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Comfortable minimum lump quantity?

Prompted by another thread but going into winter (northern hemisphere) what is the minimum quantity of lump you are good with?  I set the low-level alarm at around 100-120lbs but that's not driven by a supply issue.  I can get lump year-round.  Others?
Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
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Comments

  • Scottborasjr
    Scottborasjr Posts: 3,494
    120 lbs if a bad snowstorm is imminent. 40 lbs any other time.  I don't have a lot of storage space and supply has never been a pressing issue for me either.  If I used a brand of lump I could only get once a month It would be closer to 300 lbs I would guess. 
    I raise my kids, cook and golf.  When work gets in the way I'm pissed, I'm pissed off 48 weeks a year.
    Inbetween Iowa and Colorado, not close to anything remotely entertaining outside of football season. 
  • Ragtop99
    Ragtop99 Posts: 1,570
    I like having one unopened bag if supply is not an issue. If I use the medium, I get a lot of cooks from a bag, so I don't see a need to carry inventory if I can restock easily. Now that I'm using Rockwood on group purchases, I need a few bag reserve since GP timing can be unpredictable.
    Cooking on an XL and Medium in Bethesda, MD.
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    edited October 2014
    I get my door dinged whenever I say this, but I panic NOW when I get below 400 pounds of lump on hand and run out like a druggie looking for a fix. I have yet to to over 800 - but 760 and 780 is my normal refueling stopping point! LOL!!! It all goes back to nearly 14 years ago and only having about 25 pounds to last me 3 months way back when lump was not a common commodity to be purchased! But even now not all sources carry it over the winter, but I also stock up when it goes on sale which is more often than you might think. To each is own...
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    I was down to one 17 lb bag of RO about a month ago. Bought five bags then. If I run out, I have a stove.

    Or, I could drive to Peoria.

    =))

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

  • smokesniffer
    smokesniffer Posts: 2,016
     I have only been able to source RO up here in the GWN. Thanks to a heads up from @Skiddymarker about Lowe's having a sale on lump, I picked up 2 pallets, (40 bags per pallet) A friend of mine wanted 10 bags so that left me with 30 for my self. 529 pounds. Now I don't have to worry about lump over the winter. Thanks Skiddy, feel free to remind me next spring. ;)
    Large, small, and a mini
  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 15,429
    When the bag gets down to about 1/3 left, I go buy another bag.
     

    :-S
    _____________

    "I mean, I don't just kill guys, I'm notorious for doing in houseplants."  - Maggie, Northern Exposure


  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 18,727
    I'm with @RRP. I get worried when inventory dips below 400 lbs. I have a shade under 600lbs at the moment. I went a little nuts stocking up on lump over the past year or so. Currently have Rockwood mostly, Fogo, OO, RO, B&B, and a bag of BGE brand too.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • buzd504
    buzd504 Posts: 3,824
    When I open my last bag, I click on firecraft.
    NOLA
  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,791
    I try to keep a few hundred pounds on hand at all times. However I do have back up in the event of a disaster. I have the good fortune of having a Weber ;) that will burn wood in a pinch!

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
    The 50 to 100Kg range is just about where I sit most of the time, at least six 8Kg bags and not usually more than 12. Right now it is RO and Maple Leaf. 

    @smokesniffer - you are most welcome - keep an eye out for those sales - pass it on if you see something. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    Whatever @henapple‌ should bring. image
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • badinfluence
    badinfluence Posts: 1,774
    About 10 bags min. On hand. When I get there I order 20 bags from firecraft.
    1 XXL BGE,  1 LG BGE, 2 MED. BGE, 1 MINI BGE, 1 Peoria custom cooker Meat Monster.


    Clinton, Iowa
  • GFS lump made by RO is plentiful year round and I have a GFS store very nearby. I stocked up on RO when Tractor Supply had them on clearance in August. I'm still burning that.
    Flint, Michigan
  • bodski
    bodski Posts: 463
    We have year round availability, so I  usually just wait until I have 1 or 2 bags left. However, I stock up when I run into a clearance sale.

    Cincinnati

    LBGE, Weber Kettle

  • When I get down to 3 or 4 bags of RW I start getting nervous.  I tried the firecraft route twice and both times bags were 1/2 dust, so now I have to take a small road trip and load up from a dealer who I've had great luck with so far.

    Damascus, VA.  Friendliest town on the Appalachian Trail.

    LBGE Aug 2012, SBGE Feb 2014

  • Ladeback69
    Ladeback69 Posts: 4,482
    This will be my first winter with the egg, but I am able to get RW when ever I want from my dealer so I don't sweat it. I try to keep an extra bag on hand just encase I need it and its Sunday.
    XL, WSM, Coleman Road Trip Gas Grill

    Kansas City, Mo.
  • smokesniffer
    smokesniffer Posts: 2,016
    The 50 to 100Kg range is just about where I sit most of the time, at least six 8Kg bags and not usually more than 12. Right now it is RO and Maple Leaf. 

    @smokesniffer - you are most welcome - keep an eye out for those sales - pass it on if you see something. 
    Will Do!
    Large, small, and a mini
  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053
    100 plus pounds usually. Not usually over 200 pounds. My parents have a place in Arkansas and they come through twice a year and bring me some OO at $5 a bag but I am going to start pushing them to bring me as much as they can carry. If I could get them to bring me 20 bags each time I could have lump for the year for $200.
  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,457
    I buy RW when I'm IL on one of my sales run, with that said I try to keep atleast one month supply and in winter months because I travel less I will hit 200lbs easy.

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • Really never thought about it but you bring up a good point. Living in Alaska it is eggspensive to have things shipped here and I'm sure that our sole dealer here doesn't keep as much as @RRP , @caliking or @badinfluence. Hell, there probable isn't that much stock in our state than what these three guys are holding. 

    Guess I better get with the program. 
  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    I'm comfortable down to about 5 pounds. I live about a mile from a Home Depot, Lowes, and GFS. Easy to pick up more whenever I need it.
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
  • Jeremiah
    Jeremiah Posts: 6,412
    Lit said:

    100 plus pounds usually. Not usually over 200 pounds. My parents have a place in Arkansas and they come through twice a year and bring me some OO at $5 a bag but I am going to start pushing them to bring me as much as they can carry. If I could get them to bring me 20 bags each time I could have lump for the year for $200.

    Wow. Seriously? 5$? Is that from local dealers or is there some kind if special deal involved?
    Slumming it in Aiken, SC. 
  • mcmac
    mcmac Posts: 496
    Lit said:
    100 plus pounds usually. Not usually over 200 pounds. My parents have a place in Arkansas and they come through twice a year and bring me some OO at $5 a bag but I am going to start pushing them to bring me as much as they can carry. If I could get them to bring me 20 bags each time I could have lump for the year for $200.
    $5.00 a bag for OO... that just aint right!  Man, I would have a serious stash if I could get that deal.
    I just recently bought some OO and I have to say that I love the product. Same with Rockwood.


    XL BGE -  Med BGE - Mini BGE - Traeger Pellet Grills

     Hillsboro OR
  • g37
    g37 Posts: 450
    @tridogdude‌ try fire craft and choose overnight shipping. It's cheap I live in hawaii and it's cost me 10$$ to ship 20lbs of rockwood.
    Ewa Beach, Hawaii
  • PNWFoodie
    PNWFoodie Posts: 1,046
    I'm waiting for FOGO to go back on sale before I stock up again.....
    XL, JR, and more accessories than anyone would ever need near Olympia, WA
    Sandy
  • Grillmagic
    Grillmagic Posts: 1,600
    I have been getting lump from GFS (made by RO) it's 13.99 a bag but if you buy 5 or more its 11.99 plus I always get a 10% coupon via email for signing up. It work fine for my needs and I always buy 5 when I am down to 1 or 2 bags left.
    Charlotte, Michigan XL BGE
  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053
    @jeremiah @mcmac There is a grocery store in Arkansas called Harps that sells it for around $5 a bag. When I went out there to visit them 2 years ago it was under $5 a bag. OO is made right in that area so there's not all the shipping charges added.
  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    I'm down to 40# RW. I'm getting twitchy. Normally I'll try to keep at least 100#
    That being said it's readily available here so, I don't sweat it too much.
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
    I guess I'm the odd man here. When I get down to 1/4 of a bag, I go buy a new one. Unless I'm doing a low and slow or I happen to see it on sale. Never had a problem finding it here in Dallas.

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

  • Jeremiah
    Jeremiah Posts: 6,412
    Lit said:

    @jeremiah @mcmac There is a grocery store in Arkansas called Harps that sells it for around $5 a bag. When I went out there to visit them 2 years ago it was under $5 a bag. OO is made right in that area so there's not all the shipping charges added.

    That's incredible. Once my camper is finished Arkansas might now be included in a road trip. :)]
    Slumming it in Aiken, SC.