inexperienced and need help

[lexycat]

I am a single female with not much experience in barbeques.

From what I have learned from friends, I am trying to decide between the Home Depot Ducane 32" ($899), the Kirkland Signature ($999), the Brinkman Elite Series / Pro Series ($799), and the Weber Summit Gold B4 ($999).

I am totally confused on the different materials used regarding the bar burners, the cooking grates and the different terminologies for the stainless steel.

Also, which has the best warranty?

I would appreciate the help!

Lexycat

[StPeteBBQ]

Welcome to the board, LexyCat!

I don't have much experience with those other grills you mentions, but I've never seen a Weber I didn't like. Weber customer service is second to none.

And don't be misled by the BTU rating. Weber consistantly rates theirs somewhat lower than the others, but they get every bit as hot.

I like the porcelain-coated Cast Iron grates that only come on the Webers from Home Depot. I think on the Summit, though, you get stainless steel grates, but not sure. Nothing quite like cookin' on Cast Iron grates.

Good luck with whatever you decide on. :)

[snapshotmd]

Hi Lexy,

I've got the Weber Summit Gold B4. Although I love my grill, if I were to do it again, I would've invested the extra $200 to get the Platinum B4. Why? Because getting a solid SS rod/cast iron cooking grid from Weber or aftermarket is very difficult. I want a solid grid because they retain heat better and make really nice grill lines on steaks.

The Summit 4-burner model cooking area is an odd size for Weber using a 14 inch wide grate instead of a 12 inch. I've tried numerous times to get this grid and they can't sell me the part because it doesn't have it's own part number; or at least that's what Weber Cust Serv says.

The only 4-burner models that have a solid cooking grid is the Platinum series. Plus the frame work is made of stainless steel. All this is well worth the extra money. That said, I am doing very well with the WELDED/STAMPED stainless steel grids. The only thing is my grid lines are wide and brown, not narrow and black.

That said, the Webers are probably the easiest to cook on mostly because of the flavorizer bars; they really do keep flare ups down to a minimum. While others are burning, I'm cooking. :D

Ducane is owned by Weber and backs them the same way they do their own grills.

There are basically 2 types of stainless steel to look out for; the 304 and the 430 grades. The 430 SS is the one to stay away from since it contains more iron will rust over time. You can usually identify this grade of stainless by putting a magnet to it. If it sticks, look for another grill.

304 stainless is a surgical grade steel and is impervious to rust. This is the grade of steel that you want.

HTH,
snaps

[Deuce]

Hey Snaps,
Can you flip your grates over to get the sear you want? On my cast iron grates one side is for grilling and one side is for searing. The grilling side is wide while the searing side is narrow. Just a thought.

[Rollo T]

Lexy,

I have seen the Ducane at Home Depot and of the grills you mentioned, I think this is the one I would buy if it were my money. First of all, I agree with St.PeteBBQ on the Weber quality, warranty, etc. However, with the Ducane, you get Weber's warranty due to them owning the company. That becomes a non-issue. Second, you get five burners to the Webers 3 and 4 depending on if you go with the Summit or Genesis series. Next, the Ducane has a Rotisserie burner not available on the Webers until you step up to the Summit Gold D ($1600). The Ducane has all the bells and whistles, is 304 grade Stainless Steel, has the Weber warranty and should have parts availability for years to come. Let me know what you decide.

Rollo T. :cool:

[snapshotmd]

Deuce,

I don't have cast iron grates. I've got the SS grates that are made of bent sheet metal. I don't think cooking with these grates upside down is a good idea. ;)

snaps

[big_guy1208]

I have the Weber Summit Platinum C4. Outstanding grill. I would also recommend stepping up to the platinum series. This is my second Weber - my first is a Genesis that still works fine after 9 years.

I would recommend Weber for a few reasons:

1.) The Weber warranty and service - this also applies to the Ducane

2.) Grill Design - Weber grills have stayed the same for years - good design and easy to find parts, like grates, covers, flavorizer bars, etc...

3.) Customer loyalty - you almost never hear from someone who says "I got a Weber, but I wished I'd gotten a .....".

4.) Performance - when I first got mine, it made me a better griller instantly and helped me see the possibilities of what I could cook on the grill. The heat is consistent and the flareups are minimal. No worrying about food catching on fire.

[TomKattt]

Brinkmann is a bad brand. Avoid them.

Weber is a great choice overall. They make a good product, their reliability and customer service is second to none. They are the top seller in grills, and but they charge a premium because they have such a great reputation. Other than the price, they are an excellent choice. THe Weber Summit is an excellent grill. You cannot go wrong with it.

The Kirkland Signature is made by Nexgrill. It's made in China by a company with a poor reputation for customer support. Costco has a great return policy, but they offer no other support other than to let you return the grill. The grill seems pretty nice with great features and size for the price. It's worth considering. It probably gives you more grill for the money than Weber, but I would probably take the Weber for the same price.

Weber bought out Ducane and had the new stainless Home Depot Ducanes made for them. I think they are Chinese made. These grills are probably a decent choice, too. They are feature rich, I'm pretty sure they are all 304 series stainless, and they have Weber support.