Big Lots BBQ Swag

[btcg]

BBQ is like shootin pool... if you're good, you can shoot with the end of a broomstick.

 

[Smokin'Ron]

BBQ is like shootin pool... if you're good, you can shoot with the end of a broomstick.

Agreed 8) But I feel more comfortable with my trusty Meucci:thumb:

 

[Bigdog]

Yeah, on your recommendation, I'l gonna go grab a few more chicken racks myself.

Those look good. I use my drumstick one all the time and wished I had another.

We look at things differently: it's the batteries I would never buy from Big Lots.

Me, I'm glad I bought it. It's a deal for $29.00.

And that's what's important. I agree, I only buy first rate batteries too.

BBQ is like shootin pool... if you're good, you can shoot with the end of a broomstick.

True that. If you don't believe it, go back and read some of Bigmista's early posts when he used only a chargriller without the firebox on a small porch. Some of the best BBQ I've ever seen.

 

[bigabyte]

Agreed...I only bought the grill for a grate and lid for my UDS'. Did you look at the $47 version next to it. I actually thought about this one in place of an actual weber, seemed a bit more sturdy than the $29 version I bought for the UDS lid and grate. Just curious if you looked at that one for half the price of a Weber. I know WalMart has the Uniflame for about the same price, i would probably go that route for an actual grill that could possibly compare to the Weber (2 for 1).

I guess my BL did not have the $47 model, all I saw next to it was a smaller square model.

 

[Derek]

btcg, Nice swag score!

Lucky bummer!

 

[jocosa]

May have to check out our BL just to see if I like the lid on that $29 model, I really want a domed lid for my UDS, and the other grates are just a bonus for when we make UDS #2...

 

[jgh1204]

You can get a Weber 22.5 for about $88, One Touch Silver. In fact, I got one last year at Walmart for $65(for some reason, my store had them marked down, no one else did).

 

[NorthwestBBQ]

Nice schwagg.

 

[BBQchef33]

ok.. nice score... but I do have ONE QUESTION!

What were you thinking?:doh::spy: :wink: that could've been a jar of pickles or something.

 

[swamprb]

The Sizzle charcoal briqs is made by Royal Oak.

 

[SmokinAussie]

Bigabyte is right about the depth of the 29 Buck Special and the placement of the air intakes...

I've got a Webber Copy that looks almost exactly like this, and for the last 2 years I have not used it since I got my COS.

Last week I dusted it off and had a good think about it. With learing so much about 'Q in the last 6 months, I thought I'd fire it up and see how it went. Well, now I know. It needs heavy modification...

Basically, the shallower the kettle, the poorer the heat. You need to drill holes in the base of that thing like crazy. Othewise, you get the slowest burn ever and no heat at all on these units. It might help to drill more holes in the lid also. There is not much you can do about the placement of the holes underneath. They do clog up. You have to clear these with vigilance to get a clean burn.

Most important here is that once you make these mods, you still have a shallow burn area to place charcoal and it can screw up leveling the top grate for cooking. You need smaller fires and you have to add fuel more frequently.

I'm making these mods on mine this week.

 

[btcg]

ok.. nice score... but I do have ONE QUESTION!

What were you thinking?:doh::spy: :wink: that could've been a jar of pickles or something.

Yeah, yeah, yeah (I LOVE pickles, btw). The notion of using lighter doesn't sit well with me. I plan on asking Myron why he does it when the group of us head down to Georgia in August.

As a kid, and younger man, I used the stuff, but did it minimally... I stacked the briqettes is a pyramid, lightly dosed them with fluid, allowed them to sit for several minutes so I didn't have to use more... and waited until the coals were white hot before using.

BUT... I can change, I tell you. The last thing I want is a brotheren court martial!!!! :shock:

 

[btcg]

Bigabyte is right about the depth of the 29 Buck Special and the placement of the air intakes...

I've got a Webber Copy that looks almost exactly like this, and for the last 2 years I have not used it since I got my COS.

Last week I dusted it off and had a good think about it. With learing so much about 'Q in the last 6 months, I thought I'd fire it up and see how it went. Well, now I know. It needs heavy modification...

Basically, the shallower the kettle, the poorer the heat. You need to drill holes in the base of that thing like crazy. Othewise, you get the slowest burn ever and no heat at all on these units. It might help to drill more holes in the lid also. There is not much you can do about the placement of the holes underneath. They do clog up. You have to clear these with vigilance to get a clean burn.

Most important here is that once you make these mods, you still have a shallow burn area to place charcoal and it can screw up leveling the top grate for cooking. You need smaller fires and you have to add fuel more frequently.

I'm making these mods on mine this week.

I noted what Big said... but my plan all along was to buy one of those inserts for the 22 that allow for indirect grilling, have a built-in water container, and make for easy cleanup.

But an easy work around is to use foil to keep the ashes and coals away from the intake, eh? Why drill all the holes when you can just do that?

 

[KC_Bobby]

But the question was: was it the same as a Weber, or, at least, passable?

I think that's kind of like asking if an Suzuki Samurai is passable as a Jeep. The Samurai might manage the trail with some modifications and adjustments, but it's not a Jeep and isn't going to stand the test of time.

 

[Bigmista]

The turtle ended up on the porch.

Always good to have turtles on the perimeter. Check out posts about KCquer if you don't get the reference.

 

[btcg]

I think that's kind of like asking if an Suzuki Samurai is passable as a Jeep. The Samurai might manage the trail with some modifications and adjustments, but it's not a Jeep and isn't going to stand the test of time.

I looked into the Weber. The customer reviews, however, were quite mixed.

Some reported that their lids were out of round. Others complain about the drop in quality of the handles... and worse, the general overall drop in quality.

AND... many claim Weber is transitioning from American made to making their product in China.

One brother here was forced to consider drilling and adding screws to his brand new Weber: when he moves it, the front leg falls off.

Now, I have a real advantage in gaining information. My wife is one of the top International Trade attorney's in the country. I just called her, and asked her about Weber. Here's what she told me:

Weber's boxes say "Made in the USA" ... so the FTC demands that the content (labor and material) actually must be 100%, except for a de minimis amount (a lawyer word); which the lawyers define as 5%.
Now, they (the manufacturer) are supposed to track this, but often, do not.

If Weber is transitioning to Chinese manufacturing and American (USA) packaging, the FTC requires that the boxes state this.

BUT, surprisingly, many companies, shockingly large companies, are oblivious to these regulations. Hence why, she's so busy.

She gave an example of a major company she's helping now who were bringing in specialized equipment made in germany, removing the packaging and testing the product, sterilizing the product, and shipping it, after re-labeling it Made in USA.

So, it's possible that these customer reviews are correct, Weber is moving/out sourcing manufacturing, and they're simply unaware of these FTC regulations. The reader would be amazed at the identity of many of her clients (major world-wide companies) who found themselves in trouble over this issue.


So, are they transisitioning to China? Are parts like the lid and handles part of the de minimis 5%? Or, have the standards of their manufacturing simply... fallen off?

To me, it doesn't matter. As I noted, the grill I bought is of a remarkable quality, and, at $29.00, I can buy 3 for the price of 1 Weber Silver... a way better deal, IMO.

 

[btcg]

Always good to have turtles on the perimeter. Check out posts about KCquer if you don't get the reference.

I don't understand, but I'll check it out, thanks!

 

[1FUNVET]

So, what is the stuff in the white plastic bottle on the right side of the picture? I don't recognize it...

I think it is a bottle of weed killer.:becky:

 

[Smokey Al Gold]

I looked into the Weber. The customer reviews, however, were quite mixed.

Some reported that their lids were out of round. Others complain about the drop in quality of the handles... and worse, the general overall drop in quality.

AND... many claim Weber is transitioning from American made to making their product in China.

One brother here was forced to consider drilling and adding screws to his brand new Weber: when he moves it, the front leg falls off.

Now, I have a real advantage in gaining information. My wife is one of the top International Trade attorney's in the country. I just called her, and asked her about Weber. Here's what she told me:

Weber's boxes say "Made in the USA" ... so the FTC demands that the content (labor and material) actually must be 100%, except for a de minimis amount (a lawyer word); which the lawyers define as 5%.
Now, they (the manufacturer) are supposed to track this, but often, do not.

If Weber is transitioning to Chinese manufacturing and American (USA) packaging, the FTC requires that the boxes state this.

BUT, surprisingly, many companies, shockingly large companies, are oblivious to these regulations. Hence why, she's so busy.

She gave an example of a major company she's helping now who were bringing in specialized equipment made in germany, removing the packaging and testing the product, sterilizing the product, and shipping it, after re-labeling it Made in USA.

So, it's possible that these customer reviews are correct, Weber is moving/out sourcing manufacturing, and they're simply unaware of these FTC regulations. The reader would be amazed at the identity of many of her clients (major world-wide companies) who found themselves in trouble over this issue.


So, are they transisitioning to China? Are parts like the lid and handles part of the de minimis 5%? Or, have the standards of their manufacturing simply... fallen off?

To me, it doesn't matter. As I noted, the grill I bought is of a remarkable quality, and, at $29.00, I can buy 3 for the price of 1 Weber Silver... a way better deal, IMO.

I don't know where you're reading these reviews but pretty much everyone on this site will tell you Weber Kettles are the best. There isn't a Weber Kettle Appreciation Society for nothing. I do almost all my cooking/smoking on the kettle and it is an amazing cooking tool and you cannot beat it. Others will vouch. I've been to big lots and have seen that $29 dollar kettle and it's cheap thin metal IMO and not something I'd buy if I had the option between that and a weber. You can also find Weber's on craigslist for 30-40 dollars that are in great shape. Why buy 3 cheap kettles when you can spend the money and buy 1 good Weber that will outlast those 3 easily. Their customer service is excellent and the major parts of the kettle have a 10 year warranty. As far as outsourcing to China I haven't heard that they are manufactured in Illinois. Get you a Weber you'll be super happy with it. But if you like that 29 dollar kettle that is fine too. I always check with the brethren when I need good opinions. :-D

 

[btcg]

Al,

I read the reviews, mostly on Amazon.

Go there, and type in: Weber 751001

They're all still there.

Here's what one guy said about his:

"I have to say I am quite disappointed with this grill. After handing down my hand-me-down Charbroil due to a move, I was excited to get this Weber (my wife calls me a brand whore). My excitement abruptly dwindled. First of all, when I opened the box, I quickly realized that some of the parts were missing. When I finally did get the parts (a week later) and assembled the grill, I found that the lid did not fit the bowl well. While smoking a pork shoulder, I stood there watching the smoke pouring out of one side of the grill. When I measured the lid's diameter at several different points, I found that the lid was out-of-round by about 3-1/2 inches. Another thing I like about the Charbroil is the fact that you can adjust the height of the charcoal rack. With this weber grill, you have to throw in about 2 pounds of charcoal to cook 4 hamburgers. Wasteful. While Weber's customer service is excellent (which is the only reason I gave this 2 stars), I will tell anyone who will listen to go with the less expensive, albeit less glamorous, Charbroil. "

I have no doubt that the older Weber's were all great grills. Dated a girl that had one (in the early 90's) and it was a machine.

But things change Al.