Here are a couple of my Dutchess Cookers.
I hadn't done the math and am surprised that the Go-Anywhere is that close to the new PK. The cast aluminum is nice and the venting is set up better on the PK, if you think you are doing to try and do some indirect cooking. But really, these are mainly for doing burgers, dogs and maybe steaks on a campout or visit to a park/beach. I think you will do just fine (and have $ leftover to buy some good stuff to cook
!)
where did you find that handle for the un pained one?
yes, I thought the same thing.
Good luck Jon. Hope you find some takers. With a rare grill like that might take some time
Yep, not a lot of interest so far. When my tax season is over (and I have some extra $
), I am going to pull the trigger even if it is just for me.Many thanks! I've been looking at the Dutchess for a couple of years and have never seen an image like the one above. Looks like that would have to be fabricated. Something else to look forward to in the future.
Wow, well $10 was a steal and a half! That would drive my friends at the FB PK Grills group crazy! Yours even still had the bottom vents present!
I was actually working on mine yesterday. Here are a couple thoughts:
This grill is supposed to have a charcoal grate that leaves a space for airflow. It is also important because putting charcoal right on the cast aluminum bottom can lead to burn-through. The original charcoal grate was made of cast iron. I wonder if that was on purpose to increase radiant heat. It also had two round shields to try and protect the two vents from ashes. The PK vents are completely separated (good!) so you can open one (under charcoal on one side) and close the other (under the food with no charcoal below) to do indirect bbq.
View attachment 3271
The good news about the grate is that you can buy a regular grill grate meant for the medium sized Big Green Egg which will fit perfectly. You can buy stainless, but I went with cast iron to be closer to original. I also added two cast iron coasters/trivets to substitute for the original grate's shields:
View attachment 3276
My grill didn't have the bottom vents. You are right that the "new" PK company isn't currently interested in producing or carrying parts for the Duchess. They did refer me to someone who makes stainless replacements, though. I primed the outside side of his nice vent covers and then painted with ulra high heat silver to make them look closer to original. (No paint on the side facing in to the grill!)
View attachment 3283
For the top cooking grate, I am where you are. The old nickel steel is hard to make decent after years of neglect, and it is not a regular size. You can buy a custom carbon steel grate from The Burn Shop:
Custom Grill Grates
If you are ready to purchase a custom grate, please fill out the order form and in the description please include the diameter/dimensions of the grate you are wanting. Also describe the design you are wanting or include an image in the file attachment. We will confirmtheburnshopwf.com
I am planning on contacting Mark Barron of Killa Grilla about making a stainless steel replacement with the same fold-up side as the original. I am hoping he will be interested and look at this as a new product not a one-off. Mark's thick stainless will make fine grill marks for high heat, but that design lets you switch to indirect low and slow as well.
Here is a picture of the outside of mine after cleaning up. Not too bad for a grill as old as me (60). I opted to only clean the old powder coated finish. I could have spray painted, but I will just wait and see if someday I can get the powder coating redone. It is a much better finish than you can get from rattle can paint:
View attachment 3281
Once I get my current top grate at least adequate to cook on, I am going to try this thing out! I hope to do a comparison between the PK Duchess and a Weber 18" kettle.
I just purchased a Dutchess. The grate that came with it is 14 inches. There are notches for 14, 15, and 16 inches. I'm curious if you know the diameter of the original charcoal grate?Wow, well $10 was a steal and a half! That would drive my friends at the FB PK Grills group crazy! Yours even still had the bottom vents present!
I was actually working on mine yesterday. Here are a couple thoughts:
This grill is supposed to have a charcoal grate that leaves a space for airflow. It is also important because putting charcoal right on the cast aluminum bottom can lead to burn-through. The original charcoal grate was made of cast iron. I wonder if that was on purpose to increase radiant heat. It also had two round shields to try and protect the two vents from ashes. The PK vents are completely separated (good!) so you can open one (under charcoal on one side) and close the other (under the food with no charcoal below) to do indirect bbq.
View attachment 3271
The good news about the grate is that you can buy a regular grill grate meant for the medium sized Big Green Egg which will fit perfectly. You can buy stainless, but I went with cast iron to be closer to original. I also added two cast iron coasters/trivets to substitute for the original grate's shields:
View attachment 3276
My grill didn't have the bottom vents. You are right that the "new" PK company isn't currently interested in producing or carrying parts for the Duchess. They did refer me to someone who makes stainless replacements, though. I primed the outside side of his nice vent covers and then painted with ulra high heat silver to make them look closer to original. (No paint on the side facing in to the grill!)
View attachment 3283
For the top cooking grate, I am where you are. The old nickel steel is hard to make decent after years of neglect, and it is not a regular size. You can buy a custom carbon steel grate from The Burn Shop:
Custom Grill Grates
If you are ready to purchase a custom grate, please fill out the order form and in the description please include the diameter/dimensions of the grate you are wanting. Also describe the design you are wanting or include an image in the file attachment. We will confirm
I am planning on contacting Mark Barron of Killa Grilla about making a stainless steel replacement with the same fold-up side as the original. I am hoping he will be interested and look at this as a new product not a one-off. Mark's thick stainless will make fine grill marks for high heat, but that design lets you switch to indirect low and slow as well.
Here is a picture of the outside of mine after cleaning up. Not too bad for a grill as old as me (60
View attachment 3281
Once I get my current top grate at least adequate to cook on, I am going to try this thing out! I hope to do a comparison between the PK Duchess and a Weber 18" kettle.
Stephen,
I probably won't be getting rid of it anytime soon. It is in great shape. The only thing really missing is the original charcoal grate. I absolutely love it. So cool to be cooking on such a well preserved piece of history. I sincerely hope you find a nice one. I had to pay up for this one (as you know). I live in Virginia and honestly don't see old PK Grills, like people who live in the south.Stephen I was messaging the seller when you bought it. If you find it’s not what you want I’d like to have a chance. You won’t lose any money on it
