CharQ vs Lodge cast iron Sportsman grill


 
Jon Tofte

Jon Tofte

TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
I saw this Lodge Sportsman Cast Iron grill for sale on Letgo for only $20:



https://letgo.onelink.me/O2PG/ecff6f8c

I was intrigued, especially considering the bargain price for what looks to be in pretty decent shape. I checked out some YouTube videos about this grill. It does have its merits, and twenty bucks is a good deal. I found that you pretty much need to use a single layer of charcoal just like on the Weber CharQ that I have. The thick bar cast iron grate turns out results that I think some here would prefer - more like the sear from a griddle.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1nZPRGwFR0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wjdOf4SZGw

The CharQ, on the other hand, has narrow (but tight) cast iron bars. It does leave more distinct grill marks.



To me, the CharQ is a better plan. MUCH easier to care for (watch the 2nd video of all the cleanup the guy does), RUST FREE, lighter to take with you somewhere and more grilling space. I have learned to really like the CharQ now that I have gotten used to it. It is not a replacement for a kettle but a great tool for quick grilling of stuff like burgers, chops or steaks.
 
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Twenty bucks is pretty cheap! Those go for $100 fairly regularly (new). The comparison for a CharQ is a teensy bit one sided though, don’t you think? If I could find a CharQ for forty bucks I’d be happy but...
 
Well, I am biased, but for twenty bucks I was thinking I should grab it. After watching those videos I decided I didn’t need it.
 
Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit. I've never knew that such a beast existed. After looking up this Weber CharQ my desire for a lodge Sportsman has disappeared. I want a charQ now.
Jon are these things rare? I've never had one come up on CL when searching Weber.
 
Yeah, the CharQ was pretty short lived but, I don’t understand why. Probably low sales, one or two showed up around here quite a while back, I’d like to fall into one for the right price but, I think my last find will be my last for a while!
 
I have had a Lodge Sportsman for years and it lives on our patio table with its Lodge cover. We use it for Hibachi cooking and shish kabobs. Besides that we use our other grills. Great little grill that will last for a lifetime just like Lodge cookware!
 
I consider the char q to be my holy grail of grills. In my 8-10 years of searching, I have only come e across 1, and I still kick myself for not gettin it. I like the lodge, and for $20, that was a great deal. But (for me) hands down, I really really really want a char q!
Tim
 
I got one of those for nothing, friend never used it and must have got damp. Both grate are rusted, how can I remove the rust easily?
 
Not sure if they still sell it, but I used to coat the grates with oven cleaner and the rusty grates in a plastic garbage bag for a couple days. It always worked like a charm.
Tim
 
Rich Dahl said:
Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit. I've never knew that such a beast existed. After looking up this Weber CharQ my desire for a lodge Sportsman has disappeared. I want a charQ now.
Jon are these things rare? I've never had one come up on CL when searching Weber.
Click to expand...

Hi Rich,

My Germany trip has me behind on what’s going on here.

The Char Q I guess was only available for two or three years. Apparently didn’t sell well, probably because the price was so high compared to a Smokey Joe or a Go Anywhere. I only paid $25 for my pretty dirty one. It is on my long list for an external repaint, but cooks fine and everything is there. Not that there is much since it is so simple. The two things to worry about are the aluminumized steel basket that holds the charcoal (single layer) and the grates. On the grates, you could always use a current version Q2000 grate as a replacement but it is not as nice for charcoal as the original.

I did a couple posts back a while ago about my Char Q. I will try to put up links.

https://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?77343-Got-a-25-Unicorn-found-on-Letgo-The-Elusive-Weber-CharQ

https://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?77748-With-Welsh-coal-he-would-be-a-different-engine!
 
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I have a box of that waiting for the right time to use it! I think a nice steak needs to be the reward for being so patient! Maybe I can find a sportsman before I get the steak!?
It won’t happen tonight,I have a chicken prepped!
 
Sam said:
I got one of those for nothing, friend never used it and must have got damp. Both grate are rusted, how can I remove the rust easily?
Click to expand...

Cheryl Canter has everything you need to know and more about rescuing old rusted cast iron.

Her post on removing the crud and rust from a cast iron popover pan:

http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/perfect-popovers-and-how-to-clean-reseason-cast-iron/

(Ignore her advice on reseasoning in the popover pan post.)


Her updated post on reseasoning:

http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/a-science-based-technique-for-seasoning-cast-iron/
 
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