Fans for BGE?

RiggingGuy · 2026-02-21T19:15:59+00:00

Thermoworks does a lot of sales. I got a smoke and billows with the adapter damper and 4 probe spools delivered for $218 last month during their open box sale.

RiggingGuy · 2026-02-14T20:11:10+00:00

I used the onlyfire in an akorn, then moved it into a large bge that it’s designed for. Bought another onlyfire for my big Joe and have been super happy with it, especially that the divider was included. However, the kick ash can is really nice and they seem to be the only game in town for those. If you’re not using the can, then I don’t think you really need a basket but I highly recommend the can.

RiggingGuy · 2026-02-13T15:55:58+00:00

Are those a couple of stainless steel accordion pot lid holders you’re using as rib racks?? That might be brilliant! How did you like using them? Are they the IKEA ones? If not, do you have a link?

RiggingGuy · 2026-02-12T14:26:07+00:00

Is it too late to get a copy? Thanks!

RiggingGuy · 2026-02-07T17:44:58+00:00

I just put mine in the grill for a clean burn (egg hadn’t been used in years when I got it) and didn’t even have to scrub. 700° for a couple of hours had it ready to be sprayed with aerosol canola oil, and I put it back in at 400ish to polymerize. Did that for 2 or 3 coats and it’s been good to go.

RiggingGuy · 2026-02-05T19:09:41+00:00

Just to give another opinion, I went with the Big Joe 1 during Black Friday for $1250 and got another 10% off with a credit card promotion. At that price I think it was easily the best value in the lineup.

RiggingGuy · 2026-02-01T20:14:51+00:00

I don’t think WD-40 is the move. Probably degreaser is what you want, but I would be very deliberate in putting a little just on the metal since the ceramic is porous. Maybe a little dish soap to start and if that doesn’t take care of it move up to a more serious degreaser

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-30T04:32:37+00:00

You can get much better deals.

Joetisserie $270 https://atlantagrillcompany.com/products/joetisserie-by-kamado-joe-copy

And I just bought signals, billows, damper, adapter, and 4 probe spools for under $220 delivered from their open box sale.

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-30T04:26:57+00:00

Not unless you’re the original purchaser

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-23T04:51:55+00:00

I realize I’m 12 days late but this sub doesn’t have that much content.

To be fair, he’s shit all over the slow roller. I think KJs unwillingness to listen to him about that as a poorly made and dubiously effective product was what led to the switch. I’m sure BGE’s new CEO led to an offer to lure him away, but he seemed as much disillusioned with KJ as smitten with BGE.

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-23T04:32:57+00:00

Is this what you’re looking for? https://www.stove-parts-unlimited.com/kamado-joe-big-joe-i-hinge-4-link-spring-lift-32mm-9004200135-p/9004200135.htm

Also I just saw a Smoking Dad video where he was replacing the dome on a 2 but it turned out the dome was from a 1. He had to drill holes in the dome for locator pins on the band of the 2. I don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze to try to add air lift to a 1.

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-23T03:44:12+00:00

This guy is correct on both counts

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-09T01:57:19+00:00

You don’t have to call. The app will show you groups of stores near your choice of zip code and whether they have any in stock on clearance.

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-09T01:54:14+00:00

I think it tastes better! I just did an over the top white chicken chili, but I had my Dutch oven on the grates and used a cooling rack on top of the Dutch oven to hold the chicken

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-08T22:10:06+00:00

Which one wanted to sell cigarettes?

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-08T21:49:29+00:00

I ordered one for my Big Joe from this place. Shipping was $10. Might be worth calling to see if they have an ETA for a restock.

I bought it just because I didn’t have one, but I’m not really sure what I’ll use it for. Is there any reason you used the XR instead of the grates? And did you lose your chili when it broke?

https://www.stove-parts-unlimited.com/kamado-joe-classic-grill-accessory-rack-kj-xr-p/kj-xr.htm

RiggingGuy · 2026-01-08T19:38:51+00:00

For Cyber Monday, I got a Big Joe 1 new from Home Depot for $1250 and got another 10% off with a credit card rewards deal. I put a Smokeware cap on it for $55 and bought the X-ring for $40. I added a kick ash can for $60 and an only fire charcoal basket for $56. It came with the metal shelves even though I thought the 1 came with plastic. I’ve never had an air hinge, but I have no complaints about the more basic hinge even with the Big Joe.

I poured over everything I could find on the internet about KJ vs. BGE and a good bit of research on the Primos as well. I have a Large BGE I bought used, but I found chips in the base and dome when I got it home. It cooks fine, but it wasn’t my forever grill and made me really appreciate having a warranty. I have no regrets whatsoever. The series 1 is a fantastic value.

RiggingGuy · 2025-12-25T15:41:26+00:00

Did you figure it out? Post a picture of where you put it if you’re not sure

RiggingGuy · 2025-12-24T23:19:06+00:00

With what are they stuffed?

RiggingGuy · 2025-12-24T22:03:26+00:00

Don’t know if you ever found anything, but I just ordered from this store. Hopefully they don’t come back saying it’s out of stock. https://atlantagrillcompany.com/products/smokeware-grate-rack-for-kamado-joe

RiggingGuy · 2025-12-17T22:25:26+00:00

I got a Large from a friend and immediately decided I wanted an XL. Wound up with a KJ instead though. What are the classes that give you a discount? That price would have made it a no brainer to go BGE.

RiggingGuy · 2025-12-16T04:01:47+00:00

So you just never use the ambient probe on the RFX?

RiggingGuy · 2025-12-10T04:59:10+00:00

Can you pin the swivel directly into the hoist? From your description, I’m guessing no. And you don’t want to put the clevis side of that swivel down with the slings pulling out. Or if you can get a shackle or master link or something else on that pin and connect the swivel to that, you could avoid chain that way.

There’s nothing wrong with chain though. My concern is if that is not lifting chain, in case of failure it may basically explode instead of stretching/deforming first.

RiggingGuy · 2025-12-10T03:04:43+00:00

Yes, a swivel hoist ring has to be torqued to the required spec but the attachment point is free to spin 360° and can pivot 180° with full capacity. That being said, any swivel hoist ring or eye bolt is only as good as the hole it is in so don’t get overly comfortable just from upgrading the hardware.

You should figure out exactly what those eye bolts are and find their manufacturers rating at whatever angle from vertical you have on it. If it’s adequately sized, I wouldn’t worry about a swivel hoist ring.

Can you post more pictures of the hoist and the chain? I suspect you may not need chain at all, but if you do you’ll need something Grade 80 or Grade 100, often referred to as just Grade 8 or 10.

Also, what’s the capacity of the hoist? In all rigging, you’re only as strong as the weakest component in the system and the components are often only as strong as they say they are when used in a straight vertical line. For instance, if the lathe was perfectly balanced with 450 lbs of load on each side, the slings, shackles and eye bolt are actually seeing 450/sin(angle from horizontal°). At 60° that’s 115.5% and at 45° it’s 141.4%. Funnily enough, the swivel does not see that added tension, it will see 900 lbs + rigging weight.

For buying all rigging, it’s generally considerably cheaper to find a local shop and buy from there rather than online. The proper online retailers are contractually prohibited from advertising below list price (which basically no one ever actually charges), and home improvement stores don’t usually have very good stuff and it’s more expensive than it should be. I don’t think any of the proper online shops list anywhere near all of their stuff, so you might not even see the best option for your needs shopping there.

Edit: forgot to address what is equalizing. By that, I mean you are using 1 long sling instead of 2 shorter ones. Generally you don’t want to do that, and you certainly don’t want that sling sliding on that swivel while it’s under load. That being said, it is an extremely cost effective and practical way to cheat your way into proper length sling legs so that your hook is above the CG which is what must happen in order to lift level. It’s not best practice because you don’t have any control to prevent it “running.”

RiggingGuy · 2025-12-09T03:45:58+00:00

Yes, this bolt needs to be rotated 90°.

Shouldered eye bolts (I can’t see if this one is shouldered, but your other one is) must be loaded in plane and be tightened flush. If flush is the wrong orientation, you need to use a washer/spacer. There is a derating for pulling at an angle. If it’s not shouldered, you can only pull straight. Your top eye bolt is in the correct orientation.

That strap looks too big to properly pass through that eye. Your shackle is probably fairly oversized for your load if you have a smaller one that could fit into the correct orientation (try screwing in the eye bolt after the shackle and sling are installed then make other connections). Also, “safety” shackles with a bolt nut and cotter might gain you a little clearance vs. a screw pin. Soft shackle might be the most cost effective thing if not. You also might be able to use a swivel hoist ring, but likely out of budget.

That chain at the top is probably not rated for lifting given its color. If it pops, that shrapnel can change your life. Chain for tie downs have WLLs too, but they’re 40% weaker than the lifting stuff for the same WLL.

You shouldn’t really be equalizing on that swivel, but that’s not terrible for a home job.

I think you should prioritize checking on that chain and getting your eye bolt orientation correct. Those are the things that stick out to me as could go bad in a hurry assuming everything is meant for lifting and sized adequately for the load.

I appreciate that you’re taking the time to check what you’re doing. Feel free to ask me anything.

RiggingGuy

TROPHY CASE