Do Any You Sort Out Your Charcoal By Piece Size?

Mickey · September 2012

I might have to bust a big one in the Mini, but no sorting.

Hoppy & Hoppette · September 2012

Not me.

I just dump it and light it,and start my first of many beers.

YEMTrey · September 2012

Hillbilly-Hightech said:

No sorting here.

When I use the Egg, it's a relaxing, fun "egg-sperience" (though there have been a few times when cooking for an "event" or holiday where it's become hectic). But for the most part, it's a time to become one w/ the universe (and drink beer) :>

Because of that, if I had to sort lump sizes, or do a full cleanout of the ash in the Egg each time, or remove the old lump & use new lump each time, or clean my cooking grids each time, or any of a number of other things that I've seen/heard folks doing which I consider over-kill, I don't think I'd really get much enjoyment out of using the Egg & would only use it very minimally.

Perhaps I'm lazy, but one of the beautiful things I like about the Egg is it's simplicity - it utilizes a concept that man has conquered for quite some time now: fire & wood ;) As far as cooking w/ it, to me it's pretty much "set & forget" - I don't fight & fuss w/ it much at all, which, to me, makes life a WHOLE lot easier >:D<

JMHO,
HH

My thoughts exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Griffin · September 2012

Nope. Not that anal about things. Just dump and go. If I'm getting to the bottom of a bag and its all small pieces, I'll open a new bag, dump that and then dump the old bag on top. That's as fancy as i get.

JerkChicken · September 2012

No

vidalia1 · September 2012

I used to sort early on...an eggsperienced Egger said it is a waste of time...I agree...now I just dump from the bag...easy peasy...

SoCal_Griller · September 2012

Do whatever works for you. Nothing wrong with sorting if it enhances your eggsperience. Personally I do not sort, I find it messy and just a hassle.

Village Idiot · September 2012

Note from Italy: It's called OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. Seek help immediately.

DonWW · September 2012

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

If you do, please attach mailing address so we know where to send the meds.....

Roger that. OCD and BGE have never been a good mix......

nolaegghead · September 2012

I'll smash a whole bag into a fine, dusty powder, using a large brass mallet, then pour it (it's almost like a liquid) into the egg. I tamp that down with a tamper, kinda like the guy in the picture. Then I pour in about a pint of 92 octane gasoline. Don't use anything less than that. Stand back a few feet and throw in a wax square, lit. Then fire up a leafblower, needs to be 92 MPH or greater, and poke the end into the bottom damper, which you want full open.

:-O

Brownie · September 2012

Wow! my leaf blower would never go 92mph.

You one lucky sob nola

No sorting for me.

YEMTrey · September 2012

While I don't separate my lump charcoal, it's your hobby do whatever you like. Everybody's different and they have different things they enjoy doing. Enjoy the ride. Ultimately, it's about the Egg and great food and company.
Everybody has weird quirks about them when it comes to Egging. Ask a question on the forum and you'll get varying opinions on the best way to do something. The one thing that everybody on the site does agree on, is that:

WE LIKE BIG BUTTS AND WE CANNOT LIE!

Brownie · September 2012

I personally wouldn't discriminate on the size of a butt... That's just me.

brentsee · September 2012

I used to sort. I had 3 pails and sorted small, med and large. That wore off very quickly. Now I dump in a pail (in the garage) and take to the egg, grab a few larger pieces, sit them on grate then dump the rest in. Seems to work good for me.

Baysidebob · September 2012

brentsee said:

I used to sort. I had 3 pails and sorted small, med and large. That wore off very quickly. Now I dump in a pail (in the garage) and take to the egg, grab a few larger pieces, sit them on grate then dump the rest in. Seems to work good for me.

Yup.

nolaegghead · September 2012

I'll pull out the huge chunks and put them on the bottom to keep the airflow moving. I'm not OCD on it though. Not so worried on a low and slow because the DigiQ powers through sloppy lump dust and such. The 93 octane gas and 92 MPH leaf blower help get it all started. :)

burr_baby33 · September 2012

Stir, dump, light, relax

tgkleman · September 2012

Just make sure you have a few large pieces on the bottom, and then you can dump the bag. It is nice to have a powered draft on the low and slows, you dont have to be as worried about airflow through the lump pile.

SamFerrise · September 2012

Sorting lump is way too anal. It all burns.

Little Steven · September 2012

nolaegghead said:

I'll smash a whole bag into a fine, dusty powder, using a large brass mallet, then pour it (it's almost like a liquid) into the egg. I tamp that down with a tamper, kinda like the guy in the picture. Then I pour in about a pint of 92 octane gasoline. Don't use anything less than that. Stand back a few feet and throw in a wax square, lit. Then fire up a leafblower, needs to be 92 MPH or greater, and poke the end into the bottom damper, which you want full open.

:-O

I've heard using a tamper can void the warranty. It may be OK if you don't use a gas powered one though.

SteveWPBFL · September 2012

After reading all the posts above I'm going to pretty much just dump from now on. I tried to make things 'better' and the consensus seems to be it ain't worth it.

DDay6642 · September 2012

Yeah but when I sort I'll have an adult beverage and a cigar which makes it all worth the trouble.

Sgt93 · September 2012

I would like to try this sometime but I dump and go.

McNuttly · September 2012

Village Idiot said:

Note from Italy: It's called OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. Seek help immediately.

Some might consider participating in a bbq forum in the US while on vacation in Italy OCD

walleyv · September 2012

Sorting lump is about as useless as tits on a bore-hog!

henapple · September 2012

I just purchased a big of cowboy at Lowes. I promise one of the pieces is the size of a football. Is it ok to use?. Steak or a low and slow?

Hillbilly-Hightech · September 2012

henapple said:

I just purchased a big of cowboy at Lowes. I promise one of the pieces is the size of a football. Is it ok to use?. Steak or a low and slow?

it'll burn, won't it? heh

although I've not ran across any pieces *that* big, when I get a piece that I think is too big to deal w/ easily, I just break it up. I look at lump sizes like the Goldilocks story - some are too small, some are too big, but then some are just right! :D

The Cen-Tex Smoker · September 2012

henapple said:

I just purchased a big of cowboy at Lowes. I promise one of the pieces is the size of a football. Is it ok to use?. Steak or a low and slow?

Hit it with a hammer

Fidel · September 2012

Get/build yourself a wiggle stick. Problem solved.

Dump and go.

ratcheer · September 2012

Not I. I just put 2-3 large pieces, several smaller pieces, and a lot of small pieces in the bottom of my firepot. Then I fill it with stuff left over from the previous fire.

Tim

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Do Any You Sort Out Your Charcoal By Piece Size?

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