Science question (sort of)

WickedIsland · August 2012

I have been obsessing over my table. I purchased the compact table from BGE for my large and not all that impressed with the quality. I got caught in the rain twice and some of the table top boards warped a bit. Not the biggest deal but I need to sand and finish the thing. I am very much afraid of the top catching fire so I was wondering if I wrapped the top in copper sheeting if the lack of air (oxygen) between the wood and copper would prevent the wood from combusting during a hot cook. I would of course cover both sides of the top and wrap it around the opening. I like the idea of this look as well thinking it would be easy to wipe down (the raccoons like to visit my porch at night and I don't always get to cover the egg before bed) I don't like the idea of applying a varnish due to the flammable properties. Please forgive my ignorance for those who see this as a very silly/easy question (you guys are the ones who I hope will chime in) Thanks, Wicked

MikeP624 · August 2012

I have the compact table from BGE. I actually like it unfinished. I like the dirty natrual wood look. Plus mine is covered so it does not get wet. I am confused on why you think it will catch fire?

travisstrick · August 2012

If you are able to keep O2 away from fuel, there can't be any fire.

I doubt wraping copper sheeting around the wood,would accomplish that.

WickedIsland · August 2012

I have the compact table from BGE. I actually like it unfinished. I like the dirty natrual wood look. Plus mine is covered so it does not get wet. I am confused on why you think it will catch fire?

Not too much space between the top and the egg and the wood gets hot. I think BGE could have cut a bigger hole (I did put bigger bricks under the egg and it helped a bit) I do cover it as much as possible. I just like wiping down a smoother surface that's all

WickedIsland · August 2012

If you are able to keep O2 away from fuel, there can't be any fire. I doubt wraping copper sheeting around the wood,would accomplish that.

If you are able to keep O2 away from fuel, there can't be any fire. I doubt wraping copper sheeting around the wood,would accomLplish that.

Thanks Travis. I may still do it just as a finish alternative. I could be worrying too much about the fire but had a few house fires in my neighborhood growing up and not something I want to experience myself

nolaegghead · August 2012

The top will get very hot around the egg, but nowhere near hot enough to combust. Too hot to touch is around 120 F and above. For wood to burn, you need over 500 F. It won't be a problem. Typically the problem is with the bottom shelf, but if you follow the recommendations of BGE and users on the forum, (paver, air gap), that's not a problem either.

I would recommend paint or sealer on your whole table to make it more water resistant. The volatile (flammable) component of paint or sealer will evaporate in a few hours and the wood will be no more flammable than it was before. If you want to put a copper top on, do it for aesthetic or ease of cleaning reasons. There's no need to clad the bottom of the top (sandwich). BGE wouldn't sell a table with a design that would spontaneously burst into flame during use. Lawyers would put a stop to that in a NY second.

Hillbilly-Hightech · August 2012

If you're concerned about it, go w/ a completely metal top, or a stone top (ie, granite, marble, etc).

For instance, I'm using travertine tiles for my top w/ only minimal (wooden) bracing underneath (just enough to keep the tiles held up).

You'd have to wrap a wood top under vaccuum & seal it completely via welding in order to pull all the air out of it. And even then, I would guess that, if you put something that is hotter than the wood's flammable point, the metal might hold up but the wood would still scorch (maybe not though, in a completely oxygen-free environment). At any rate, you're never going to achieve that anyway.

WickedIsland · August 2012

The top will get very hot around the egg, but nowhere near hot enough to combust. Too hot to touch is around 120 F and above. For wood to burn, you need over 500 F. It won't be a problem. Typically the problem is with the bottom shelf, but if you follow the recommendations of BGE and users on the forum, (paver, air gap), that's not a problem either.

I would recommend paint or sealer on your whole table to make it more water resistant. The volatile (flammable) component of paint or sealer will evaporate in a few hours and the wood will be no more flammable than it was before. If you want to put a copper top on, do it for aesthetic or ease of cleaning reasons. There's no need to clad the bottom of the top (sandwich). BGE wouldn't sell a table with a design that would spontaneously burst into flame during use. Lawyers would put a stop to that in a NY second.

Thank you, I do have firebricks and a nice air gap at the bottom. Funny, my husband said almost the same thing about BGE wouldn't sell them etc... but why would I listen to him :-O

Science question (sort of)

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