Original Silver PK Grill

I love this grill. First it is very well built. Second the grill holds heat extraordinarily well. Third, this bbq is all you need to be a backyard grill master.

I don't typically review products online although depend on them to help make decisions on purchases...after tonight I wanted to submit a review I hope others will find helpful. I have traditionally been a gas griller and have literally zero experience on a charcoal grill. That being said, I have always wanted a grill that would last a long time and after much research settled on giving this grill a try. Before I get to the obvious positive info as apparent based on my rating of this grill let me say a few constructive things...This grill is not as large as I expected. While plenty ample for my uses, for the price, I would have thought you would have gotten a bit more grilling area. In addition to this, the height of the grill is low as other reviewers indicated. Not sure the logic there but it is low! Haven't found it to be an issue as the secret to this grill is to keep it closed so the times you are bending over the grill are minimal. Also, I think the recommended amount of charcoal (20-30 pieces) is too low for the required temp. I bought a weber "chimney" to light my charcoal and filled it about 3/4 of the way full and this seemed to fix the low temp issue.That being said, this grill is awesome...I cooked chicken tonight and smoked it for about an hour and a half and it is by far the best chicken I have ever eaten. This grill really makes it easy...the aluminum reflects the heat and smoking the meat was easy...I used to think this was so hard to do and never attempted to smoke meat before. Simple!! The thing I like the best is how easy this grill is to use...if you read the included directions, it really takes the guesswork out of the whole process. Just sit back, mix a cocktail and wait about 2 hours for most food. The best you will ever eat in my opinion. Best thing is, the grill will never rust or rot through so it will truly provide years of service. Cleaning it out is easy once it is cooled off despite other reviews.I also bought the PK rack and the cover for the grill so hopefully this will be a long lasting addition and I plan to use this as a primary grill even over my Weber gas grill. You won't go wrong with this grill...its a winner!! Enjoy.John

This thing is awesome! First off assembly was very easy and straightforward. I completed the thing is about 20 minutes. There did seem to be some paint on the top/bottom pieces as others have said, but I read the reviews before I received the grill and had a rag ready to wipe it off. I use this mainly as a grill during the weekdays and a smoker on the weekends. Grilling is very easy and quite delicious on this grill. I stack my coals in the center and get the grill up to about 350-400 degrees F to sear meat for 2-3 mins on each side. I then move the meat slightly out of the center of the coals so that the internal temp can reach the desired level. For smoking I purchased a weber briquette basket and use that as my coal bay. I have also purchased a 12x12 baking pan to act as a grease catcher/water pan. I usually light the charcoal in a chimney starter and then transfer them to the basket once they are ashed over. I fill the basket about 1/3 to 1/2 way and then place a few briquettes on top of the lit briquettes. Keep the bottom vent under the basket 1/3 open and the top vent opposite of the basket 1/2 open. Other vents remain closed. Let the grill sit for about an hour so that it can warm up and settle to the desired temp for smoking (200-225F). Once this is done I add a mixture of 1/3 hickory and 2/3 apple chunks to my basket and place my meat on the opposite side of the basket. The grill will flare up the more you open the lid so try and limit this to ever 1-2 hours depending on what you are smoking. I will usually add a few more wood chunks and some charcoal to the basket, but remember not to add to much wood or you will get an overly pungent smoke flavor. Once I am done smoking I simply close all of the vents and the fire is extinguished within 15 minutes. Installing a thermometer is very easy to do on this unit as well. Overall i highly recommend this grill due to its durability, ease of use, and flavor enhancement. Happy grilling!

This really is an outstanding grill. I did a lot of reasearch on grills, specifically charcoal, and this one kept popping up and it sounded great. Although it costs more than I had been planning to spend, I decided to take the chance and ordered the grill. When it arrived it was incredibly easy to put together, and the pieces are clearly heavy-duty and durable. I am especially impressed with the cart, since so many grills have flimsy, cheap stands. This one, though, is well-build, sturdy, and easy to assemble. We're still getting used to the vents but we've tried both smoking and grilling and both times we were pleased with the results. We've even taken it to friends' houses twice, and transporting it was simple since the grill nestles in the cart and is easily removed. If you want a dependable, long-lasting, quality charcoal grill, this is the one for you.*UPDATE 11/5/2013*5 1/2 years after the original purchase, this grill is still going strong. It's too small to cook food for a large gathering all at once, so we just cook it in shifts. That said, you can easily fit 2 racks of ribs and about 6 large rib eyes and still have room to maneuver. We've also saved a lot of money in charcoal since you can close the vents when you're done cooking, resulting in an airtight seal that puts out the smoldering embers. The next time we cook we just fill up our charcoal chimney and pour the coals over the old ones and we have plenty of heat to cook our meal. Still an excellent purchase.

Let me tell you a story. I'm 60 and have gone thru a boatload of grills. Weber's, Ole Smokies, etc. About 10 yrs ago, a friend of mine got a new PK grill and gave me his old one. The grill he gave me had been given to him by a friend after a cow stepped on it and broke it. He had it repaired and used it a half dozen years before he gave it to me. It has been the best grill I had ever owned. I have raved about it for years to friends, "It's the grill, not me". Recently, my wife decided we wanted a new grill and wanted to go shopping. I said it was this or I would not get rid of the old one. After receiving the new one, I was still reluctant to get rid of the old one. I got the new one promptly and in good condition. Assembly was easy. I have used the new one numerous times and am now passing on the old one to another soon to be enlightened friend. That old pit has been around over 25 years, survived a cow cracking it, is now on it's 5th owner, and still cooks great. Although you have no reason to believe me, if you purchase this grill you will cherish it, and brag about it, for years to come.