Dual Question-Grill and Fire Pit

[sealer]

1ST QUESTION:
In the process of a complete deck demo and reconstruct. I gave away my heavy, well-used (10 year old) Kenmore that gave me many great grilling days. It was a 5-burner with the side wings and cooking burner. Not the biggest and/or baddest but in 2005 it put a serious dent on my pocketbook.

However, a lot of my buddies have been going with the Traeger smoker/grill line of combo cookers and this would allow me to give away my smaller propane smoker to eliminate deck clutter.

My concern is the need for electricity...I have the need covered but not sure I want to rely on a power source.


2ND QUESTION:
I have a table top fire pit on the patio below/adjacent to the deck. The patio is fairly large and the fire pit fits well with the furniture. However, propane fired with the proven Venturi delivery system I obviously did something stupid (found out after the fact).

I ordered some glass fire rock to replace the fairly cheap looking faux logs. I fabricated a smaller grid which I believed would catch smaller rock sizes but I'm positive the gradation chart of the rock size I ordered wasn't consulted. For example, I believe I ordered 3/8" glass rock but it was probably 3/8" minus with a lot of fines passing that screen, and hence my fabricated grid (again my fault).

I think some of these fines have clogged the propane delivery vents or created an unsafe situation when lighting (experience). Can I replace the entire system or just work some pipe cleaners and the compressor on the entire delivery system (bottle to the flame vents).

I'm hoping someone doesn't tell me to replace the entire fire pit.


Help on one or both issues would be great.

Thx - Drew

[Brian]

#1 Have some family memebers with Traegers, I'm thinking about getting one "some day". They complain that they don't always get hot enough, especially on cold days, to rely on them as an only grill. You do need electricity too. So it probably depends on how much you grill. I'm sure it'll cook it until it's done, but you might not get the same results you're used to. You could always get a baby Weber Q or whatever they're called to bring out when you need it.

#2 Not sure but it sounds like the kind of thing you could either clean yourself or hire a professional to do. You can't be the only guy with an outdoor propane fire pit that gets clogged.

Good luck!

[Ah Pook]

Lots of good info here.

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/106325-Time-to-get-a-smoker?highlight=grill

[Great-Kazoo]

#1 Have some family memebers with Traegers, I'm thinking about getting one "some day". They complain that they don't always get hot enough, especially on cold days, to rely on them as an only grill. You do need electricity too. So it probably depends on how much you grill. I'm sure it'll cook it until it's done, but you might not get the same results you're used to. You could always get a baby Weber Q or whatever they're called to bring out when you need it.

#2 Not sure but it sounds like the kind of thing you could either clean yourself or hire a professional to do. You can't be the only guy with an outdoor propane fire pit that gets clogged.

Good luck!

#1, any smoker when not properly set up doesn't maintain heat. We use ours year round. Few bricks wrapped in foil line the bottom. A 3 x 3 Felt welding blanket from cyberweld solves the heat loss from top and sides.
http://store.cyberweld.com/panfelwelbla.html


Once those things are done. An over looked area for heat loss is the flue itself. Somewhere in the owners manual it tells you (if not a web search) suggest you lower the cover to a 1" gap for cold weather cooking. Bringing it back to the 1.5 - 2" height for warm weather cooking

#2. low pressure air blown from the supply side should remove any small particulates from the line. Disconnect the line at the "burners". Pull the burner and after using air, go back with a welding tip cleaner. If the burner is off blowing air through the holes could be easier , Or try a vacuum cleaner. Either way be more cost effective, than hiring someone to do it.
https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=JN.HVeexAYouE%2fzxLt41djsaQ&pid=15.1&P=0

Pipe cleaners tend to leave material behind. Last thing you want is on the last orifice to get some of that material stuck. YMMV

[sealer]

Perfect...thanks