Coffee Can as Poor Man's Vortex??

AKMIMNAK · 07-14-2018, 07:52 PM

Could you use a coffee can with the bottom cut out for a Vortex substitute? Would you need to fire it up a few times with no food around to burn off the paint?

I'm all ears :)

tom b · 07-14-2018, 07:53 PM

try it, report back

dadsr4 · 07-14-2018, 08:02 PM

The smaller diameter and the height might be a problem. I use this, which is 10 in. di., smaller than a vortex. A strip of non-galvanized steel would work. I just hook mine together with a S-hook.

mytmouz · 07-14-2018, 09:58 PM

I use the institutional gallon sized cans I get when making baked beans for this on occasion...

I will use multiple cookers, and I have more cookers than I do chimney starters...

Wetsmoke · 07-15-2018, 08:34 AM

Bottoms of your gallon cans removed or punched with a can opener??

smoke ninja · 07-15-2018, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wetsmoke

Bottoms of your gallon cans removed or punched with a can opener??

This was what my old man use to use as a chimney starter.

For a homemade vortex I've seen folks cut a whole in a stainless steel dog bowl

SlickRockStones · 07-15-2018, 09:00 AM

Cheap chrome plated bowls from discount stores are easily cut with a Dremel and cost about three bucks. Then put a real Votex from an AD on your Christmas list and HVR buffalo wing yourself into a chicken coma like Jim Morrison.

GA1dad · 07-15-2018, 10:20 AM

I buy stainless bowls from Goodwill for a dollar or two and cut the bottom out with a grinder. Works well.

As for the coffee can, I use a small one in my UDS basket. I place the can in the center of the basket and pour lump around it. Then I fill the can with water. It works good for moisture.

Nuco59 · 07-15-2018, 12:45 PM

Turning a dog food bowl into a "poor man's vortex" I've heard of. (done it actually)

But using a can of water in the basket of a UDS is a new one on me. Depriving yourself of coal basket room to add moisture to a cooker that is known for having it in abundance?

OK... party on.

dadsr4 · 07-15-2018, 12:59 PM

The small vortex dimensions are
5 1/2 inches tall
7 7/8 wide, small diameter
11 5/8 wide large diameter
A coffee can is around half the diameter. That's not enough coals for a very long cook. Definitely would have to burn off the paint.

txsmkmstr · 07-15-2018, 01:24 PM

Picked up a 5-quart stainless mixing bowl from Big Lots for a mere 7 bucks. Cut the top/bottom off and looks like a perfect fit for my seldom used Weber. Looking forward to trying it out.

mytmouz · 07-15-2018, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wetsmoke

Bottoms of your gallon cans removed or punched with a can opener??

I just use a unibit and make several holes all around them...

GA1dad · 07-16-2018, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuco59

Turning a dog food bowl into a "poor man's vortex" I've heard of. (done it actually)

But using a can of water in the basket of a UDS is a new one on me. Depriving yourself of coal basket room to add moisture to a cooker that is known for having it in abundance?

OK... party on.

No worries brother! There's been a lot of things I've read on here that were "a new one on me". Some turned out good,, some bad. To be honest, I can't say that I've measured humidity/moisture inside the cooker with or without the small can of water. Out of curiosity I tried it one day on a brisket cook and the results warranted continued usage. So far I've not had a basket capacity issue in the drum.

Party On Brother

BBQ Freak · 07-16-2018, 08:36 PM

I made one tonight out of a coffee can and might not work as a vortex but more of a indirect cook but think it will do basically the same thing and will try out this weekend .

https://youtu.be/eDq0Gz-VDEs

07-14-2018, 07:52 PM	#1
AKMIMNAK is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-02-17 Location: Alaska Name/Nickname : Jonathan	Coffee Can as Poor Man's Vortex?? Could you use a coffee can with the bottom cut out for a Vortex substitute? Would you need to fire it up a few times with no food around to burn off the paint? I'm all ears :) __________________ Born and raised Alaskan and BBQ lover

07-14-2018, 07:53 PM	#2
tom b somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-12-15 Location: Temecula, CA	try it, report back __________________ LSG 24x48 offset, MAK 2 Star General, Built in Santa Maria Pit, Weber Performer Deluxe 22 w/CB Rotisserie, Blackstone Pizza Oven, WGA, A PBC A 26'er AND A Jumbo Joe

07-14-2018, 08:02 PM	#3
dadsr4 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-08-10 Location: Howell, MI	The smaller diameter and the height might be a problem. I use this, which is 10 in. di., smaller than a vortex. A strip of non-galvanized steel would work. I just hook mine together with a S-hook. __________________ Two Weber daisy wheel kettles A: 1979 P: 1993, and an unused ECB
	1 members found this post helpful.

07-14-2018, 09:58 PM	#4
mytmouz is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-09-11 Location: Pelahatchie MS	I use the institutional gallon sized cans I get when making baked beans for this on occasion... I will use multiple cookers, and I have more cookers than I do chimney starters... __________________ I LUV to smoke 'em... Trailer mounted reverse flow stick burner. Rehomed Weber Kettle #1 Black. Rehomed Weber Kettle #2 Copper Weber Kettle #3, Dads old cooker. Rehomed Brinkman electric. Rehomed Weber Smokey Joe. Rehomed Small Sunbeam tailgater. Rehomed Brinkman vertical smoker. Rehomed Little Chief electric smoker. Rehomed And 2 UDS go to set ups... Rehomed

07-15-2018, 09:00 AM	#7
SlickRockStones Take a breath! Join Date: 10-19-17 Location: Knoxville,Tn. Name/Nickname : Gary	Cheap chrome plated bowls from discount stores are easily cut with a Dremel and cost about three bucks. Then put a real Votex from an AD on your Christmas list and HVR buffalo wing yourself into a chicken coma like Jim Morrison.
	1 members found this post helpful.

07-15-2018, 08:34 AM	#5
Wetsmoke On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-19-09 Location: Redmond WA	Bottoms of your gallon cans removed or punched with a can opener??

07-15-2018, 10:20 AM	#8
GA1dad Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-11-13 Location: Williamston SC	I buy stainless bowls from Goodwill for a dollar or two and cut the bottom out with a grinder. Works well. As for the coffee can, I use a small one in my UDS basket. I place the can in the center of the basket and pour lump around it. Then I fill the can with water. It works good for moisture. __________________ Jay- "Adventures In Smoke" Competition Team, Offset Stick Burner, UDS

07-15-2018, 12:45 PM	#9
Nuco59 Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-18-13 Location: Texas	Turning a dog food bowl into a "poor man's vortex" I've heard of. (done it actually) But using a can of water in the basket of a UDS is a new one on me. Depriving yourself of coal basket room to add moisture to a cooker that is known for having it in abundance? OK... party on. __________________ I started out with nothing and I got most of it left.

07-15-2018, 12:59 PM	#10
dadsr4 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-08-10 Location: Howell, MI	The small vortex dimensions are 5 1/2 inches tall 7 7/8 wide, small diameter 11 5/8 wide large diameter A coffee can is around half the diameter. That's not enough coals for a very long cook. Definitely would have to burn off the paint. __________________ Two Weber daisy wheel kettles A: 1979 P: 1993, and an unused ECB
	1 members found this post helpful.

07-15-2018, 01:24 PM	#11
txsmkmstr is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-28-10 Location: Somewhere, TX Name/Nickname : ...	Picked up a 5-quart stainless mixing bowl from Big Lots for a mere 7 bucks. Cut the top/bottom off and looks like a perfect fit for my seldom used Weber. Looking forward to trying it out. __________________ [URL="http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239363"]My Custom LSG 24x40[/URL] - 36" Blackstone - (others-R&O FatGirl, ETSC RK-250, Tejas 1628-all sold)
	1 members found this post helpful.

07-16-2018, 08:36 PM	#14
BBQ Freak Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-11-13 Location: Rayville , Missouri Name/Nickname : BBQ Mojo	I made one tonight out of a coffee can and might not work as a vortex but more of a indirect cook but think it will do basically the same thing and will try out this weekend . https://youtu.be/eDq0Gz-VDEs __________________ [Font="Impact"]Weber Kettle[/Font] [Font="impact"]Luke's Firepits / Grill[/Font] [Font="impact"]Lone Star Grillz Mini Insulated Cabinet Smoker[/Font]
	1 members found this post helpful.