Tip of the day: Opening Lump

boston_stoker

I went to a friend's the other day for a barbeque and he ripped open a new bacg of charcoal. He didn't know he could just pull the string out and keep the bag in tact. In case this helps anyone, I thought I would post this.

If you look at the string on your charcoal bag, there appear to be tear drop like loops of string. In this picture, the tip of the tear drop on the left goes into the base (wider part) of the tear drop on the right. The tear drop tips point to the right.

If you snip the string on the corner of the bag that the tear drop tips point away from (for this bag I snipped the string on the left corner), and then pull the string out starting on the back side of the same corner of the bag where you made your cut. The string will come out in one piece, and your bag stay whole too making it easier to roll the top of the bag down for storage. Note in the picture, I am pulling the string from behind the bag (i.e. not the side that has all the tear drop loops).

misfit

Thanks, that has always bugged me. Hit or miss. Now I can be smarter than a bag of lump. :laugh:

Hawg Fan

Thanks for the tip. I've always just untied the knot at the end of the string and pulled the string out intact. It sounds like your method is much easier.

tjv

i pull the bag and keep the string intact......LOL. thanks for sharing.

t

Bacchus

You mean hacking it open with a machete isnt right?

2Fategghead

Yesterday was the first time in a long time I was able to open a bag of lump with out a knife.

Some times I do that Ron. When the dam thing won't open.

I seen when Hoss I think posted the tip some time ago.

I have a pretty good sized knife and if the bag gives me any trouble Off with it's head! RRRRRRRRRRRRRRip dump and light. :woohoo: Tim

Tarpon65

Thanks for the tip as I've always had issues getting that to work. I use 5 gallon buckets with air tight screw lids that originally contained my aquarium salt to hold my open lump.

PhilsGrill

Not a machete, the ash tool works just fine for me. I don't have the string hanging all over the place to trip over either.

Grumpa

Great tip... Thanks!

The Naked Whiz

It is probably worth pointing out though, that different manufacturers can use different stitches and some won't pull out. A utility knife works great for slicing the top off the bag, lol!

Rolling Egg

Your suppose to take it out of the bag? I just light the whole bag :woohoo:

bobbyb

here's a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW3icqmZVb4

thechief96

I usally make sure I'm cutting down trees when I need to open a bag 'o' lump. That way the chain saw is already out. :woohoo:

Jai-Bo

I'll stick to my sharp teeth!!! :P :P :P