this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2023
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I've owned both Charmate, and Weber charcoal BBQs; and the latter is (or at least was when I bought this one 15 years ago) much better build quality. But if you can keep them in a garage, ideally out of any damp - or worst case under a cover and give them air time they will both last just fine. There's absolutely nothing wrong with Charmate's products, and some stuff can be improved with BBQ gasket seals etc if necessary; so bang for buck Charmate these days is absolutely the way to go.
Only reason I gave my Charmate to my little brother is because I went ham & bought an Oklahoma Joe Bronco which is a whole different class altogether and really put the Weber stuff into a brand overpriced category for me. I do really like their Q series of gas grills though.
One of the big things for internal rust is to make sure the ashes etc are removed once they are cold and not left in the BBQ for a long time - as they attract moisture and cause the fire grates to rust etc. And counter to most kiwi's attitudes to their BBQs, take the cooking grates out to clean them & let them dry after every cook too :)
If you haven't already - get a chimney fire starter as they just make the whole thing so much easier and faster to get going!
Aren’t the Bronco’s about $1000 anyway? I don’t think they’re really comparable to the kettles as they’re more of a drum smoker that can be used as a grill. I’ve been using a MasterTouch kettle for awhile and it’s been worth it. It’s even been knocked over in strong winds and come out unscathed (except needing a little enamel paint on one spot).
I’ve been watching the prices of OKJ gear and it’s honestly about the same as Weber now, except a way shorter warranty. I do think the Weber Smokey mountains are overpriced though.
Yeah they're around that, though I got mine for quite a bit less on a sale. They're definitely more of a smoker, though a kettle can be used the same too, and the Bronco can adapt to bring the coals up higher in the drum to work as a direct grill. Though I was so impressed with the build quality that I actually ended up buying a Rambler a couple years later for grilling and use one of the Espeto Sul rotisseries with that. Have been using that more than the Bronco lately, trying to perfect charcoal porchetta!
The most direct comparison for the Bronco would be the Smokey - and for price vs build quality i'd go with the OKJ; the steel is just so much thicker, and the arrangement with the chimneys makes them so much easier to use apart from re-fuelling which can be a bit of a pain. Though i've never had much problem keeping a fire hot enough for 10 hours of cooking and rarely go longer than that anyway.
Haha yes I've got an Espeto Sul as well, it's a fun little bit of kit.
I've toyed with the idea of getting a dedicated smoker and just using the kettle for grilling, but I think I don't do low and slow often enough (or have the time at the moment) to warrant one. I've been watching the prices for the Bronco's for a few years and they have crept up a couple hundred dollars. Yeah not a huge fan of bullet style smokers either, but I've noticed some of the other brands can get pretty big discounts once in while.
I'm just waiting until I win lotto or something and I'll just get a Summit Kamado.
Ahaha, yeah a Bronco seems expensive until you start looking into Kamado style. Hell even the giant hooded Gas grills are ludicrous, but then they are the Ford Ranger of BBQ so I guess it comes with the territory.
I only do low & slow once in a while, but the hope is with something as sturdy as the Bronco it'll last me a couple of decades or more.
Thanks, that's solid advice. I put it together last night and it seems robust enough, so like you say if I can keep it clean and avoid rust it should last
BBQing gear is just one of those things that gets nerded out over too much. At the end of the day the fundamentals is heat, how much, and where you've got it. And learning how to control all of that is more a matter of time than gear.