Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: TheBoy on 15 May 2016, 15:42:43
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I have an emergency el-cheap Tesco BBQ bucket, but I can't seem to keep it alight.
It will need decent airflow from underneath, won't it?
The "basket" for the charcoal only has 5 tiny holes, 4 2mm, and a central one about 4mm, as shown in pic:
(http://theboy.omegaowners.com/oofpics/odds/bbq_bucket.JPG)
That's not going to allow enough air, is it:
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BBQ lighter fluid I think will help get it going.... :-\
These type of BBQ's, the charcoal is usually soaked with fluid, which if you have had it some time, has probably all evaporated.
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I wouldn't think so and if it sat on the floor they will be even less use I would drill some holes around the outside low down to get the air flowing through
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I would say you want more ventilation and ideally some sort of steel mesh to keep the coals above the base and blocking the holes. This is how my cast iron BBQ works with no problem lighting and burning the brickets right the way through. :y
Alternatively, you could, err..... maybe not. :-X
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I would say you want more ventilation and ideally some sort of steel mesh to keep the coals above the base and blocking the holes. This is how my cast iron BBQ works with no problem lighting and burning the brickets right the way through. :y
Alternatively, you could, use petrol :-X
Fixed for you Mr Rods :y ;D
A gallon of Tesco's Finest should get a good blaze going ::) ;D
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There's a wire frame which sits in the bucket and allows plenty of airflow around the fire bucket...
Those are best used with self lighting charcoal bags :y
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Oh Christ, another potential big bang.
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Get your can of brake cleaner out ::)
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Get your can of brake cleaner out ::)
Just saw this was a thread by TB.....scrap what I just said ;D
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Just put it in the garage, all will be fine ;D
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Can we but see the headline's on the local news :o.
My mum always told me not to play with fire.
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Who let you buy a BBQ?
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Lookslike a snare drum
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You've got an LPG car, have you ever thought of converting your bucket BBQ to the easy to use convenience of LPG? Safe as houses, what could possibly go wrong? ::) ::) ::) ::)
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There's a wire frame which sits in the bucket and allows plenty of airflow around the fire bucket...
Those are best used with self lighting charcoal bags :y
no i think what you have there is the inner bucket which sits in another bucket with bigger air holes. i guess the idea is the inner bucket is to be a bit thermally insulated and get very hot, the small holes will let it last longer. (http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTI1WDUwMA==/z/fPwAAOSwa-dWor93/$_57.JPG)
if that image doesn't work try www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262254583401 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262254583401)
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I don't know why you don't get one of those LPG ones :-\
Apparently they go down a blast at parties and with a little practice, the taste of those sausages will blow your garage door off mind :y :D
6828
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A gallon of Tesco's Finest should get a good blaze going ::) ;D
Indeed it did. Well, probably only about 1/4 of a gallon. But it wouldn't keep it lit for more than a few mins - to the point of when putting more petrol on, it wouldn't ignite without a blowtorch (ran out of matches)
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There's a wire frame which sits in the bucket and allows plenty of airflow around the fire bucket...
Those are best used with self lighting charcoal bags :y
no i think what you have there is the inner bucket which sits in another bucket with bigger air holes. i guess the idea is the inner bucket is to be a bit thermally insulated and get very hot, the small holes will let it last longer. (http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTI1WDUwMA==/z/fPwAAOSwa-dWor93/$_57.JPG)
if that image doesn't work try www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262254583401 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262254583401)
That looks to be exactly it.
I can't see how it can draw air in??
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There's a wire frame which sits in the bucket and allows plenty of airflow around the fire bucket...
Those are best used with self lighting charcoal bags :y
no i think what you have there is the inner bucket which sits in another bucket with bigger air holes. i guess the idea is the inner bucket is to be a bit thermally insulated and get very hot, the small holes will let it last longer. (http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTI1WDUwMA==/z/fPwAAOSwa-dWor93/$_57.JPG)
if that image doesn't work try www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262254583401 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262254583401)
That looks to be exactly it.
I can't see how it can draw air in??
That's because that Migmog cant is trying yet again to make me look stupid rather than answer the actual question... >:(
Pics to follow... :y
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There should be four stampings towards the base of the bucket...
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y486/05omegav6/Bucket%20BBQ/DSC_0064_zps5pighq4h.jpg)
These, in turn, support an internal wire frame...
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y486/05omegav6/Bucket%20BBQ/DSC_0065_zpsf0mqdzhx.jpg)
The fire bucket, as shown in your first picture, sits on this wire frame...
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y486/05omegav6/Bucket%20BBQ/DSC_0066_zpsmuhsqgvm.jpg)
The fire bucket should be drawing air through the four holes in the outer bucket and then through the five holes in the fire bucket.
No reason why you couldn't drill more holes in the fire bucket, but air supply to the base of it should be perfectly adequate :y
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yes holes do look small compared to a bbq with the vents open, i think the theory is it doesn't need as much air supply as the inner bucket is insulated and won't cool down as much so doesn't need so much energy input to keep burning. so its a bit more difficult to start but when going it should stay going longer.
or it may be that they just saved some money on drill bits or hole stamps when making it :).
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Didn't it come with instructions ::) ;D
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That is exactly how mine is HTK.
But it goes out after once the flames go (ie, firelighters and petrol run out). Blowtorch will briefly get the charcoal glowing again, but goes out again.
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Didn't it come with instructions ::) ;D
Yes. Useless.
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I would get a chimney starter to get the charcoal going, then tip it in once it's burning well.
Without any adjustment on the air inlet, I'm not sure you'd get enough air to get it lit, without it then turning into a blast furnace that ruins any food that goes near it. :-\
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Could try another four holes outboard of the existing four and go from there :-\
Not sure I would add further holes to the cosmetic bucket as it would then lose its function as a container...
How are you fuelling it? Not used mine yet, but thinking it through, perhaps less is more... start small and build it up once established rather than using bags... half a small disposable one might also do it, literally half the charcoal and cut the starter sheet in half and trim to fit...
Will try mine later in the week if I feel upto it :y
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I whacked in a few firelighter cubes, and piled up 6 or 7 charcoal lumps around it. It started as expected, and after half an hour or so, went to the grey with a glow. Chucked food on, and it started well, then went out. Added petrol to get flames again to get the charcoal to start again, but after the flames, it went out again. And again, and again....
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I whacked in a few firelighter cubes, and piled up 6 or 7 charcoal lumps around it. It started as expected, and after half an hour or so, went to the grey with a glow. Chucked food on, and it started well, then went out. Added petrol to get flames again to get the charcoal to start again, but after the flames, it went out again. And again, and again....
What were you cooking, a mouse for the cat?
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I whacked in a few firelighter cubes, and piled up 6 or 7 charcoal lumps around it. It started as expected, and after half an hour or so, went to the grey with a glow. Chucked food on, and it started well, then went out. Added petrol to get flames again to get the charcoal to start again, but after the flames, it went out again. And again, and again....
What were you cooking, a mouse for the cat?
I was (probably incorrectly) working on the principle that once glowing, you normally spread the coals out to make a single layer on the grate that holds the charcoal up in a traditional BBQ.
As the pictured fuel bucket is only about 7 or 8" across, it was enough to easily cover the bottom.....
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Are you using lumpwood charcoal or briquettes?
Briquettes need a lot of heat in them to start them burning as they are quite dense. Lumpwood lights much easier.
Also, using a liquid "accelerant", especially if air supply is limited, it will burn off above the coals and not get heat into them. I have a supply of kindling wood standing in a container of diesel for lighting mine. Works every time but smokes "a bit". ::)
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I whacked in a few firelighter cubes, and piled up 6 or 7 charcoal lumps around it. It started as expected, and after half an hour or so, went to the grey with a glow. Chucked food on, and it started well, then went out. Added petrol to get flames again to get the charcoal to start again, but after the flames, it went out again. And again, and again....
A grid, over a steel base, with wood and charcoal mix, works every time.
Best advice to you Jaime is get SWIMBO to cook your steaks on a griddle indoors. ;D ;D ;)
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I wish someone would come over and sort my neighbours BBQ out. It stinks to high heaven most of the time, (not just on startup). I,m surprised he hasn,t poisoned himself and his wife by now. :D
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The issue is not with lighting it. I can get it started nicely. Its keeping it lit.
Using charcoal briquettes.
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Chuck it and buy a gas BBQ! :y
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Chuck it and buy a gas BBQ! :y
Whilst convenient, you really need a smokebox to get a gas one to make the grub taste BBQ'd. After ages with gas, I went back to charcoal a few years back :)
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Chuck it and buy a gas BBQ! :y
Whilst convenient, you really need a smokebox to get a gas one to make the grub taste BBQ'd. After ages with gas, I went back to charcoal a few years back :)
You must have cleaned it! :o ::) ;D
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Chuck it and buy a gas BBQ! :y
Whilst convenient, you really need a smokebox to get a gas one to make the grub taste BBQ'd. After ages with gas, I went back to charcoal a few years back :)
You must have cleaned it! :o ::) ;D
Clean? How do you do that? Sounds suspiciously like a pink job to me ;D
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The issue is not with lighting it. I can get it started nicely. Its keeping it lit.
Using charcoal briquettes.
Use good quality lumpwood charcoal ;)
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The issue is not with lighting it. I can get it started nicely. Its keeping it lit.
Using charcoal briquettes.
Use good quality lumpwood charcoal ;)
Agreed. Always easier on a fussy BBQ. I only use Briquettes in my smoker these days, and only because I have to keep that going for 10 hours.
Hmm. Must be overdue a beef brisket, actually. Might pop into the butchers tomorrow. :-*
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The issue is not with lighting it. I can get it started nicely. Its keeping it lit.
Using charcoal briquettes.
Use good quality lumpwood charcoal ;)
(and Kevin) thanks for the tip :y. Unless I plan ahead, it'll be whatever Tesco sell, probably their own
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Chuck it and buy a gas BBQ! :y
Whilst convenient, you really need a smokebox to get a gas one to make the grub taste BBQ'd. After ages with gas, I went back to charcoal a few years back :)
Me too,gas doesn't cook the same