Rigging up a Weber grill

I am wondering if any of you have ever succeeded in rigging up your Weber kettle grill so that the charcoal/dust does not fly all over the place while lighting the grill. I have had my grill for 20 years and it is still in perfect condition but it lives on my porch which is partially covered and as I am trying to keep my outdoor area clean and pleasant--it is constantly covered with a layer of soot and char. I don't want to have to purchase a whole new grill with one of those nifty steel catchers if I don't have to--let me know if you have any good solutions. Thanks!

Hi Nancy - my recs would be to either use a chimney starter over a metal bucket or bin in a designated area, rattling gently before transferring the coals to the kettle, or playing with your vents. On my Weber Performer, if I'm not using the gas starter or chimney I start with vents half-closed, then open after they've started to take. If I'm using the lid at all, I make sure to narrow both the lid and kettle vents, since two wide open vents + Weber lid usually = ash ghosts flying all over your chops.

Edit on reread: if it's ash coming out the bottom rather than flaking up from the top of the pile, you can get a replacement (or first-time) ash catcher from Weber, or Amazon has a bunch of gadgets. Metal bucket + cinder block also does the trick. I saw but can't find at the moment a DIY website for converting any kettle using the $7 One-Touch replacement kit.

I spent a few years grilling on a roof. I was really worried about the cinders flying when I dumped the chimney into the kettle and ended up buying an electric starter. It took awhile to get the charcoal lit (20-30 minutes) but I didn't have any embers flying around.

Thanks guys--my issue is really about the ash falling out the bottom (into the ash catcher tray which I have) while the grill is getting lit with the chimney. The wind blows everything out of the tray onto my porch. The upgraded Webers have an enclosed steel cylindrical case that encloses the ash--I was wondering whether anyone had ever successfully jerry-rigged something like that since Weber does not sell anything to retro-fit a kettle grill into one of these newer models. Sorry for any confusion in my line of questioning...

No problem - have you thought about getting a piece of expanded metal and some snips to cut it so it fits over the coal grate? That would stop many pieces from falling through. Filling the tray with water would be something else that helps.

nancy wrote:Thanks guys--my issue is really about the ash falling out the bottom (into the ash catcher tray which I have) while the grill is getting lit with the chimney.

Purchase a second charcoal grate set it perpendicular to the original forming a crosshatch, problem solved.

Replaced my Weber kettle with an ash catcher model 5-6 years ago, old one wore out after 15-years, and it works like a charm. No more ash flying from an open ash catcher.

Enjoy,
Gary

Thanks so much guys! Great idea about the water and the double grate--and I might just break down and get the new grill even though mine is not worn out--any suggestions on best place to purchase the new one at the best price?

And--one more thing, when you dump your coals out of the chimney and you are scattering them--are there any creative ways that you contain that "ash splash"?

Nancy - one other tip..if you are using briquettes switch to lump..you wills tillget ash but not near as much as what briquettes produce