this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2024
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Mildly Interesting

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I changed out the burner tubes in the propane grill. The first set of burners I got did not have adjustable air inlets. Ordered some different ones and the difference is surprising.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You want some more cool shit, get a manual regulator. You can get a lot more out of your typical gas grill. It will likely come at the expense of longevity due to shitty materials.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The choices they made in material for my grill are weird. All the big parts and supports are rust resistant. Every single screw is the cheapest, shittiest one they could find and immediately started rusting. Hope the dollar they saved is worth me never buying grills from them again.

One of the many odd choices they made.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Could be worse; at least fasteners are relatively easy to source upgraded corrosion-resistant replacements for.

It reminds me of my old Samsung front-load washing machine: when that failed, I took it apart. Every single metal internal part was pristine stainless steel, except for one: the "spider arm," which attaches the drum to the drive shaft. It was made out of some kind of ridiculous reactive pot metal that had corroded completely through and broke apart just after the warranty ended. It was the most shameless example of blatant planned obsolescence I've ever heard of, let alone experienced firsthand.

Failed Samsung spider arm (not my pic, but mine was just as bad)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I really don't understand designs like that. Are people really experiencing what you did and then getting up and buying ANOTHER Samsung machine?

I would immediately ban them from any further purchase. Actually I'd never buy a Samsung appliance because they are pure garbage, but the point remains.

I don't get these shitty manufacturers and planned obsolescence.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is a bit of a conspiracy theory, but consider... Even if you buy a different brand, maybe they're doing the same? Maybe people bought a different brand, experienced the same thing, and decided to go Samsung next?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Maybe, but usually doing research you'll find pretty quickly that Samsung is shit.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I have found this to be the case with all Samsung products. I'm not sure why or when they became so popular.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

That looks like it is made from compressed lint

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Any recommendations on a decent company? My last grill is begging to be thrown away.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

I had a Kenmore (I think the mfg was Char Broil) for 29 years and only had to change out the burners and the like once. The bottom tray finally rusted and it needed some other t.l.c. but no parts could be found. I got a Pit Boss pellet/gas combo at the end of last season. Smoke side is awesome, Gas side is good with some unevenness (hot & cold spots). The whole thing seems to be well built with heavy gage powder coated or anodized aluminum parts. Will see how it holds up.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I haven't replaced it yet. It's somehow managed to keep itself together.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

Youz better get yaself some stoichiometry.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Does anyone know a good effective way to clean those burner sticks? Mine look pitch black.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

I just buy new ones every few years. The pipes just have 1 screw or clip holding them on and slide right out. And the replacement packs are fairly cheap. Around $15 for the 3 burner pipes and those little diverter channel things that connect them so they all light from 1 starter. And takes like 15 minutes to change it all out.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Pipe cleaners but metal ones like little wire brushes

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

could be a spider nest/eggsack. I had to take my whole grill apart and found one right at the end of a burner tube

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

No. The old tubes were well used and worn. It was high time for new ones. Just the first set I ordered weren't adjustable, hence the messy yellow flame on the left. I ordered a proper set with adjustable air intakes and now I get a proper blue flame as seen on the right.

Only problem was mounting the sparkers. Had to get creative.