The New Original PK300 Initial Burn In and Seasoning using a PID Temp Controller/Grill Hacks n Mods

[@brandoncassidy807]

This is the BEST PK hack I have found. You cracked the code!!!

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Well Hell Yeah!........and this is the kind of stuff I do to All My Pits! 👍 What took You so long to find my channel??? 😁 Metal On My Friend! \🔥/.

[@brandoncassidy807]

@@HeavyMetalBarBQue lol. Well it never showed up. But I got it now. I wasn’t really looking for hacks till l sold my gateway cooker. I have never really needed to smoke on the pk. But it’s nice and now even better. Thanks my man.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

👍🤘

[@pkmatt6516]

The video I've been waiting for!!! Been wanting to see what you'd do with a PK and this video did not disappoint. I like your solution using the pan for the heat deflector and the cookmore grid. I'm going to have to try something like that - would allow for some really long cooks with minimal upkeep. Been a crazy year or so for me, we moved - been a whole thing - but I just this week got some concrete poured on a new cook area in my back yard so, I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. This was definitely inspiring!

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Matt!!! I was wondering what ever happened to You?!?! Glad to here You are well and looking to get back. Let me tell You that You were one of those who helped inspire Me to get a PK. Been wanting one for several years now, thanks to You and my friend Chris at Bigg's Home Cooking. Are You familiar with him and his channel? He loves the PK and has done many cooks, and to be honest he is the one I first saw use a deflector so you could utilize the entire capsule. I recommend You check him out. 👍 I tell You I couldn't resist getting this new upgraded model.......It's got me excited again to make BBQ Vids again. I've been laying low myself this year...kinda burnt out on the whole process. But if You're Back......I'm Back!!! Metal On My PK Brother!!! \🔥/

[@DVDAVL2007]

Nice Set up..... I just got my PK300AF( still in the box)😢 can you send me a link for the griddle pan.... You came with the best set up for indirect heat cooking....

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Thanks Bro! Sorry no link.......but I got it at Costco. It's called The Rock griddle. 👍

[@gtsbarbecueandcuisine4837]

Ken you are a madman lol. Awesome mod for the new PK brother. Our old friend is smiling right now. Happy New Year brother!

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Gary! Yep and if he was still here he would have been one of the first to have one and already have it pimped out PIF style! You take care My Brother! \🔥/

[@eltonsbbq-pit]

Congratulations with the PK Ken! I look forward to see you cook on this one. Happy New year Brother! Kjetil

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Kjetil! Happy New Year to Ya! Yep..... been wanting one of these for long time now. Something new to play with! 😁 Metal On! 🍺 \🔥/

[@Viewtoagrill]

These are awesome Ken. Happy New Year. Great little mod. Take care Ken.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Thanks Johnny! Needed something new to play with! 😁 Happy New Year! \🔥/

[@dcippitelli]

Thanks for the great idea. I just did this successfully with my PK360. 🤟🏻

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

There You go My Friend! 👍👍

[@PitSmoke]

I like your new PK300 and it looks like you got it figured out how to make the PID Temp controller work on it! Thanks for sharing and have a great week!👍

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Thank You Sir! The controller is something I can't live without. 😁 Have a great one! \🔥/

[@RaleighSmoke]

Good looking grill. No surprise you couldn’t even do one cook before you tried something new. You indeed are always pushing the envelope. Well done. Happy New Year, Ken!

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

LOL......You know Me! 😁 Happy New Year Jon! \🔥/

[@BBQPITDOG]

Congratulations on the new PK Ken! She sure is pretty. I'm sure you'll teach her and us a thing or two! Happy New Year Bud!

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Thanks Rob! Yep...I'll be taking it to places it's never gone before. 😁👍 Happy New Year! 🍺 \🔥/

[@BigLewBBQ]

I had an old 1969 PK. I learned to barbecue with it. I share do miss it. You are going to enjoy that grill. Once again your controller mod is brilliant.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Lew! Wow.....That is so cool! What happened to it? I'de love to get my hands on one of those oldies. You think You will be getting one of these new designed models? You be Safe and Metal On My Brother! 🤘 \🔥/

[@BigLewBBQ]

@@HeavyMetalBarBQue I’m tempted to get the new one. My old one was my grandfather’s. I took possessions of it in 1996. In 2002, it fell off the back of my pick-up truck during a move. It cracked on the highway. It was sad!

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Nooooo!!!!!!! Hey......Love the Flat Iron Cut! 👍 Killer new Lodge Grill! 🤘🤘

[@BigLewBBQ]

@@HeavyMetalBarBQue thanks.

[@mikebowerstv]

Those PKs are nice. If I didn’t love my original so much I’d sell it and get the new one.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Mike I hear Ya! Wether it be the old one or the new one.......everybody needs one in their arsenal. 👍 I'm digging it so far! Metal On! \🔥/

[@4seasonsbbq]

Nice upgrade on the PK! I've got a cast aluminum skillet that I use all the time. Since I got it I haven't even touched my cast iron skillet except to move it outta the way. Have a great week brother 👍👍

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Ron! I think about that skillet of yours all the time! My Dad had a few pieces like that growing up......sure wish I still had them. Metal On! \🔥/

[@TomHorsmanAmateurBBQ]

Ingenious! Nicely done Ken! Love the stoker mod!

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

😁 And this is the second! I knew You would enjoy it! 👍 Thanks for checking it out Tom! \🔥/

[@tri-tipjunkie]

Nice new pit hope you enjoy it. I see you are still pushing the envelope with your modifications very cool.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Yep......I needed a new challenge. Done just about everything possible to my Weber Kettle. 😁 Metal On Brother! \🔥/

[@madswinebbq]

You must've been a good boy last year for Santa to bring you a new toy like that!!🎅👍 Congrats! That's one fine piece of cast-aluminum right there!! Can't wait to see what you throw on that thing! 😎👍

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Ruben! Santa is a good guy! 😁 Yep been wanting one for a long time......it's kinda limited because of it's design,...unlike the Weber kettle. But I needed a new challenge. 😁👍 Metal On! \🔥/

[@BarlowBBQ]

Congrats on your new PK!! Looking forward to seeing the first video with it and set how all your mods work out 🤘🤘

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Thanks Brother! I'll be taking were it's never gone before! 😁 Metal On! \🔥/

[@BehindtheGarageBBQ]

That PK is rocking Ken🤘 digging the stainless grates, I've got my eye on one too😁 great to see the pid knocking it out 👌looking forward to some Heavy Metal cooks! Thanks for sharing brother, have yourself a great one, you all stay safe!👍👊🍻🤘

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Craig! I think it would be a great addition to your arsenal. 👍 Metal on My Brother! \🔥/

[@markiskool]

Thank you. I have the original, the pk360 and the pk go. Been wondering if I should add the new pk original to my repertoire. This vid tells me I shouldn't. Thank you for saving me a bunch of money.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Ok.....so what is it You don't like about this model? What do you recommend.

[@markiskool]

@@HeavyMetalBarBQue I recommend the pk360. Was on a grill buying kick for awhile. Got the weber shoebox, the weber jumbo joe, had a charbroil srg. I bought the pk original and loved it but disliked the sliding vents and the ash dropping out. I managed to work through those. But once I bought the PK360, I started shedding grills. I did add the pk go because I wanted an hibachi for small burns. I'm now down to three grills: the pk original, the pk 360 and the pk go. The pk 360 is the one I use 90% of the time. I thought the new pk original might replace my older model but your vid convinced me otherwise. I didn't mean any offense.

[@stevelogan5475]

Ken my friend, I still don't know why you are not designing grills for a manufacturer, very nice pal, great info, been a while & glad to see you back

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Steve it's great to be back putting out a semi BBQ cooking Vid. 😁 Thanks....but they would fire me. LOL Happy New Year.....stay safe My Brother! \🔥/

[@stevelogan5475]

@@HeavyMetalBarBQue lol, companies do not fire a person that is a genius in a specified/particular field my friend , Happy New Year too, God Bless you & yours & stay safe pal

[@johnknapp6328]

Happy New Year Ken when's the packer brisket cook.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

So..........You see it too. 😁 Happy New Year John! \🔥/

[@sparkythomas6354]

Very nice cooker, congrats! I had an original PK years ago and loved cooking pork butts on it. Will be interested to see you do some cooks on it. I personally prefer the results I get from an offset indirect setup vs. deflector but the extra space from the deflector setup is a real positive.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Sparky! Thanks for checking out my Vid! Cool You have experience with these cookers. Have You used a deflector in the past, and what was it? Why did you prefer the offset set up better? Did it cook faster and have a better bark? TBH I've never seen someone use a deflector, but my thinking is once all that aluminum heats up it should cook efficiently. That's my hopes. And I just need to try it. 👍 Hope You stay in touch and maybe it's time for You to get a new one if you don't have that old one anymore. 👍 Metal On!!! \🔥/

[@sparkythomas6354]

@@HeavyMetalBarBQue The PK is a great cooker for sure. I only sold mine because I was moving and needed to down size. It's great for grilling and reverse searing obviously. I loved it for pork butts and chuck roasts because they fit so well on there in the standard indirect setup (including 2 levels). I played around with lots of setups when cooking ribs on the PK: ran the charcoal on one side "long ways" a couple of times, other times I put a lodge griddle or fire bricks on the cooking grate (similar to what you did in this video). I didn't have the long 2 level rack you have so i used a spare cooking grate supported by a drip pan as my cooking grate. Everyone's taste is different, but I have found that I really like the taste from offset indirect. I can't say it cooks faster, but the bark might be better and the smoke profile suits my taste. Really enjoy your videos and seeing all the out of the box ideas you come up with!

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Thanks Brother! 🤘

[@bbqing_raider_7821]

Love the video my friend , where can I purchase That aluminum deflector pan at??

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Thanks! I see You are new to the QueTube. 👍 Costco......I just bought another one, it was only $19.00 bucks. Hope You find time to check out more of my stuff......I'm not like others out there. Metal On! \🔥/

[@bartofilms]

Hey Man. Happy New Year! So is this PK a mini smoker, a BBQ or kinda hybrid?

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Thanks Brother.....Happy New Year to You! 🍺 Well........it's whatever I want it to be. 😁 Metal On! \🔥/

[@dsquebackyardbbq217]

Not bad. I wondered about the hype with these things. Seems like it would be great with some sausage to go along with that homemade pickled veggie jar that you have in the kitchen 😋

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Brother D! Had my eye on one for several years.....had to get this model. Just gotta give it the HMB touch. 😁 I do have some Boudin in the freezer. 👍 Metal On! \🔥/

[@JB-vh1zd]

Great design and thanks for sharing your stoker mod with us! What size of drip bucket did you use and where can I find one? Also, how did you mount the fan? I see the threaded NPT mounting plate...was that another mod or did the fan assembly come with that? Just trying to make my PK300 a low and slow stoker too! Thanks!

[@garrickspencer5697]

Where did you get the aluminum heat deflector plate?

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Costco.......it's called The Rock! You may find it on their online store. 👍

[@garrickspencer5697]

@@HeavyMetalBarBQue I appreciate the reply. Happy Grilling!!

[@LouisatRshackBBQ]

Very cool mod. Seems to work very well. I am liking my PK 300. I got the 1/2 rack but will probably order the full length shelf and use my grill grates as a defuser plate.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Louis! Glad You saw this one........because I wanted to tell You that after seeing Yours and Tom Horsmans Vids on this Pit it got me all jacked up again to finally buy another cooker. Have always wanted a PK and this new design works for Me. 👍 The only thing, like with You, is it sits a little low for us tall guys. Maybe we all need to work out something for that. Yeah thanks for checking it out and I enjoyed your... out with the old in with the new Vid! 👍 Once again.......something that will work better for the tall guy. Nice Table. 👍 Metal On! \🔥/

[@puinsaibilly]

Spectacular 🤘

[@JPE_DRAEB]

Why can't you use the lower vents for your stoker?

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

It's the handles on the vent that are in the way. I guess someone could remover them,......but I didn't want to. Thanks! 🤘

[@michaelcoppola]

Love how this came together, such an elegant design! Wonder if you could implement a variable speed on the fan so the cycling is less obvious? Also curious, aren't the grates on the PK300/PK300AF nickel-plated steel? The online product documentation says nickel-plated steel for the grates, and the stainless steel option for the older model is incompatible. I just had a discussion with a customer service rep earlier this week regarding stainless steel grate availability for the new models and they said they hope to have them released this summer.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Bro! You made Me run outside and put a magnet on those grates! Now I'm Pissed off!!!!! The magnet stuck to the cooking and charcoal grates, meaning that it's Not Strainless. The cookmore elevated grate is definitely Stainless. Thanks for the heads up on this, and I'm sorry if I mentioned that they were all stainless. Metal On! \🔥/

[@michaelcoppola]

@@HeavyMetalBarBQue no worries! At least there are confirmed plans in motion by the PK team to make the stainless grates available.

[@rootboycooks]

Next to a Weber Kettle, the PK is one of the more reliable types of grill. Happy New Year Ken, enjoy the bacon! ZTFO!\m/\m/

[@brentcanada4057]

IDK what you mean "next to a weber kettle". The average PK should outlive the average kettle and hold temps better with colder weather.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Sal! Maybe a new PK is in your future??? Won't rust down in that Florida humidity! ZTFO My Brother! 👍🍺 \🔥/

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

@@brentcanada4057 That's what I'm hoping Brent! 👍 Metal On! \🔥/

[@BiggsHomeCookin]

Hey Ken the new PK is lookin' sharp... ya just had to mess with it all ready, lol. Nice hook-up with the pid controller... the alum diverter was the best, gotta direct that air flow. I don't like those tits on the lid for alignment. Good luck with the new cookin' vessel. Happy New Year HMB!!! \m/ \m/... BHC

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Chris! LOL.....Yep I can't help myself! It has been my goal to do for all these years looking at the PK's. This new design made it easy. 😁👍 Man I learned a valuable lesson early.........those temps were rising so fast! Really need to pay attention with that because I did it again when I shut it all down.........went out to make sure I had the lid shut....and it was hung up again. Coulda been bad. It will be fun and will probably be my go to pit for a long time. 👍 Metal On Biggs!!! \🔥/

[@rbslammed6163]

Gotta question the wisdom of doing literally the specific act that voids the warranty while in camera. Also. If you aren’t using the bottom vents it seems like a no brainers to pipe fan through one of those while using the heat probe hole to run the coupler for temp control. Any reasons why you didn’t go the straight forward way?

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

It's the problem of the Handles on the bottom vents. Thanks for checking it out! \🔥/

[@jeffsnell6372]

Heavy Metal, I enjoy your channel but there’s something you need to be aware of: COOKING WITH ALUMINUM CAUSES ALZHEIMERS BROTHER!

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

I aint Scared!!! 🤘 Metal On! \🔥/

[@BiggsHomeCookin]

@@HeavyMetalBarBQue LOL!

[@jwamerica84]

Once it's seasoned the aluminum is not coming anywhere near the food. May as well be enamel coated, only it's polymerized oils instead of ceramic.

[@petethemeat9010]

Hey Brother that ain’t no stick burner!😂. I’ve always wondered if those PKs lived up to the hype and I guess now we’ll know because you’ve never steered us wrong. I can see you bending up some type of diffuser to sit in the bottom, draw air in one bottom vent and back out the other utilizing your PID controlling a little exhaust fan while working your magic keeping everything balanced out. Ride safe my friend…. Pete

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Hey Pete! Good to hear from Ya! Hope the Johnson is still treating You right! 🔥👍 I like playing with all these pits as much if not more than eating the Que. 😁 Metal On My Friend! 🤘 \🔥/