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Everyday Lump Charcoal

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bhugg
bhugg Posts: 317
edited December 2011 in EggHead Forum
What is the best lump charcoal for everyday use?  I would love to grill everything with some Ozark Oak, but that could get a little pricey for everyday use.  I usually get Best of the West Mesquit from Sam's.  Any suggestions?
Large BGE Dallas, TX
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  • apache64
    apache64 Posts: 2
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    I have had very good luck with Royal Oak from Walmart.  I also keep the Naked Whiz lump database link as a bookmark on my iPhone so that I can check the recommendation of various lump as I am out and about.
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  • rodent
    rodent Posts: 106
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    I bought some cowboy lump from home depot this week and it was mostly dust and small pieces. Should have been forewarned by all the bags with holes in them. I buy royal oak in a blue bag in Canada and it is consistently good.
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  • jerryp
    jerryp Posts: 232
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    i agree with royal oak from walmart. it's the american stuff. the agway close to me sells the royal oak from paraguay and it sucks.
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  • rodent
    rodent Posts: 106
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    You can't use my picture without my permission
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  • sootyboy
    sootyboy Posts: 10
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    I agree cowboy lump coal has a lot of small pieces.
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  • uncledave
    uncledave Posts: 90
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    I also agree. I got two bags of Cowboy lump and can't wait for it to be gone. All small pieces and ash. The nasty smoke takes 1/2 and hour to burn clean also.

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  • banzaitoyota
    banzaitoyota Posts: 173
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    I like weekend warrior; there is no such cook as "everyday" in my humble opinion
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  • walleyv
    walleyv Posts: 147
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    I sell and use Cowboy lump and love it.....no problems at all with small pieces.  Royal Oak is good but it's hard to find for me and Wal Mart does not carry it.  I have a Ace Hardware store and we get our Cowboy through Ace.
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  • DIXIEDOG
    DIXIEDOG Posts: 109
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    I like the Weekend Warrior also, good stuff.  Clean and lasts a long time.
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  • bhugg
    bhugg Posts: 317
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    According to their website, there is not a WW dealer in or near Dallas. Is my only option to order?
    Large BGE Dallas, TX
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  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
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    If you are in Dallas, just go to Kroger and pick up a bag of their lump, its the same as Royal Oak or BGE lump, just in a different bag. Or go to Albertsons and pick up the Official Cowboys Lump if you like Mesquite.

     

    image

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

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  • Sundown
    Sundown Posts: 2,980
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    I use Weekend Warrior every day I cook. I know how long it will take to start. I know how long it will burn. And I know that when I set the temperature on my Egg Weekend Warrior will keep that temp right where I want it.

    When you find a great product why in the world would you use anything else?
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  • billyray
    billyray Posts: 1,275
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    I sell and use Cowboy lump and love it.....no problems at all with small pieces.  Royal Oak is good but it's hard to find for me and Wal Mart does not carry it.  I have a Ace Hardware store and we get our Cowboy through Ace.
    We've been Ace dealers in California for 40 years. Where are you located?
    Felton, Ca. 2-LBGE, 1-Small, PBC, PK360, Genesis Summit, Camp Chef Flattop, Smokefire 24, Traeger Pro Series 22 Pellet with a Smoke Daddy insert, Gateway 55 Gal. drum, SNS Kettle w/acc.
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  • walleyv
    walleyv Posts: 147
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    @billyray

    We are in Waynesboro, MS.

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  • billyray
    billyray Posts: 1,275
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    My wife was born in Kosciusko. We've got family all over the state, from Oxford to Hattiesburg. My youngest boy graduated from Ole Miss. with Eli.
    Felton, Ca. 2-LBGE, 1-Small, PBC, PK360, Genesis Summit, Camp Chef Flattop, Smokefire 24, Traeger Pro Series 22 Pellet with a Smoke Daddy insert, Gateway 55 Gal. drum, SNS Kettle w/acc.
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  • walleyv
    walleyv Posts: 147
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    Wow thats great.
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  • reh111
    reh111 Posts: 196
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    I sell and use Cowboy lump and love it.....no problems at all with small pieces.  Royal Oak is good but it's hard to find for me and Wal Mart does not carry it.  I have a Ace Hardware store and we get our Cowboy through Ace.
    The fact that you sell it probably influences your opinion??  Cowboy is crap - not only small pieces but a bunch of dust - clogs up the air holes and prevents high temps - makes it difficult to get up to temp - can't wait to get rid of my last bag - going to let it burn all night to get rid of it
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  • Eggbertsdad
    Eggbertsdad Posts: 804
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    My local Egg store sells Mali. I just bought a bag of it. Have any of you used this brand before?
    Sarasota, FL via Boynton Beach, FL, via Sarasota, FL, via Charleston, SC, via The Outer Banks, via God's Country (East TN on Ft. Loudon Lake)
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  • Da Kine Green BBQ
    Da Kine Green BBQ Posts: 178
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    Here's a thought - check to see if the sack of lump says what wood it is made of - that may be a better indicator of how your smoke or cooked food will taste like.

    For example, Royal Oak is made of - duh - oak.

    Oak has a mellower smoke and lighter smoky taste. Great for smoking fruits, chicken and beef and pork - it is my everyday universal fuel.

    Three Trees is mesquite. I think Cowboy is also mesquite.

    Mesquite is pretty strong to harsh. Not good for chicken, but OK for steaks.

    Last summer, I bought a 20 lb sack of some "special limited edition" orange wood lump. It is also a bit harsh, much like mesquite. Good quality chunks.

    and - yes - check out the Naked Whiz's reviews of lump - - and - - don't be afraid to experiment until you find what you like.

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  • The Naked Whiz
    The Naked Whiz Posts: 7,777
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    Actually, Royal Oak is a mix of woods.
    The Naked Whiz
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  • Da Kine Green BBQ
    Da Kine Green BBQ Posts: 178
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    Actually, Royal Oak is a mix of woods.


    Thanks for the correction! I **assumed** it was Oak. (However, I have seen some cool-looking Moon rocks in the sack lately.)

     

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  • joe@bge
    joe@bge Posts: 394
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    I had pieces of 3/4 hardwood (flooring) in a bag of Cowboy...that stuff seems to have all kinds of crap in it.  My local butcher shops here all carry Nature Glo - made by Royal Oak - and I am very happy with it.
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  • odie91
    odie91 Posts: 541
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    I had pieces of 3/4 hardwood (flooring) in a bag of Cowboy...that stuff seems to have all kinds of crap in it.  My local butcher shops here all carry Nature Glo - made by Royal Oak - and I am very happy with it.
    Da heck?!?!  I wonder if some companies just take scrap wood from random sources and turn it into lump.  I would be concerned with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) and other such toxic chemicals if that were the case....
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  • bluegrasstiger
    bluegrasstiger Posts: 145
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    I use GFS (Gordon Food Service) lump everyday.  If you have a store close by it is worth a try and considerably cheaper than Royal Oak or BGE...and word is that it is made by Royal Oak.  I get a bag every time I am in there whether I need it or not.

    http://www.gfs.com/en/store-locator.page
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  • horseflesh
    horseflesh Posts: 206
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    After trying a lot of things, I settled on RO. I have to get it from Restaurant Depot though, no normal retailer carries it around Seattle. It's quite affordable.

    (Well... I could get Big Green Egg brand, at $32 per bag!)
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  • Squeezy
    Squeezy Posts: 1,102
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    My God! ... I thought the $30 a bag was the highest for BGE brand!
    Never eat anything passed through a window unless you're a seagull ... BGE Lg.
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  • horseflesh
    horseflesh Posts: 206
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    That's $32 out the door, so sales tax is in there. Still... crazy expensive for rebranded RO!

    It's easy to get cheap, good mesquite lump around here but I just don't like it as much as RO for most things.
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  • ribnrun
    ribnrun Posts: 174
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    Cowboy lump can be tricky. Home Depot employees handle it like it was bags of peagravel. Have to look for bags that haven't been stepped on. I have noticed lately that the lump has gone from that milled stuff to actual wood though. Mine is mostly large pieces and burns hot as Hades. Always have to wait for the smoke to mellow out, but that has been the case no matter what brand I use. I'm in the SF bay area, I wonder if the stuff is different regionally?
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  • Gravytrain84
    Gravytrain84 Posts: 322
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    That's $32 out the door, so sales tax is in there. Still... crazy expensive for rebranded RO!

    It's easy to get cheap, good mesquite lump around here but I just don't like it as much as RO for most things.
    so BGE coal is basically royal oak??

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  • tnbarbq
    tnbarbq Posts: 248
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    That's $32 out the door, so sales tax is in there. Still... crazy expensive for rebranded RO!

    It's easy to get cheap, good mesquite lump around here but I just don't like it as much as RO for most things.
    so BGE coal is basically royal oak??

    Yes. RO makes BGE lump.  
    I use Best Choice  lump, also made by RO.  I get it at the local IGA.  I've used Cowboy beforebut found scrap lumber in it and that turned me off.
    Scooter 
    Mid TN. Hangin' in the 'Boro. MIM Judge
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