An ash removal idea.

[NCGrimbo]

My last cook went longer than I normally go due to the weather and the amount of food I cooked. One thing that I noticed was a large buildup of ash in the bandera's firebox. So I got to thinking and now I've actually come up with an idea. I need you guys to tell my what's good and bad about the idea and if you can think of another way to get rid of the ash in the middle of a cook.

Situation:
Firebox has a spicewine charcoal basket (Thanks Spice!!!) sitting on the metal grate that came with the bandera. This metal grate originally sat in a 1/2 inch high metal ash pan, which I don't use due to the fact it restricts the airflow under the basket. After a few hours, the ash from the wonderful new Kingsford coals falls down and fills the space under the basket.

Current way of dealing with it:
I currently take a stick or dowel and poke and prod under the basket in an attempt to move the ash to one side or pull it out onto the patio. Most of the times, as I clear a space, it will fill with more ash.

The new idea:
Drill five or six holes in the bottem of the firebox and have my neighbor weild an ash box to the botten of the firebox. Make sure there's a door to remove the ash.

I was also thinking about having some baffles installed on the ash box door similar to the door that came on the bandera's firebox put.

So, let's hear what you all think.

 

[The_Kapn]

What is the current distance from the bottom of the basket to the bottom of the firebox?
You need 4 inches or so for airflow.
If you have the necessary 4 inches, a little fireplace shovel works perfect to remove the ashes out the door.
KISS.

Just an idea.

TIM

 

[kickassbbq]

NCG,
If you used 100% Lump you shouldn't have enough ash to worry about even with a 15 hour smoke. If you are using briquettes there is going to be a need for that tray. Pretty good idea.
Smoke On!!!!!!!!!

 

[BBQchef33]

i used an old garden trowel with a broken handle(i then cut to about 2 foot long) The blade was waht seemed about 3 inches high, so it fit perfectly under the firegrate. Just reached in an pulled the ash out into metal bucket.

K.I.S.S.

 

[kcquer]

Firebox has a spicewine charcoal basket (Thanks Spice!!!) sitting on the metal grate that came with the bandera.

Aren't those designed to use the hangers in the firebox?

 

[NCGrimbo]

Aren't those designed to use the hangers in the firebox?

What is the current distance from the bottom of the basket to the bottom of the firebox?

Here's where the problem may lie. I'm not hanging the basket at all. It sits on the grate that came with the Bandera and is about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch off the floor of the fire box.

 

[NCGrimbo]

NCG,
If you used 100% Lump you shouldn't have enough ash to worry about even with a 15 hour smoke. If you are using briquettes there is going to be a need for that tray. Pretty good idea.
Smoke On!!!!!!!!!

I use briquettes. The only place near me that I've seen selling lump is BBQ Galore and it's $15 for a 20lb bag. That's about 3 or 4 times as expensive as what I can pay for a 20lb bag of Kingsford when I get it on sale.

 

[The_Kapn]

Here's where the problem may lie. I'm not hanging the basket at all. It sits on the grate that came with the Bandera and is about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch off the floor of the fire box.

BINGO :lol:

Raise it 3 to 4 inches and the rest will fall into line.

TIM

 

[thillin]

Here's where the problem may lie. I'm not hanging the basket at all. It sits on the grate that came with the Bandera and is about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch off the floor of the fire box.

Tim was pointing out that the basket is designed to use the side tabs to give it 4 inches of airflow. Is there a reason you're not using it this way?

 

[Brauma]

Keep your eyes and ears out for lump. There's bound to be a source nearby.

Raise your firebasket like Tim says and go lump if possible. Briquettes makes a heck of a lot of ash.

I start with briqs then go to real wood.

 

[Kevin]

Here's an end view of my SKD's grate. Raised up by flat iron on the sides as the SKD has no fire grate tabs. The factory ash pan fits right underneath and can be removed during the cook.

 

[JohnMcD348]

I actually installed a set of the rack sets on my SKD. I had a set sent to me by a Brethren nearly as soon as I joined ( Thanks Again Tim) and I ordered one more set. Wasn't hard at all to install and now my Spicewine basket sets perfect in the box and I can go for about 3 hours or sowithout needing to tend the fires. The fireplace shovel is the best thing I've found to get rid of teh excess ash. I bought a set I saw on clearence at Home Depot one day.

 

[kcquer]

The fireplace shovel is the best thing I've found to get rid of teh excess ash.

Room for ash is good, but on long cooks you still need to get rid of that stuff. Collected ash will often have enough glowing embers still in there to ignite fresh fuel before you want it to.
Those glowing coals also steal a lot of incoming air from the main fire, and can make temp management a real pain in the arse.

My Cimarron came with an ash rake shaped to fit the round firebox. I use the flat side in the BSKD and just drag the ash out into one of those oversized dustpans you see at Lowes/HD, then into the ash can.

 

[bbqinNC]

I don't use a basket but I do have my grate sitting on the lowest tab. This gives me plenty of space for the fire to breath and the stock ash pan to collect the ash. Since I use wood, I have only had one or two occasions to have to empty the ash pan during a cook. Even if I was to use charcoal, it is no problem to empty the pan in a few seconds.

 

[NCGrimbo]

Great information brothers. Thanks. When I get home tonight I'm going to take a look at how I've got the basket and see how I can get it hanging. So my next question is this: Is the grate that came with the Bandera designed to sit on the tabs in the firebox? I remember not being able to determine that from the waterlogged and ruined instructions that came with my Bandera.

 

[Jorge]

Great information brothers. Thanks. When I get home tonight I'm going to take a look at how I've got the basket and see how I can get it hanging. So my next question is this: Is the grate that came with the Bandera designed to sit on the tabs in the firebox? I remember not being able to determine that from the waterlogged and ruined instructions that came with my Bandera.

The included grate was intended to sit inside the ash pan.

 

[kcquer]

Is the grate that came with the Bandera designed to sit on the tabs in the firebox?

Jorge is correct about the firegrate.

The tabs in the firebox are actually for the firebox cooking grate for use when grilling, so you can have different distances between the coals and food.

For those that don't yet have a basket or firegrate mod, the factory firegrate can be inverted and rotated 90 degrees and used on the tabs.

To "hang" your basket, I believe it needs to be lowered in from the top and then slid into postition on one of the sets of tabs. Maybe someone with a 'Dera and a basket can verify or correct me on this, and tell you which set of tabs.