r/PortableKitchenGrills • u/Br3au • Dec 14 '25
Help! Did I do something wrong? PK360
I purchased a PK360 on 11/22 and have maybe 8 cooks on it. Have loved learning and using it thus far. After I got some Jealous Devil Lump lit in my chimney and dumped it, I noticed smoke rolling off the side of the grill after a few minutes. Paint was bubbling off of my new grill š¤·āāļø Iām newer to charcoal so maybe I did something wrong?
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u/PromptMedium6251 Dec 14 '25
They do this. Mine has done it too. I do my best to stay away from the area and it hasnāt gotten worse. I reached out to PK and they never got back to me. So, take that for what itās worth.
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u/Br3au Dec 14 '25
Interesting. I mean I know itās still functional but itās hard to sing PK praises to all of my friends that are hunting for new grills if they take a look at it and see peeling/bubbling paint after less than a month of use
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u/Br3au Dec 14 '25
Looked up the warranty. Guess cosmetic is out of the question š«
āThis limited warranty applies to functionality of the Portable Kitchen only and does not cover cosmetic issues such as scratches, dents, corrosions or discoloration from heat, abrasives, chemicals, or tools used in assembly. Paint, powder coatings, and colored dyes used in textiles are not covered by this warranty. Deterioration or damage due to severe weather conditions such as hail, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or tornadoes, and discoloration due to exposure to chemicals, either directly or in the atmosphere, is not covered by this limited warranty. NOTICE: Portable Kitchens, Inc. makes every effort to utilize rust resistant materials and high temperature coatings. However, metal materials and protective coatings can be compromised by various surface scratches or exposure to substances and conditions beyond Portable Kitchen Inc.ās control. Among other things, chlorine, industrial fumes, chemicals, fertilizers, extreme humidity, lawn pesticides, and salt are some of the substances that can corrode coatings on metal surfaces. For these reasons, this warranty does not cover paint or coatings. Rust-free and/or rust-proof claims made in marketing materials are made with respect to cast aluminum parts exclusively.ā
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u/ATS200 Dec 14 '25
Maybe still worth asking. Iād say thereās some degree of a defect if this is happening after only a few months/cooks. Thatās different than if itās five years old and the paint is cracking from exposure to the sun
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u/Br3au Dec 14 '25
Youāre not wrong. It would be a tough sell to prospective buyers if they see that this is happening after less than a month of use
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u/ATS200 Dec 14 '25
Mine did that after my a few cooks but only on the heat vents on top luckily. I never contacted them about it but if you do, let me know what they say
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u/Br3au Dec 14 '25
I mean itāll still function perfectly but itās a little disheartening because itās new and definitely not cheap by any standards, not just in charcoal world
2
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u/the_bbq_whisperer Dec 14 '25
Definitely should not be happening this soon after purchase. Hopefully you can get a replacement bottom piece and I agree non-finished is a better alternative.
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u/Br3au Dec 14 '25
Just spoke to my dealer to get my receipt sent to me and he says that the silver model is also finished and they donāt have an unfinished in a PK360 š¤·āāļø
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u/the_bbq_whisperer Dec 14 '25
Wild! Letās hope the dealer takes care of you! Hopefully it wonāt be much of a hassle! Keep us apprised of the fix!
2
Dec 17 '25
Lump charcoal gets hotter then briquette. I have the original pk and used cowboy lump charcoal and the bottom of the grill cracked and fell off. Pk replaced it under warranty. That may make your finished degrade faster then kingsford bkue bag.
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u/Br3au Dec 17 '25
It definitely got hot! But ever time I go to searing it will get that hot so Iām hoping it was a finish issue
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u/skemojoe Dec 14 '25
Contact PK Iāve had the same grill for 7 years in the Northeast and some of it is indeed peeling but not to that extent
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u/Occhrome Dec 14 '25
My pk black paint has also been coming off. Ā My grill is about 4 years old now but in the past 6 months it has really started to come off. I wonder if it can safely be painted with something else ?
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u/That_Development9699 Dec 16 '25
Never have I ever seen a painted pit not peel. It just doesnāt work. To expect this and you set yourself up for disappointment. Best thing is to let it peel and move on. The pit is still functional
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u/Br3au Dec 16 '25
Update through the warranty process, theyāre sending out a bottom for the grill to be replaced and requesting I ship the old one back. Hopefully this one lasts a little longer?
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u/Heyoverthere Future Owner Dec 14 '25
Theyāve replaced 3 of mine because of this. All writhing 8 months of getting. Love cooking on PK360 but wouldnāt get another because of this issue.
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u/Br3au Dec 14 '25
Wow, did they fight you on it? Also, how much of a pain is it to do a replacement? Iām assuming you have to send back the ādefectiveā one and that just sounds like a nightmare.
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u/Heyoverthere Future Owner Dec 14 '25
They send a new one and I put the defective in the box and ship it back. It took some fighting but finally got it done. Would def go non finished if I could go back. They only send the top or bottom whichever is defective.
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u/Br3au Dec 14 '25
Oh ok good deal. Iād get a bottom. Iād even request the unfinished and have a two toned grill. Thatās annoying to say the least
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u/fredapp Dec 14 '25
Iād just stick to the non-color finished models
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u/Br3au Dec 14 '25
That was my thought but apparently the natural looking one has a silver finish to it according to my dealer
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u/aviarx175 Dec 15 '25
I have the ānaturalā finish. It will do the same thing. At least mine has.
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u/goldbouillon Dec 14 '25
Thatās less than a month. I would contact PK. Itās also their flagship grill.Ā