Troy on September 29, 2015, 09:27:10 PM
I use most of my collection:

(http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/ab326/mcgolden67/2015-09-29%2016.08.06_zpskjbx7pkh.jpg) (http://s876.photobucket.com/user/mcgolden67/media/2015-09-29%2016.08.06_zpskjbx7pkh.jpg.html)

I've got a couple that haven't been used (1996 18" Budweiser/Olympic 3-wheeler and an old style (not the beer) 18" Smokey Joe Platinum - NIB) only because I have a 1970s 18" that I use when I need an 18".  I've also got a really nicely cleaned up C-code SJ, but I might cook on that sometime.

I'm really hoping to find a nice old 22" with some color, that I would cook on, but I never find them in my area.  Iowa sucks when it comes to finding good old Webers!


WOWWWWWWWWWW
You've got the complete CrayCort (http://amzn.to/1Gg2sFz) collection!
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: weldboy on September 30, 2015, 07:51:31 AM
All used and all have battle scars (http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/30/eddc409088825e3670c725cb7f5f700a.jpg)


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Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: weldboy on September 30, 2015, 07:54:21 AM
@mcgolden are those craycorts worth the $ ? Obviously you love them, what are they like to care for?


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Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: JDD on September 30, 2015, 09:10:28 AM
I do not have a single kettle that is off limits to cooking on.  Although, I do have a few that I have never could on. I have 2 that have never been cooked on by anybody.   The only reason I have not cooked on all of them is laziness.  I don’t like cleaning grills or pulling them in and out of storage. If I had more room on the patio I would probably use more of them.  I’m starting to move towards the @SmokenJoe technique of dedicated kettles.  I dedicate one for the roti, one for the kettle pizza and one for the shish kabob ring.  Kind of like my fishing poles, one for each type of fishing so I don’t have to keep changing set ups.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: mcgolden on September 30, 2015, 09:43:33 AM
@mcgolden are those craycorts worth the $ ? Obviously you love them, what are they like to care for?


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First off Weldboy, you've got an awesome collection.  Very nice!

With regard to the whether the Craycorts are worth the money, that's a pretty subjective question.  What I can do is tell you what I like and don't like about them.  Granted they are pretty expensive, but I've bought all of them during times when Craycort has offered discount codes anywhere from 10 to 20 percent.  They only do that 2 to 3 times per year as far as I'm aware.  You can always count on a discount (15% was the last one) a little before father's day.  The one exception was my set for the 22".  I recently picked that one off eBay.  There's a guy currently selling a bunch either for $69 BIN, including shipping and accepting best offers.  I made a couple of offers and we settled on what I thought was a great price.  He's also got sets for $79 with the Wok (normally $32 just for the wok) but no option for an offer.  Not to say if you contacted him he wouldn't work with you.  Just saying.

Okay, so on to what I like and don't like.

Like:

- SECTIONS: I like the way they are sectioned into quarters on the 22 and 26.  It makes indirect really easy.  You can just remove a couple of sections for the coal side and have easy access to your coals.  And the quarter sections make it vey easy to move quarters between direct and indirect.  BTW, you need to have their handle.  Other handles may work but the actual Craycort handle is definitely worth it for ease of use.  The 18" is sectioned in thirds which also work nicely for indirect.  For that I just remove one section for the coals.  On the Go Anywhere, and SJ I like the halves because you can remove just half to get to the coals.  Also the regular grates on the portables are pretty thin and also a single section.  Having 2 halves actually makes indirect pretty easy, especially on the Go Anywhere.
- QUALITY: These things are built solid.  If you take care of them they will last a very long time.
- SEAR: All of them get very hot an provide a great sear.
- NON-STICK: Being cast iron, if you keep them seasoned properly, they're a great non-stick surface
- ACCESSORIES: I've got hotplates for the 26 and 18, a wok (1/4 section) for the 22 (great for veggies), and a chicken seat for the 22".  Admittedly, I don't use the chicken seat much, but the hotplates and wok are awesome.  I really love to do burgers on the hotplate.  A little more grease but man they are juicy.

Don't like:

- MAINTENANCE: this really  isn't too big a deal but you definitely want to be sure to clean and oil regularly.  I coat with vegetable oil before every cook and try to clean and do after cooks too.  But before cooks is probably sufficient.
- POTENTIAL FOR RUST: This is probably the biggest annoyance but if maintained, you should be fine.  If you're not good about keeping them oiled, there is the potential for some rust.  I've had it happen in sections and it's pretty easy to remedy.  If it's a small area, just scrape (and maybe sand depending on how extensive) and re-coat with vegetable oil.  If it's extensive, you might have to do a significant amount of sanding and then re-season as you would any cast iron pan.  My portables are in the garage so I don't have much risk of rust on those, but on the ones I keep outside, where there may be more humidity, it takes a little more effort.  Also, for grills I leave outside in the winter, I switch back to the original grates.  The wild swings in temp, between freezing cold, and then the sun on a black kettle can lead to some moisture build-up which can lead to rust if you're not using the kettle for long periods of time (which can happen in winter).
- HARD TO USE ON A PERFORMER GAS START: If you like using a chimney starter on the performer, you would basically have to lift the whole set out to fit the chimney over the gas flame.  If you're just using charcoal trays, it's really not an issue.

So that's my really long answer to your short question.  ;D
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: weldboy on September 30, 2015, 09:50:42 AM
@mcgolden great write up, I actually saw them on eBay for $69 which is why I became intrigued. Thanks a lot for taking the time to give me (and the rest of us) a review!


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Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Tommy B on September 30, 2015, 11:55:05 AM
I do not have a kettle that is "off limits" to cook on. I do have a 1990 SJ new in the box. I am not against using it I just have 3 other SJ and don't really see the point in opening the 1990.... I only use my SJ when I fire up my mini as is. If for whatever reason I needed to use 4 SJ's at once I wouldn't feel bad firing it up.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: dazzo on September 30, 2015, 12:48:24 PM
After many a fine meal in the early pageant days, the Beauty Queen's job now is to sit back and relax.

The rest of the crew chips in to cover, and what a great job they do...

(http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b505/dazzo16/posts/MBH%20Green/1fb37d13-effd-446e-ad7d-76030bd8b8d6_zpsae5c1847.jpg)

Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Jon on September 30, 2015, 11:40:00 PM
That is a pretty kettle. I would cook on that. And sit in the yard and admire it while it was making my supper.

These things are made to cook. They are not yard art that your spouse brought home. Cook on them! Let them make food.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: swamprb on October 01, 2015, 02:44:45 PM
I'm just hoarding mine so my kids will have to deal with them when I die.
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Josh G on October 02, 2015, 04:17:25 PM
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/30/eddc409088825e3670c725cb7f5f700a.jpg)


Nice setup!
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: swamprb on October 02, 2015, 05:07:23 PM
If you look at my outdated signature line that I cannot update (hint, hint Troy) there is no way I can use all the cookers I have.

I used to collect and restore vintage Japanese and Chinese Kamados which in turn got me into restoring mainly Red kettles. I've had a shitload of WSM's, kettles and Weber gassers over the years, but I'm pretty much partial to RED's. Which is an ever changing collection. They are spread out all over the place and every so often I purge and keep a couple of the finer ones to play with. I'm not a big fan of MBH or MLH's though, they have and will get the RRR treatment, I usually flip them or gift to friends. I'll usually amass a collection and RRR during the long dark wet winter months here at the Bone Shack.

I do competition bbq and sometimes use two 22" WSM's and a 22" Cajun Bandit and have a Pellet Pro 22" Stacker that I use to visit the Dark Side.

Here is an old Redhead Family portrait.

(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_1198.jpg)

Mods are my thing and I dig drum smokers so no Weber is safe in my clutches.

(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_1657_1.jpg)

(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/IMG_1725.jpg)

Turned a Weber 1000 into a hotrod Coffee Roaster with a custom RK Drum Roaster and 50 RPM motor.

Click on pic to see it in action!

(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Coffee%20Roasting/th_MVI_1789.mp4) (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Coffee%20Roasting/MVI_1789.mp4)

Follow my mad obsession on fb: https://www.facebook.com/Left-Hand-Smoke-116187658462391/timeline/?ref=hl
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: Craig on October 03, 2015, 07:17:10 PM
Most of mine are cookers. I love pulling out the oldies and firing them up for sure.

(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/03/725bfc00c5c1c51c3e32f528f0d22814.jpg)

(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/03/bb8edc17b71ec4441055b2cf58300833.jpg)

(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/03/3f99922b86da89ac6f59399536c35ffa.jpg)

(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/03/94ff937ecbaa242dad5a1f2af6a64be7.jpg)


But this one is Off Limits (the red one)

(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/03/8bcd88427bb4fed60c3353551005229e.jpg)
Title: Re: Do you use your collection ?
Post by: weldboy on October 04, 2015, 03:50:15 AM
Thanks @Josh G


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