Customer Reviews

Old Smokey Charcoal Grill #14 (Small)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I do have to say I love this little grill! It is really "cute".

Now, I am not the sort that says, or uses the word "cute". The Old Smokey Charcoal Grill #14 is cute, though.

This grill is made to the same great standards as the bigger #18 and also, the solid Old Smokey Electric Smoker. Also, the results are just as consistent with the #14 as the firmly built and sound designed #18.

I have to confess; I already own an Old Smokey #18 and an Old Smokey Electric Smoker. And I am sold on these products. They really work, they look great and they are extremely well constructed. The manufacture does not skimp by using cheap materials. The materials used in these products are heavy duty and will last! Also, these products are made in the U.S.A. (Houston, Texas, no less).

The Smoker is manly with its rugged construction, straigth lines and no non- sense approach to getting the job done. The Old Smokey Electric Smoker is the best I have ever used with consistent and great results.

The #18 charcoal grill has shape, real appeal and sizzle but still a strong, sturdy product while providing great results everytime.

Now comes the #14. I thought this grill would be perfect for taking on camping trips (even long ones), going to the beach, park or tailgating. This grill gets hot fast and cooks evenly in a short amount of time, or slower, depending on what you want. There are dampers on the top and bottom that are very practical and easy to operate and will control the heat while preventing any flair ups.

Also, to make this grill even more compact and portable, I used wing nuts to attach the legs. Now, if needed I can tear everything down quickly and store the whole unit in a very compact package size.

Believe me, though, this grill delivers BIG flavor! It comfortably cooks four to five burgers at a time, or plenty of chicken for our family of five and is great for lots of siskabobs, or a rack of barbecued ribs. Also, it has so much more appeal than the run-of-the-mill kettle cooker!

My co- worker has a Weber and doesn't use it much. I told him, "Joe, you just haven't found the right grill yet. You need a grill you can actually have a relationship with. Something original. Something different. Something that is fun and will make you happy"!

Life can get monotonous, everyday the same, everything the same, so I say, "why have a boring grill"?! Face it, alot of times it will be just you and your grill. Get an Old Smokey and you will have a grill you can have some fun with!

When I opened the box I was surprised at how substantial the Old Smokey #14 really is. How, I wondered, could they sell this thing for under thirty bucks? You can barely buy a shirt for thirty bucks anymore. Assembly was very easy, even for someone with my lack of mechanical skills--I can barely manage to change a light bulb. I washed the parts in the kitchen sink with dish soap, got out a medium flat head screwdriver and a 3/8 socket (just the socket to hand tighten, the wrench won't fit over the long screws) and in about fifteen minutes that was it. You could probably put it together in seven minutes, because you probably are handier with tools than I am. I installed the optional longer legs, which came with their own hardware, so now I have a spare set of hardware for when it eventually rusts. Other reviewers have mentioned the classic design. You really have to see an Old Smokey in person to comprehend how very true that really is. Simple, and incredibly functional. Oh yeah, it grills great too. This smaller version really doesn't have enough room on the grate to go low and slow, but what do you want for under thirty bucks? I filled up the car with regular this morning and paid more than this neat little grill cost. How can you beat it?

Looks like it should cost about $5 when you take it out of the box.... But cooks like it cost $50. I love it !!

Been a long time since I owned and used a charcoal grill, and this one is great. Simple, inexpensive, big enough to cook for 3 or 4 people. Been using gas grills to cook for two, just seem to make more sense, and I'll keep it around, but this awesome little grill will be the first choice from here on out.

Got my Old Smokey yesterday! What a great idea. It looks as if, way back when, someone found two old washtubs and made a charcoal grill out of them. I don't like gas (might as well stay in the kitchen) so this suits me. No bells, no whistles. I bought the small size and it's fine for up to four people. It's easy to put together with a screwdriver. Best thing about it is that simplicity works really well and food comes out tasting terrific.

So if your neighbors start looking down their noses because it's a little odd, just smile and go about your cooking.

Bonus. Old Smokey is made in the US (with some imported parts), and I wanted a grill that wasn't made in China. Works for me and delivery was fast! Five stars

I got this earlier than expected in great shape! I have had these grills before and there is NOTHING better on the market. If you're getting it for you and your family, I'd get the large size. Be sure to get the long legs to go with this and save your back

Just received my "Old Smokey #14" and had to write... You have to be a certain type of person to appreciate this grill, and apparently all of the previous reviewers were that type of person. In a nutshell, if you're old enough to remember when high schools had shop classes; and if you chose the metal shop route then this galvanized ash can will look familiar. On the off chance you don't immediately fall in love with this thing, here's some factors you'll want to take into account:

1). If you're a guy and married, you got some "splainin'" to do, and some fast talking to restore marital harmony; she ain't gonna like this thing.
2). Assembly takes less than 10 minutes even if you get the long legs and thermo (actually a very nice thermometer to add to brand "W", which you will soon be purchasing).
3). This is actually pretty obvious, but page 1 of the instruction manual warns against using this on a wooden deck or within 10' of any flammable surface (like the walls of your house).
4). Invest heavily in bandages and Neosporin prior to assembly, sharp, unfinished edges abound.
5). Plan on going out to dinner (see # 1 above).
6) With the long leg "option" this is a very unstable an dangerous design.

Seriously, this is a functional no frills grill with very rough manufacturing standards which, to Old Smokey's credit, they don't try to hide, but the almost cult status this garners is lost on me. If you don't mind wasting $40 ($29 plus $10 shipping) the entertainment value is almost worth the price........ and the top and bottom could fit into the sort of garden that sports old galvanized watering cans as accent pieces. But if you want a functional and attractive 14" grill get a Weber silver or gold and a few concrete blocks to bring it up to working height. The Old Smokey is not even close to it's quality and, in my opinion, more dangerous as well.

UPDATE: I have found one practical use for this thing that might be of interest to others who made the same fatal purchase.... it does serve pretty well as a chimney rest. I do a lot of smoking/slow cooking in a Weber kettle which often requires adding lit coals once or twice during the process. Removing the meat from the grill to fire up a load of lump charcoal to add is a pain and impedes the cooking process as well. Having the Old Smokey in close proximity to your grill/smoker is a much cleaner and simpler approach. You still have the instability issue to deal with, but at least if you've already got one this is a reason to keep it.