Crack in Egg Bottom and Chip in Glaze

Hillbilly-Hightech

Howdy - long time lurker, first time poster.

I fired up my Large over the Memorial Day weekend, after several months of rain (been unusually rainy here in the Bay Area).

Anyway, I wanted to burn out the mold, as was suggested on this forum (I've already learned so much from you guys). So, I diligently took out the "guts" and sprayed them down w/ some 409-type cleaner & scoured them w/ a wire brush, then let them air dry b4 putting back in the Egg.

Then I used brand new lump & fired it up & let it get up to about 550 for about an hour. However, about halfway through, I noticed that in my haste to get the mold burned out, I forgot to put the grate back in b4 adding the lump - thus, I had lump raging at about 550 in the bottom of the Egg.

Now that worried me, so I scraped/scooped out the hot lump (placed it on the plate setter) and then put the grate in & put the lump back in the grate.

However, after the cook, I was still worried, so I decided to look around & saw a crack on the bottom of the Egg, as well as a place on the LHS of the vent where the glaze had chipped off. The chip starts the crack, which travels down the side of the Egg and halfway across the bottom (pics attached). It just looks like a "surface" crack, not all the way through. And I'm not even sure if the crack was there before or not, or if it appeared because I had lump in the bottom & it got too hot.

So, question - should I be concerned, or just keep on cookin? (didn't affect the cook).

Thank you all for your wonderful information.

Rob

Grandpas Grub

 
Not sure if I would worry about the chips. The crack is altogether different. I would think that is a mfg problem and needs warranty replacement.

You might want to think about putting some egg feet under the egg.

GG

fishlessman

when mine cracked the crack would open up more when it got to high temps, it was covered under warranty. the crack will grow in time so keep an eye on it and i wouldnt trust it cooking on a wooden deck etc

tach18k

I would have left everything intack and done a full burn off, I would think the cleaner would leave some sort of smell as 409 doesnt really go away. But then I dont have a mold problem even though we get rain. use the Egg more often

fishlessman

i dont think theres much reason for the full burn off unless you have done some really greasy cooks back to back and the smoke really stinks. my egg in maine gets wet during the mud season that lasts 9 months :laugh: i just light it toss the grill in and maybe give it some extra time before the food goes in, it needs the extra time before the moisture gets out of the egg and the smoke smells right. the full burn off for mold is right up there with cleaning the grill after every cook with oven cleaner/ degreaser :laugh:

walrusegger

Once you get this issue resolved, invest in a BGE cover; especially since you're in an area prone to lots of precipitation. I cover my egg every time there's precip predicted in the forecast (unless I'm planning to brave the elements and cook).

fishlessman

it wouldn't help me, i live on a cold water lake, sometimes the fog rolls in in the mornings and you can not see the eggs its so thick, even rolls in thru the screens into the house and you can see the moisture bead up on things indoors :laugh: i cook on one egg during the week and another on weekends and it onle takes a couple days sometimes

'Q Bruddah

As noted above, when you get it resolved invest also in a weed burner for a super fast start in any kind of weather and keep on grilling through the rain. I don't know where you live but I live in the rainy Northwest and the ability to quickly and surely light the egg has been a blessing.

Hillbilly-Hightech

Hi, thanks for the replies. So, to clear up a few questions you guys had:

Sorry, it wasn't actually 409, but as I said, a product "like" 409. It's actually a "green" product, made from citrus and other natural ingredients, but used for cleaning. So I wasn't worried about any chemical residue, as there wasn't any. Plus, I hosed the pieces off anyway, and hung them out on my patio to air dry for a couple hours.

Also, the Bay Area of CA isn't usually a "rainy" area, but this year, it has been extra rainy.

Also, in the picture you see, I have the Egg sitting on fire bricks, and there's about an inch gap between each brick vertically & horizontally, so I would think that's enough air space? I used to have it sitting on my concrete patio & I had the feet under it then. But for Mem. Day weekend, I wanted it sitting up higher. I knew I wouldn't be able to finish building the table in time for the cook, so I fashioned the best temp table I knew - I sat the Egg on top of an old apartment-sized refrigerator, with fire bricks between the Egg & the refrigerator. (there's a reason I chose the handle, "hillbilly-hightech") heheh.

Anyway, thank you guys for the information - I was just mainly worried if the crack is something I should be concerned w/ & should have replaced (under warranty) or just ignore it.

Thanks!!

fishlessman

you need a new base, bring it in an get it replaced. my dealer was hesitant to replace it, i brought them in an email letter from bge with contact info there and they then replaced it without question. fireboxes are fine with cracks, a cracked base has the potential to fall apart with burning lump going everywhere

Hillbilly-Hightech

Thank you - unfortunately, that's what I was thinking as well (replacing the base). I was sorta hoping someone would say it's OK to JB-weld it & forget about it!! hehe.

Also, do you guys think that having the lump at the bottom, without the grate, caused it? Not sure how hot you can get the base, but as I said, it was up to about 550 or so before I looked over & saw that my grate was sitting outside the Egg

Also, if that's the case - should I mention that to the dealer, or would that void the warranty?

Again - thanks for all the wonderful information I've learned from this forum!!

fishlessman

i doubt it, ive had the grates disintegrate during cooks and the hot coals fall thru and ive done cooks at 1200 for a few hours with my newer egg. the one i had crack was my first egg and i never brought that one up really high, it cracked at roasting temps cooking a turkey, sounded like a shotgun going off. you want an airspace between the egg and paver, even a couple quarters will work placed around the edges

Smokin' T

Here's mine and it still doing the job it was intended to do. I do have a new base which the warranty provided.
Been cooking on it for quite some time ---no problem.

Good luck,
Tom,
Dunedin, Fl

Little Steven

Tom,

I had one with an identical crack. I have seen quite a few others and they all seem to start at the lower vent and move toward the center. Like you I have a replacement it the box and I am hoping for a crack in one of the domes

Steve