In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Best way to clean the old BBQ grates!

Discussion in 'The Smokehouse' started by don2222, Jun 11, 2022.

  1. don2222

    don2222

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    Hello
    I have been trying for years to find a fairly easy way to clean these nasty dirty grates!
    Scrubing with grill brushes, wire wheels etc.
    Then blasting with the decent DeWalt 15 gallon compressor but No Cigar! Very frustrating! So finally I got a Quincy but the blasting cabinet with aluminum oxide was too much and took a lot of the finish off!
    So finally I took out the harbor freight soda blaster and the first time I used it with the old DeWalt it kept clogging. Just like many reviews of this nice blue portable soda blaster people were disappointed with the clogging.
    This time I was ready with the right stuff! I fired up the Quincy and turned on the Chilla! ( i.e Quincy Refrigerant Air Dryer ) This makes the compressed air stone cold and bone dry!
    Then with the right media setting @ 60 PSI it was snowing like Christmas!! Amazing!
    Cleaned the grates right up without removing the finish coating!
    The Air Chief with brass wire wheel which is a little less abrasive than the shinny steel wire wheel works great on the back side grooves to get the nasty hardened black soot off too!
    Anyone try this?
     

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    Last edited: Jun 11, 2022
  2. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    hey man...not for nuthin but if you keep your grates clean like you should(like scrubbin yer ballz) no need for blasting....remember protein sticks to protein
     
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  3. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    i use a pressure washer.....not on my ballz
     
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  4. Camber

    Camber

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    Never used a soda blaster on my grills, but never clean them ever. I like it when my elk steaks come off the grill heavier than they went in.
     
  5. eatonpcat

    eatonpcat

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    Why not??
     
  6. jrider

    jrider

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    Get a good grease fire going. That will clean em up good enough.
     
  7. Greenstick

    Greenstick

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    If the grates get kinda gross I just take them off and give them a spray with oven cleaner, let set a while, then blast with a hose. Might do it a couple times if there is any really stubborn stuff but it seems to work well and not much effort.
     
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  8. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    A weed burner/torch gets my grates clean.

    A minute or two under fire, then a stiff brush. Good to go.
     
  9. don2222

    don2222

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    Harbor Freight makes a good one?
     

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  10. saskwoodburner

    saskwoodburner

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    Whatever carbon or crud that remains on my grates gets purified/exorcised when the grill hits 550-600 F. Then it falls right off with a quick scrape.
     
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  11. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    It might be ok. I have no experience with that one.
     
  12. buzz-saw

    buzz-saw

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    Hmmmm, I didn't know they made anything good.:whistle::rofl: :lol: