I bought a custom Klose 20 x 48 last year. When I ordered it, I also ordered the stainless charcoal "S" basket. My first few attempts to use the baskets were busts. I never got the temp over 200 and it never lasted more than 3 hours. Last time I tried it, I was at 160 for 2 hours and 150 for an other hour. David Klose claims he can get 5-6 hours at 225-250 out of them.
I have spoken to David several times and met him in person. He strikes me as a straight up guy and I have no reason to doubt him. I e-mailed him about it and he gave me some pointers. I still couldn't get it to work. I pretty much gave up and used splits. I can hold this pit at 200, 225, or 250 all day with splits. I have entered two charity cook-offs and placed 1st in ribs, 1st in chicken, and 3rd in butts, so I must be doing something right.
Recently, I decided that I must have an Id10t error and that I needed to try again. I Googled "Klose charcoal baskets" and found many people who were having similar problems and several who claimed the damn thing worked. David claims to have tested the hell out of this thing. I have to figure it out.
One thing I found online was discussions about fuel. I had only tried lump. Many commenters were using briquettes. The complained about clogging the basket with ash. One guy claimed that Kingsford and Royal Oak produced too much ash, but that Stubbs would work. I went to Lowes and bought two bags of Stubbs.
Tonight was the perfect night to run a test. 68 degrees, low humidity, no wind. I used a coffee can to keep the end open and packed the basket 1/2 full with Stubbs. I lit 1/2 of a chimney of Stubbs. I put the basket in with the open end first, removed the coffee can, and dumped the lit coals into the open area at 7:00 PM on the dot.
I left the stack open and closed the damper down to 1/2".
At 8:00, the pit was reading 175.
By 8:15 I was at 210.
By 8:30 - 225! Now we're cooking!
At 9:00, I was at 250, which is a little hot for me.
At 9:30, I was at 275.
At 10:00 I hit 300
It is now 10:30 and the pit is at 280 and the fire has made it all the way around the "S"
Clearly, I have more learning to do, but I am encouraged that this thing can in fact generate the necessary heat.
Any brethren out there that have mastered the Klose basket?
David
The Swine Spectator
I have spoken to David several times and met him in person. He strikes me as a straight up guy and I have no reason to doubt him. I e-mailed him about it and he gave me some pointers. I still couldn't get it to work. I pretty much gave up and used splits. I can hold this pit at 200, 225, or 250 all day with splits. I have entered two charity cook-offs and placed 1st in ribs, 1st in chicken, and 3rd in butts, so I must be doing something right.
Recently, I decided that I must have an Id10t error and that I needed to try again. I Googled "Klose charcoal baskets" and found many people who were having similar problems and several who claimed the damn thing worked. David claims to have tested the hell out of this thing. I have to figure it out.
One thing I found online was discussions about fuel. I had only tried lump. Many commenters were using briquettes. The complained about clogging the basket with ash. One guy claimed that Kingsford and Royal Oak produced too much ash, but that Stubbs would work. I went to Lowes and bought two bags of Stubbs.
Tonight was the perfect night to run a test. 68 degrees, low humidity, no wind. I used a coffee can to keep the end open and packed the basket 1/2 full with Stubbs. I lit 1/2 of a chimney of Stubbs. I put the basket in with the open end first, removed the coffee can, and dumped the lit coals into the open area at 7:00 PM on the dot.
I left the stack open and closed the damper down to 1/2".
At 8:00, the pit was reading 175.
By 8:15 I was at 210.
By 8:30 - 225! Now we're cooking!
At 9:00, I was at 250, which is a little hot for me.
At 9:30, I was at 275.
At 10:00 I hit 300
It is now 10:30 and the pit is at 280 and the fire has made it all the way around the "S"
Clearly, I have more learning to do, but I am encouraged that this thing can in fact generate the necessary heat.
Any brethren out there that have mastered the Klose basket?
David
The Swine Spectator