Steve Calvin wrote:

May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run

Aye. The best value is usually not found at either end of the price
spectrum. That's because value is the combination of cost and
features/durability -- not just about cost.


--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org
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"Blinky the Shark" wrote

Steve Calvin wrote:

May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run

Aye. The best value is usually not found at either end of the price
spectrum. That's because value is the combination of cost and
features/durability -- not just about cost.

Same applies to cars ... there's usually one model that is at the crosshairs
of price and features. That's the one you want. Not the most expensive
or cheapest.

That's how I wound up with my Weber, I read Consumer Reports and
it ranked higher than much more expensive models, and lower than a
couple of much more expensive models. For the money, that's what
I chose. Never been sorry, either.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:

Same applies to cars ... there's usually one model that is at the crosshairs
of price and features. That's the one you want. Not the most expensive
or cheapest.

That's how I wound up with my Weber, I read Consumer Reports and
it ranked higher than much more expensive models, and lower than a
couple of much more expensive models. For the money, that's what
I chose. Never been sorry, either.

nancy

I can't imagine shopping for big ticket items without input from CR.
I have NEVER been led wrong by their reviews.
I'm always baffled to hear people say they never read it.

"aem" wrote in message
...
On May 15, 8:46 am, meatnub wrote:
snip

$700 for a grill seems a little obscene. But since my wife and I both
work, and have a 1 yr old son, I'd like to come home after work
sometime and fire up the gas grill and get to cooking without waiting
20-30 mins for coals to turn white and end up eating at 7-7:30 instead
of 6:30.

You will find yourself using it more than you expect. No question it
has earned its keep at our house.

I agree! Whenever it's not raining (and sometimes when it is), we find ourselves
grilling almost
every night. Lately, I'd say we've grilled 10 out of every 12 dinners, and some
lunches. And, one
recent Saturday, we made breakfast on the grill and ate on the deck in the early
morning watching
the sun try to overcome the marine layer. It was lovely.

kimberly

On Thu, 15 May 2008 09:47:04 -0700 (PDT), Karen
wrote:

I'm really glad you got this thread going! I've been looking for a
patio-sized grill w/ rotisserie. I think a charcoal grill with a gas-
starter is the way to go. Diamond Grills has something like this, but
they're so big and expensive.

Check out the Weber Performer.
http://www.weber.com/bbq/pub/grill/2...coal/cg_p.aspx

Seems to run right around $300, or a bit less.

"Every single religion that has a monotheistic god
winds up persecuting someone else."
-Philip Pullman
--
-denny-
(not as curmudgeonly as I useta be)

Steve Calvin wrote:
May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run


Weber Genesis B 10 years old Used year round in New York State
replaced ignition once (a month ago)

Cheap assed Brinkmann gasser. 3 years old, and need to replace the igniter
assembly and shields.

$160.00 Used year 'round in central Texas

(It'll be a Webber next time)

Nancy Young wrote:


"Blinky the Shark" wrote

Steve Calvin wrote:

May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run

Aye. The best value is usually not found at either end of the price
spectrum. That's because value is the combination of cost and
features/durability -- not just about cost.

Same applies to cars ... there's usually one model that is at the crosshairs
of price and features. That's the one you want. Not the most expensive
or cheapest.

Same applies to everything. My comment wasn't limited in scope.

That's how I wound up with my Weber, I read Consumer Reports and
it ranked higher than much more expensive models, and lower than a
couple of much more expensive models. For the money, that's what
I chose. Never been sorry, either.

There ya go.

--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org
NEW -- Now evaluating a GG-free news feed: http://usenet4all.se

Steve Calvin wrote:

May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run

I buy an El Cheapo Brinkman smoker every ~2-4 years for about $32
each. Not beacuse they wear out, but because I move around a lot
and they're not practical to travel with. I travel light. What I
can't carry, UPS ships to me.

-sw

Sqwertz wrote:
Steve Calvin wrote:
May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run

I buy an El Cheapo Brinkman smoker every ~2-4 years for about $32
each. �Not beacuse they wear out, but because I move around a lot
and they're not practical to travel with. �I travel light. �What I
can't carry, UPS ships to me.

Of course you need to travel light... normal folks have a home, they
don't constantly get evicted from their one room basement appartment
hovels... sqwertz never lived long enough in one place to use an
entire roll of terlit paper.

Sheldon wrote:

Sqwertz wrote:
Steve Calvin wrote:
May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run

I buy an El Cheapo Brinkman smoker every ~2-4 years for about $32
each. �Not beacuse they wear out, but because I move around a lot
and they're not practical to travel with. �I travel light. �What I
can't carry, UPS ships to me.

Of course you need to travel light... normal folks have a home, they
don't constantly get evicted from their one room basement appartment
hovels... sqwertz never lived long enough in one place to use an
entire roll of terlit paper.

I can't imagine living like you. You never get out of the house and
do 99% of your shopping sitting on your ass in front of the
computer.

Some of us get out and experience the world, and still have a life
in front of us. We don't sit down one last time and get rancid,
like yourself.

-sw

Steve Calvin wrote in news:482c92ec$0$11607
:

May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run


Weber Genesis B 10 years old Used year round in New York State
replaced ignition once (a month ago)


--
Steve


My Bakers & Chefs propane grill that I bought 8+ years ago at Sam's is
just now showing some age. The manufacturer is Grand Hall
www.grandhall.com who make branded grills for numerous other companies.

It has very heavy cast iron burners and enamalized cast iron grill
plates. I kept most parts seasoned with Crisco each year after a good
cleaning so they have held up remakably well.

The heat plates and grease trap unde the grill are just now
deteriorating. Those are the only parts I need to replace. I'm probably
looking at less than $200 plus shipping so I'm probably going to do so. I
figure I'll get at least another 5 years if not more from it and I use it
year round. I do wish it had a side burnign but I wasn't sure I'd want
one when I bought it, but it does have a great rotissere burner and motor
that has seen plenty of use.

I think they still make the Sam's Members Mark brand and I'd have to give
the high marks. This has been the best gas grill I've ever owned.

"meatnub" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking about getting my first gas grill. From all the research
and reviews I've been reading, it seems the only gas grill *worth*
buying are the more expensive ones (in most cases) since "you get what
you pay for".

The Weber Genesis seems to garner favorable reviews.

Then there is the Broil King Crown series, which I found 1 decent
review on about.com , comes with a rotisserie. And that's something I
want to do, cook juicy chickens/turkeys/roasts on the grill,
rotisserie style.

Then there is Char-Broil. They seem to get mixed reviews.

$700 for a grill seems a little obscene. But since my wife and I both
work, and have a 1 yr old son, I'd like to come home after work
sometime and fire up the gas grill and get to cooking without waiting
20-30 mins for coals to turn white and end up eating at 7-7:30 instead
of 6:30.

I'm Xposting to both cooking and barbecue groups because I'd think
some of you would own grills and perhaps could chime in.

Thanks in advance


The only thing I can add is if you buy a gas grill from Sears, get the
service contract. I bought one of the bigger ones 7 years ago. I found out
it was made in china (Kenmore) and was made cheaply. Over the past 7 years,
most if not all of the internal parts have been replaced several times-under
contract fortunately. The cost of replacing those parts woould have been 3
or 4 times the cost of the grill.

On the other hand, I also have a Weber from Sears-again with the contract.
After a few years it was no longer 'fixable' according to Sears. They gave
me a $450 credit toward a new one-okay!

Xpost deleted

Kswck wrote:

The only thing I can add is if you buy a gas grill from Sears, get the
service contract. I bought one of the bigger ones 7 years ago. I
found out it was made in china (Kenmore) and was made cheaply.

If it hasn't been mentioned already (I haven't read through the thread) take
a look at the grills carried by Costco.
--
Dave www.davebbq.com

What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan

Sqwertz wrote:
Sheldon wrote:

Sqwertz wrote:
Steve Calvin wrote:
May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run
I buy an El Cheapo Brinkman smoker every ~2-4 years for about $32
each. �Not beacuse they wear out, but because I move around a lot
and they're not practical to travel with. �I travel light. �What I
can't carry, UPS ships to me.
Of course you need to travel light... normal folks have a home, they
don't constantly get evicted from their one room basement appartment
hovels... sqwertz never lived long enough in one place to use an
entire roll of terlit paper.

I can't imagine living like you. You never get out of the house and
do 99% of your shopping sitting on your ass in front of the
computer.

Some of us get out and experience the world, and still have a life
in front of us. We don't sit down one last time and get rancid,
like yourself.

-sw

Don't forget that Shelly has *six* cats! I can't imagine the stench in
that hell hole.

-dk

This is all based on several concepts:

1. Location, i.e., environmental exposure. I live on the gulf coast, hence
rust is a major issue here.

2. Storage - I converted our garage (detached) into a garage apartment for
my older daughter, so lost that storage area. I do have a shed but with a
pool, and six kids, it has more camping gear, pool supplies, etc. Even with
covers purchased for my past smokers, grills, fryers, etc. They still get
soaked during our rainy season.

3. Usage - I enter into a lot of competition cooking so I may use my cooking
appliances more, furthermore with six kids, three of which in college, they
tend to request parties more than most kids. I grill weekly, smoke brisket,
hens, pork at least twice a month. Crawfish and fish fry at least once a
month. Now the above mention is just for my family. Throw in competition
cooking during the fall and summer, that is a lot of usage.

4. Price - I see no difference! From the higher end, after two years I see
rust, burners clogging, internal gas feed lines rust way before the body
starts to rust. All I would do is cry and buy a new one. I would gut the
system for spare parts, with everything else going out in heavy trash.
Cheaper systems have lasted longer at times and others lasted just two
years. I have learned to keep it at between $100.00 to $150.00 on portable
smokers, e.g., Smokey Mountain. They have 6 racks that can be relocated for
grilling or smoking. Although it is called a smoker it can grill just fine.
I am not endorsing said product, for at best it is on it's last leg after
three (3) years.

5. Repairs and up-keep - As noted above and also in this group, how often
you clean the internal parts will determine how long they last. I have
noticed that the body will last longer than internal parts but replacement
parts may exceed total replacing of the system.

I am 1/2 way through building a brick smoker and have considered spending
the big bucks on the egg (komando cookers) for competition cooking since it
is portable.

NOW I THROW THIS QUESTION OUT TO DAVE AND THE GROUP:

Although my background is in physics I have worked in the oil and gas
industry for years. My question is, quality of LP gas. We live on the gulf
coast and produce a lot of LP gas. BUT the quality varies from refinery
just like we have sour natural gas and sweet natural gas down here. Most of
our sweet natural gas is shipped up north while the southern states get
dumped with the sour natural gas. Heating is never an issue but you notice
it in confined spaces, like water heater storage areas where you can smell
the sour gas burn-off. Sour gas clogs, decreases the overall life of
burners, and destroys systems when the sulfur content gets too high.

Is there anyone who knows if there are different grades of LP gas for
cooking? I know that there are some different grades for those who utilize
LP gas for home use, i.e., heating and have storage tanks. But is there any
different grades in the smaller bottles for cooking. There are several
grades for calibration and testing (EPA/ANSI) that the refineries utilize.
I suspect the portable bottles get dumped with a lower quality of LP Gas!

"DK" wrote in message
...
Sqwertz wrote:
Sheldon wrote:

Sqwertz wrote:
Steve Calvin wrote:
May be interesting if we post the Make, model, age and use frequency
just for comparison. A cheaper grill that you have to rebuild/replace
frequently may actually cost more in the long run
I buy an El Cheapo Brinkman smoker every ~2-4 years for about $32
each. ?Not beacuse they wear out, but because I move around a lot
and they're not practical to travel with. ?I travel light. ?What I
can't carry, UPS ships to me.
Of course you need to travel light... normal folks have a home, they
don't constantly get evicted from their one room basement appartment
hovels... sqwertz never lived long enough in one place to use an
entire roll of terlit paper.

I can't imagine living like you. You never get out of the house and
do 99% of your shopping sitting on your ass in front of the
computer.

Some of us get out and experience the world, and still have a life
in front of us. We don't sit down one last time and get rancid,
like yourself.

-sw

Don't forget that Shelly has *six* cats! I can't imagine the stench in
that hell hole.

-dk