Weber Original Kettle 18 Inch Charcoal Grill, Black

This is a great do everything grill and smoker for a small family or individual. It's a versatile size that allows you to grill around five pounds of meat using a 50/50 split between direct fire and a cold spot, and smoke meat by stacking coals on one side and placing the meat of the opposite end. The smaller size allows more efficient use of coals. If you need to cook for a large group quickly, then you can cover the entire bottom with coals. If you are just cooking one steak, then you can double stack the coals on one end of the grill directly under the steak.The vents are perfectly sized to allow enough air to keep the fire burning while stopping flames for smoking meat. The legs and handles are durable and insulated. The overall design is simple and easy to clean. The materials are high quality and strong.If you clean the grill and kettle with soap and water and dry and store after every use, then it will last almost forever. If you neglect it and never clean anything, then the kettle will last for about a decade and the grills will need to be replaced every two or three years.The only improvement I would suggest is to include two carry handles instead of just one.The fact that this doubles as a grill and smoker makes this a good bargain and very capable.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:Great grill at a great price. Exactly what you expect from a weber barrel grill. Small and portable, but also perfect even heat and a fantastic price. Exactly what I need for summer time barbecue.

You can't go wrong with a Webber. Their CS was also very helpful.

Amazing little grill. The only difference between this one and the 22 inch. Is the size. Same quality. Same cooking quality. Amazing grill. Recommend for those who only need a small grill. Maintains heat, design is perfect. Functions like a professional grill.

I recently switched from gas to charcoal and was eyeing up the Weber Gold One-Touch with the nice ash pan and other options, well when I looked for it and Amazon said it was currently unavailable, then went to Weber's site only to find out it was discontinued. So after reading the reviews for Silver, I decided to order it and live without the options of the Gold with some apprehension on the ash pan.During my first initial use, I experienced the blowing ash problem which others detailed in their reviews and used some water in the pan to retain them as suggested. In all fairness it was windy and I used Publix Greenwise 100% wood lump charcoal and it does burn quite hot and much of the ash was initially from some newspaper that did not burn completely yet fell through the vent. Next time I plan to use the Weber Paraffin Cubes in my Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter, which I highly recommend, and see what the results are. I also may try a modified coffee can or something that has more depth to it, but that will still provide adequate airflow.Assembly is easy, great pictorial directions and all you need is a Hammer, block of wood and a Philips screw driver. The lower vent assembly was a little tricky for me to get completed as I found the damper/ash door had a little spring in the sheet metal and you have to put pressure on it from the top in order to slide the handle into the hole, with the spacer on the bottom being hard to hold, it required some dexterity to accomplish. I just placed a bag of charcoal on top to free my hand from holding it down. You could also bend the sheet metal to fit a little more flush but you may risk the chance of deforming it incorrectly in the process.The build of the grill is great typical Weber quality, though they got some heat a few years ago for stating "Made In USA", from what I saw and what's listed on the box states it's is Made in the USA but from a mix of parts sourced from all over. I only ever owned Weber Gas Grills and the quality on those was always quite good, I read the gauge or thickness of the metal changed, but it looks like this will hold up well for the most part but time will tell for how long.Aside from the ash pan which could be deeper, I really have no complaints and am happy with my purchase. I do now prefer cooking on charcoal, it's amazing how well it cooks and how good the results are.Still getting use to closing all the vents after the cooking is done to drop the fire and having a hot grill on the patio for several hours. A video I saw on the net said to not use water to cool or put out the hot charcoal since it will damage the porcelain finish, I tend to agree.

This grill replaced my 30+ year old 18” grill. That one served me very well over the years, but the metal leg rusted out along with other things. It was obvious the old grill needed to be replaced. I could not find the smaller Weber 18” grills in the local stores around here--only the larger 22” versions were available.The grill was very easy to assemble with easy to follow instructions. It is now a pleasure to use. The smaller 18” grill is well suited for just the wife and I. The optional heavy black Weber grill cover fits well and provides good protection for the grill when not in use. We also have an older Weber 22” grill when needed for larger grilling requirements.I quickly noticed the newer Weber grills have been improved over the years. The handles on the grill kettle and especially on the lid are larger and better insulated against the charcoal heat. The older Weber grills used wood for the handles. Over time, the wooden handles eventually rotted away. This summer we are looking forward to using this new and improved classic Weber grill.As mentioned in a previous review, recommend the complete grill be seasoned first with a hot charcoal fire to burn away new coatings, paint, etc. before placing foods on the new grill surface. The first heated seasoning ensures any smoke/fumes emanating from the new manufactured surfaces are not absorbed in the food.

I have a 14 in,18 in, and a 22 in Web charcoal grills. I also have a rotisserie accessory that I'm able to add on my 22 in grill. That should tell you how much I like Web produces. This 18 in grill was purchased to replace the one I've used for almost 20 years. Sadly, nothing lasts forever .....

I bought this as a gift for my hubby as he only likes Weber grills. He is very happy with it. It's the perfect size for small get togethers. This grill is well made, real metal not flemsy. Holds about 8-10 hamburgers.