Lets talk about grills

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Damn, I thought this was about girls....

Originally Posted by u crank

I wish it was about girls.

I doubt they'd appreciate being laid out over hot coals

[Rockstar]

For the prepper, back country camper or for a quick cup of coffee when the power goes out. When I go into the wild for a few days I take my Optimus cooker. On windy days it does require a wind screen, but that's an easy fix.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

For the prepper, back country camper or for a quick cup of coffee when the power goes out. When I go into the wild for a few days I take my Optimus cooker. On windy days it does require a wind screen, but that's an easy fix.

Optimus makes some good gear, I have the Polaris. Used it just three times, however. No wilderness over here. I just enjoy these things for the sake of what they are and how well they are made. Collector's item, so to speak.

I am shifting towards the Ecozoom Versa rocket stove, due to its versatility (coal and biomass/wood burning), and the charms of open fire (wood really burns quzite high out of the opening, also it is quite safe, produces less smell neighbours could complain about, and no flying sparks if having a pot placed on the top:






with a Petromax cast iron grid to process meat over coal,



This beign an option for later:



while I already have a huge wok-pan made of cast iron in use, a Swedish model (Skeppshult):



I am not certain I have use for a Dutch oven, I do not plan to cook ordinary dishes on this thing, but just do typical asian-style Wok cooking (means: very hot and high temp, very short), and steaks/meat over coals.

I have no clue whether Ecozoom is a British or Americna brand.

[Rockstar]

When you get ready for your 2 week cross country bicycle tour of Europe the Optimus will come in handy. Lightweight, compact and no need to spend money at restaurants for an overpriced prepared meal.

[Mr Quatro]

Some of those stoves don't look safe to me especially on a balcony above other people feeding wood or coal into it.

Jim's looks like a more traditional way to barbecue they even have one that uses wood chips or should I say wood pellets sold in big bags to go with it.

Think safe ... you don't need a mad neighbor

[Mr Quatro]

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPG...ateway&sr=8-48

Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood BBQ Grill & Smoker Pellet Grill and Smoker, 45" x 49" x 39.4", Black
by Cuisinart
3.8 out of 5 stars 515 customer reviews | 200 answered questions
Price: $371.00 & FREE Shipping. Details

Free weather resistant grill cover included in purchase. This cover is the perfect combination of durability and convenience.
Enjoy the wood pellet BBQ grill & smoker's large 450 Square inch cooking area and 15 pounds of hopper capacity
Super versatile! Grill, smoke, roast, braise, barbecue and even bake
With wind and water resistant fabric, your grill will stand the test of time and be safe from the elements and even UV rays.
Shelves included! Comes with a stationary side shelf and collapsible front shelf

[Skybird]

Some of those stoves don't look safe to me especially on a balcony above other people feeding wood or coal into it.

Jim's looks like a more traditional way to barbecue they even have one that uses wood chips or should I say wood pellets sold in big bags to go with it.

Think safe ... you don't need a mad neighbor

Nothing but blue sky above me, my loggia is 3rd floor, at the very top (2nd floor in german counting).

A rocket stove on coals is fully encapsuled from the bottom (ceramic plates), all sides (double elayed isolated wall, often with filed-i ceramics, and the opening on top covewred by a pan, Dutch oven or anything. This looks indeed much safer to me (sparkles) than any fully open or half-open BBC grill, even more sicne the stoves are heavy and not easy to kick. The usally burn wood at temperatures where exhaust gas from the fire gets mixed with air and then creates an gasification effect - especially the Petromax rf33 excels in this regard, is smeel- and smoke-free for that reason, they added special ventilation design into the double walls that can be opened and closed.

A pocket oven burns wood pellets. Heck: dry wood, dry gras, dry biomass is what mankind has invented them for in the very first!

Placed on the ground (stone plates, maybe also using a metal plate over them), it looks safe to me. safer than lighter, higher constructions. Note that the pan almost closes the opening on the top. With coals, the big door open in the picture would be closed, and the small door below the front grid would be opened to let oxygene in. the coals lie on the second, the upper inner level, get air-feed from below, not the side.






If feeding longer pieces of wood is a safety concern, why not breaking them into smaller things and keep the big door shut, lifting the pan, put the wood inside, and replace the pan? Like you woudl do with wood pellets?

The things weighs 7.5 kg, and has a low centre of mass. Its wider and not as high as the Petromax rf33.

Another advantage of rocket ovens, I read, all of them, is that they are the most fuel economic grills/ovens, needing just fractions of the coal load other devices need. You can get away with just one quarter of the coal you would need on some other grills. This is due to their good isolation and possible wood gasification.

We still have kitchens, in professional gastronomy anyway, where they use open fire as well: in form of gas ovens. Sometimes even coal/wood ovens (Asian restaurants). I love to use a gas stove, its much better than electric ovens, no matter the type. Open fire and cast iron pots or pans are an unbeatable combo.

I think these things are way more dangerous, and a nuisance (smell) to others:

Sparks:


Getting kicked off:


English video, 5 minutes explaining the advantages of the Ecozoom Versa.
What hoos me: coal for peace times and civilized BBQ, wood/biomass for prpper-kind of doomsday scenarios where yiou ma yhave run out of coal. I like multi-functioning equipment it it makes no compromises.




And reiterating it again, if done correctly and using the right dry wood or coal - no smell, no smoke. In an urban environment with plenty of neighbours around, that is a key argument.