A Very BGE Christmas...

volntitan

So imagine my surprise and delite when my father came over unexpectedly on Christmas eve and then a delivery truck pulled up and unloaded a Large BGE with all the accessories, including a long cypress table for it. My Weber smoker is going to get lonely now

So, now I want to protect/stain the table. I do have a cover for the unit, but figured I need to protect it from the grease etc. that might come it's way in the future. So with that being said:

1) Any suggestions on stain and/or protection product? The unit is outside now and even in Tennessee, it is darn cold right now, so some product I can use on the wood and will dry even in cold weather.

2) Best way to remove the egg? As you know the egg ain't light. Can I stain it with the egg in it? Likely not, so what is the best way to remove the egg and store it while the cart is being stained? Don't want to "crack" the egg....

Any help and suggestions would be great!

Dan in StL

Congratulations on your new Egg and table!! I built my cypress table from scratch following the Naked Whiz model and instructions. I used Spar Urethane to protect it and it's been working great. I keep a cover on it too, and there's really no sign of weathering.

I would recommend that you take the Egg out to apply the urethane. The best way to do that is to remove the lid and the rest of the innards. Once you do that, pulling the bottom section of the Egg out - it's still heavy, but it's much more manageable.

volntitan

Honestly, I haven't even had a chance to investigate the Egg much. Is it hard to remove the lid? Also, with Urethane, does the temp really matter? Is that better than just using a sealer stain?

Kitarkus

congrats....nice pop you got. Mine told me "Happy Holidays" and offered me an imported beer. I was pleased. What the heck did he get your siblings? Does he need another son?...I am willing! :laugh:

Definitely remove the egg. use a socket and unfasten the top band bolt/nut till loose....then lift the lid off slowly....as the band will spring outward into the up position. Remove the fire ring and all ceramic interior pcs. and grates...then you can remove the base yourself relatively easily.

I think you also will need to disassemble the table to properly stain/coat/sand. You will be sorry if you begin to stain and seal the table assembled....it will be a lot easier to coat all sides of pcs. of the table when unassembled.

I recently used a minwax stain on a cypress table. I then coated with spar urethane...sanded....cheeseclothed...then repeated. A total of 5 coats. It is gorgeous and has an obviously tough weatherproof exterior.

If you use a deck/fence stain...I cannot assure you of quality results. I don't feel that the deck and stain fence/sealers give you a true tough exterior...but rather provide some mild weather repelling properties. The spar urethane is much more work but the results are fantastic. I bought the BGE vinyl cover.....which fit VERY poorly. I then bought the ventilated cover (more $$$) which is MUCH MUCH nicer and is tailor fitted. It snowed about 13" here this week....no problems.

volntitan

That looks awesome! Now I am nervous as I am not much of a "do-it-yourselfer". Is disassembling the cart that much of an ordeal? How long did it take for you to do your cart?