vortex question for 22

[fxsales1959]

Hey 'all

I have vortex question if possible. My kettle does not have the center insert on the cooking grate. Will using vortex mess up my stock hinged rate? which is the correct size to buy if I can't move my grate center?
Thank you. PFA

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I see you have fell down the rabbit hole! I recently bought this but I must of got it on sale because I did not pay that much!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJCX5T1Y?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

 

[fxsales1959]

I see you have fell down the rabbit hole! I recently bought this but I must of got it on sale because I did not pay that much!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJCX5T1Y?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

Looked at those but was looking for a unicorn grate with the larger hinged area and a center. SNS has the large hinge but they are salty.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

One thing I do when looking for grates is look at the shipping weight. Gives you an idea how heavy duty it is. I recently put SS on my old weber silver b but they dont sear near as good as my old cast iron. I just bought some bleach to try to restore them.

 

[Brokenhandle]

I think Owen's BBQ has the vortex for sale at their site and explains which size to buy for which kettle you have. Or at least they used to.

Ryan

 

[BigW.]

I would not worry about getting a grate with the removable center now. There are pictures on here of people putting their smoke wood on the grate. Grates will last a couple years, then you can up grade when you need too. Might find one on clearance at some point also. The Vortex is very handy.

 

[SmokinEdge]

I run the standard grate with the hinged sides. I also made my vortex from a stainless steel bowl. Pretty easy to do if you can run hand tools.

 

[JckDanls 07]

I just use the regular grate as well.. this way you can put wood chunks over the top of the coals...

I found my vortex at Wally World... Actually it was on clearance for $13... When she rang it up it only charged me $1...

 

[fxsales1959]

One thing I do when looking for grates is look at the shipping weight. Gives you an idea how heavy duty it is. I recently put SS on my old weber silver b but they dont sear near as good as my old cast iron. I just bought some bleach to try to restore them.

thanks for the pointer. 4lbs=not good 7lbs= gooder.

 

[gmc2003]

Vortex size = medium for a 22" Kettle

You can use a normal grate w/o the removable ctr. section. The Vortex will burn the plating off the center of the grate and you'll start seeing rust. I've used the same grate for about a year. It's just a cheaper one that I bought at the hardware store. No hinges, no removable sections, not stainless it only gets used with the Vortex.

Chris

 

[pc farmer]

Vortex size = medium for a 22" Kettle

You can use a normal grate w/o the removable ctr. section. The Vortex will burn the plating off the center of the grate and you'll start seeing rust. I've used the same grate for about a year. It's just a cheaper one that I bought at the hardware store. No hinges, no removable sections, not stainless it only gets used with the Vortex.

Chris

Same here. And the center of the grate will start to sag from high heat

 

[Fueling Around]

Welcome to the cone heads John

 

[seenred]

Like others have said, you need the medium Vortex for the 22" kettle. And also like others, I use the regular hinged grate over my vortex. I like to put a wood chunk on the grate over the coals too - especially when I'm doing chicken parts. Depending on how often you use the vortex, eventually the intense heat concentrated in the middle of the grate will wear it out...but they'll hold up for quite a while

Red

 

[cptnding]

Vortex size = medium for a 22" Kettle

You can use a normal grate w/o the removable ctr. section. The Vortex will burn the plating off the center of the grate and you'll start seeing rust. I've used the same grate for about a year. It's just a cheaper one that I bought at the hardware store. No hinges, no removable sections, not stainless it only gets used with the Vortex.

Chris

I do exactly what he said. And yes the medium is the perfect fit.
I bought a second Performer (kettle on a cart) several years ago and it came with the fancy grate with the removable center. I absolutely hated that grate. Huge pain in the ass to clean because of all the extra weld joints and any time you take that thing out to start a fire or clean the kettle out the center will fall out if you lean it up or tilt it a bit too far.

 

[SmokingUPnorth]

I remember on the old vortex website I think the medium was used for the 22” and 26” which makes me wonder what the large is for, probably the ranch? But o couldn’t imagine using that thing on a ranch.