Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: walley_eye on March 02, 2017, 05:22:19 AM
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So considering what it would cost me to get my hands on a vortex up here in Canada it makes no sense by the time I pay shipping and the exchange on the dollar so I'm wondering if a metal coffee can would not do the same thing?
What do you think?
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Or you could cut the bottom off a stainless steel bowl.
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I love coming up with ideas and creating projects especially if I can save few bucks buying comparable items. But, for me, anything used for inside a kettle.... I will stick to known items. Here is why. Not knowing the composition of the metal at hand, really hard to say if it is safe to use. That coffee can would have some galvanized steel ( maybe maybe not!). Zinc oxide fume can make you sick. That is only one case. Even with those cheap SS bowl, how do we know what it is actually made or have any harmful coating on it.
One time I used aluminum chicken wire at the bot. of the charcoal chimney that literally melted. There are lot of chemical reactions and fums given off. This is the same stuff people use to make custom charcoal baskets and other mods with.
Some of the steel stuff might be ok to use, but I want to caution on the safe side and stick to known items.
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Very good point Greenweb. Never really thought of it that way.
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Just a thought- maybe check around for a used Stok kettle grill. There's a pretty good "vortex" in them.
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/vigbert/IMG_1984_zps7510fa72.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/vigbert/media/IMG_1984_zps7510fa72.jpg.html)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/vigbert/IMG_1983_zps950b39b1.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/vigbert/media/IMG_1983_zps950b39b1.jpg.html)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/vigbert/IMG_1978_zps2b54e99a.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/vigbert/media/IMG_1978_zps2b54e99a.jpg.html)
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just do the coffee can
or put 2 charbaskets together
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just do the coffee can
or put 2 charbaskets together
2 Weber charcoal baskets together for me. It does the job fine, until I get the legit Vortex someday.
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Coffee cans won't have galvanized steel, but they probably have a coating that would have to be burned off. Also the steel isn't that thick so it would burn through relatively quickly. You can't use galvanized for food containers, as for stainless bowls, there is no coating on them.
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just do the coffee can
or put 2 charbaskets together
2 Weber charcoal baskets together for me. It does the job fine, until I get the legit Vortex someday.
That's the easiest & best work around to a vortex.
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could cut a chimney in half and remove the handel
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just do the coffee can
or put 2 charbaskets together
2 Weber charcoal baskets together for me. It does the job fine, until I get the legit Vortex someday.
Your too trusting of "known" products. Where do you think the aluminum goes on our aluminized steel charcoal baskets? I'm not worried about the baskets but I would recommend burning a chimney through them before using new ones. Same applies for a stainless bowl or tin can. I would be fine with either after burning them in. I do stay away from galvanized for the reason you stated but even galvanized once good and burned I bet would be safe. Still don't recommend that. Any other form of steel I would be comfortable with once broke in.
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could cut a chimney in half and remove the handel
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I haven't done that but have always thought that would work perfect
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could cut a chimney in half and remove the handel
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I haven't done that but have always thought that would work perfect
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yup just get a cheap one no need to cut a well made weber in half lol
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All good points here.
I will say simply this about the comment about trusting known products, just because a product is sold on mass with a name brand label on doesn't mean I trust in it.
There are plenty of companies that don't deserve consumers trust based on what they do or don't tell us about their products. This is in no way a comment on the manufacturers of the vortex. Just an overall opinion about industry in general.
My coffee can has been burnt with charcoal using it to do the minion method in my other charcoal smoker so it's in about as good a shape as my chimney.
Thanks for all the ideas and opinions.
Keeper commin'!
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All good points here.
I will say simply this about the comment about trusting known products, just because a product is sold on mass with a name brand label on doesn't mean I trust in it.
There are plenty of companies that don't deserve consumers trust based on what they do or don't tell us about their products. This is in no way a comment on the manufacturers of the vortex. Just an overall opinion about industry in general.
My coffee can has been burnt with charcoal using it to do the minion method in my other charcoal smoker so it's in about as good a shape as my chimney.
Thanks for all the ideas and opinions.
Keeper commin'!
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I got a S/S veggie pan from Business Costco for $9, any Restaurant supply will have these. I cut it in two and got one vtex for an 18" and the other for a 22"
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Left-Hand-Smoke-116187658462391/photos/?tab=album&album_id=807036462710837
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Just a thought- maybe check around for a used Stok kettle grill. There's a pretty good "vortex" in them.
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/vigbert/IMG_1984_zps7510fa72.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/vigbert/media/IMG_1984_zps7510fa72.jpg.html)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/vigbert/IMG_1983_zps950b39b1.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/vigbert/media/IMG_1983_zps950b39b1.jpg.html)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/vigbert/IMG_1978_zps2b54e99a.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/vigbert/media/IMG_1978_zps2b54e99a.jpg.html)
This is what I did, works perfectly!
Sent from my XT1254 using Weber Kettle Club mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=91018)
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Just a thought- maybe check around for a used Stok kettle grill. There's a pretty good "vortex" in them.
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/vigbert/IMG_1984_zps7510fa72.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/vigbert/media/IMG_1984_zps7510fa72.jpg.html)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/vigbert/IMG_1983_zps950b39b1.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/vigbert/media/IMG_1983_zps950b39b1.jpg.html)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l255/vigbert/IMG_1978_zps2b54e99a.jpg) (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/vigbert/media/IMG_1978_zps2b54e99a.jpg.html)
This is what I did, works perfectly!
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I had one and used it until I gave my STOK grill away and can third the recommendation of the STOK Charcoal insert. However I'll reiterate, the two charcoal baskets you probably own or should own if you own a Weber Kettle work just as good and there's one less accessory you need to find a spot for.
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I found these stainless steel pots at Meijer the other day. The larger pot bottom is 8" across the top is 12" across and the tapered part is 5". I believe the Vortex is the same. With tax $34.00. I did not measure the small pot.
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/03/05/IMG_20170228_084626.md.jpg)
(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2017/03/05/IMG_20170228_084710.md.jpg)
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I'm sure all the above ideas will work. Let me just say, the up front cost is well worth it. I own two original design carbon steel ones, and two stainless steel ones. All are still in perfect working order, and have had them for years. They are made of heavy gauge metal. Think about it being another tool in the belt. Working on cars, I never skimped on tools. Working in the kitchen and BBQ, likewise. Spend the money.