Airflow under BGE - how important is it?

LSU1990 · March 2015

I am asking, because I am about to put a large BGE in an outdoor kitchen setup. What I want to do is just set the BGE in a cutout area of the enclosure sitting on a platform, i.e. it will not be enclosed by a countertop (see attached photo) . I have a table nest, but I'm wondering if this will be a stable enough base, or is it better for the BGE to sit directly on the platform. Of course, if I go this route, I will not have air circulation under the BGE, which I am not sure if that is important anyway. Thanks for any help on this.

This photo below is not mine, and I am using it to illustrate what I am wanting to do, so I hope I'm not breaking any forum rules. Just to clarify (A) Will table nest provide enough stability in just such an application as below, and (B) If no, is it ok just to sit the BGE directly on a flat level surface (will it decrease performance).

johnkitchens · March 2015

You need airflow in my opinion. I don't care what mine is sitting on I would make sure that I have an air gap underneath the egg. Use a table nest if you can.

RRP · March 2015

I'm an air flow advocate. Now a question for you - why is it that you would prefer no airflow? Looks? Stability? What? Maybe we can help you understand.

Earshots · March 2015

I have my xl sitting directly on sandstone with no issues.

johnkitchens · March 2015

I think you will find that most people here recommend an airflow. I recently got a new table for my larges and put a table nest under both of them.

LSU1990 · March 2015

johnkitchens said:

You need airflow in my opinion. I don't care what mine is sitting on I would make sure that I have an air gap underneath the egg. Use a table nest if you can.

RRP said:

I'm an air flow advocate. Now a question for you - why is it that you would prefer no airflow? Looks? Stability? What? Maybe we can help you understand.

I do want airflow, and I have a table nest in hand, BUT I was worried that the egg wouldn't be stable just sitting on that table nest without a countertop above it to hold it and keep it from tipping. Perhaps my concern is totally unfounded, because It makes sense to have airflow under it, but I want to make sure that the table nest is a stable platform, if that makes sense. My last setup was dropped in in an outdoor island and had the countertop around it so I didn't have to worry about tipping over. Again, perhaps I'm being overcautious, but looking at the table nest, I worried that because the egg doesn't seem to sit down into it much that perhaps it could be a little wobbly. Thanks again for discussion on this topic.

johnkitchens · March 2015

@LSU1990 I get it now. You just don't want your egg to tip over and break! I totally understand that.

I have both of my larges in a nest and when I first put them in the nest I did have a slight wobble that I wasn't comfortable with. It took a few minutes of moving the nest around, but they found their sweet spot and settled in nicely with no wobbling.

Worst case scenario for me is that I do have the table top to "catch" mine if it fell over, but I don't think it will. I think once you get it settled into the sweet spot of the nest you will be fine.

Since you have the nest already you should try it and just see how it feels after you put the egg in it.

Let us know what you decide.

SmokeyPitt · March 2015

Just to add to that- I think the egg will be just as stable in the nest as it would be sitting on a flat surface. Perhaps a little more stable because it does have a slight raised edge.

Image: http://www.biggreenegg.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/producttable-nest-540.png

I have seen plenty of set ups like the one you show and haven't heard of any trouble. However...I do wonder if you could use a couple of eye hooks and some chain just for a little extra insurance. Or perhaps just a piece of flat steel. Maybe you could integrate piece of steel across with hooks to hang Q tools.

DoubleEgger · March 2015

I had a medium with a table nest up to 710F and was able to put my hand underneath the egg and it was just warm. Airflow is critical on my opinion. I wouldn't want an egg without one.

Earshots · March 2015

I'm not an expert but what is the point of airflow unless you have it sitting on a plastic table? Why risk it tipping over? If you're worried about it cracking the egg mine has been on sandstone for 3 years with no issues and if it were to crack it's warranted. Tipping over is not.

DaveRichardson · March 2015

I'd lean more to having airflow / airgap under the egg. If its aesthetics, you can make a false wall in front of the table nest.

I have seen, when googling Big Green Egg Cart, where someone took threaded rod with tie-rod looking ends that arrached the egg to the cart / table. I have also seen where someone used a metal, I believe aluminum, band to brace the egg front and back attaching the band to the lower band as if attaching the egg mate shelves.

berndcrisp · March 2015

Zmokin · March 2015

LSU1990 said:
Again, perhaps I'm being overcautious, but looking at the table nest, I worried that because the egg doesn't seem to sit down into it much that perhaps it could be a little wobbly. Thanks again for discussion on this topic.

And you don't think the natural shape of the egg makes it wobbly on it's own?

The table nest increases the base size a little and only lifts the weight a little, it may be a draw, but I'm guessing it might be easier to roll an egg over sitting flat on a surface as opposed to being in a Table Nest. To tip the nest, the egg has to rise some which takes "work", and I think sitting flat, the center of mass won't have to rise as much to get it to fall over.

Maybe we should submit it to Mythbusters, they have money and can afford to break an egg or two in the interest of science.

RRP · March 2015

Guess I'll try to ask my question in a different way. Last I checked a large egg weights nearly 150 pounds. It is not going to be blown over even if it is on the old feet or the metal stand. Is there an undisclosed worry such as small children you are concerned who may try to tip it over on them by climbing on it? 150 pounds does not topple over easily.

anton · March 2015

It is paramount in importance, to answer your question. Queue everyones pics of scorched tables please, and the guy whose house burned down, please chime in, thanks.

theyolksonyou · March 2015

I'll chime in here. Four months in a table with only a paver. Started reading some fire threads so I bought a nest. Pulled my paver and my table was discolored already. I can stick my hand under the egg on the table nest comfortably. Not sure about non combustibles like concrete or sandstone, but no way would I sit my egg on just a paver with wood for any extended time frame.

pgprescott · March 2015

As a bonus, I think the table nest makes it much easier to clean out the ash by traditional means. You can get a dust pan right under the vent. I'm sure this is unintended, but did not go unnoticed by me.

KennyLee · March 2015

I don't think airflow is that big a deal depending on what it's sitting on. With the setup in the original pic, I think you're fine without the table nest.

Mine sits on a concrete paver in a table with no issues at all.

johnkitchens · March 2015

The opinions on it does or it doesn't need airflow are as diverse as what kind of lump is the best. It will never be settled.

pgprescott · March 2015

KennyLee said:

I don't think airflow is that big a deal depending on what it's sitting on. With the setup in the original pic, I think you're fine without the table nest.
Mine sits on a concrete paver in a table with no issues at all.

I tend to agree given he appears to have a completely stone setup. I don't think keeping all things cooler is a bad idea, even for the bottom of the egg itself. I really caution you, however. Every single person in your position had no problems right up to the point in which they did have a big problem. An egg on a paver with no air gap on a wood or combustible table is a really bad idea. I would reconsider the potential risk vs cost. No brainer. If I'm wrong, your out $35. If your wrong????

RRP · March 2015

KennyLee said:

I don't think airflow is that big a deal depending on what it's sitting on. With the setup in the original pic, I think you're fine without the table nest.
Mine sits on a concrete paver in a table with no issues at all.

Years ago I wasn't a believer either, but since my table was made of wood I did use a round concrete paver from Lowes but no green feet for a spacer. I live in Illinois where we have strange swings in temperatures. One day I had fired my egg up to 500 degrees after a cold rainy night. As I was walking away after putting on a pizza I heard a horrible CRACK and I just knew my precious egg had broken in two! Well - as luck would have it my egg was ok but that stepping stone was cracked in half. Moral to my story? The heat and moisture had to have been in competition and something had to give. I just don't understand why people think having air flow around a BGE is so bad when there are so many of us saying otherwise.

KennyLee · March 2015

The manufacturer and dealer both told me it wasn't a necessity when I bought my Egg three years ago when I inquired about the feet that I thought came with it. It was after they stopped including/selling them. I took their word for it since it was their product and used a 2" thick paver. I've had my Egg out of the table several times and there is not even the slightest indication of heat anywhere after several years and probably 500-600 cooks of all kinds.

That said, even though I have a wood table, it sits on a concrete paver pool decking next to the pool and 20-30 feet away from a 100% brick home with nothing combustible anywhere remotely close to it.

I will say that if I was cooking on a wood deck attached to a wood home (which has dangers beyond the airflow discussion), I'd probably go with a nest or some such and actually probably wouldn't have a wood table to begin with. Though I still don't see any issues with my setup, and certainly not for the setup the OP was referencing.

SMITTYtheSMOKER · March 2015

If your base is fireproof (non wood), the only downside to going direct would be having the Egg heat up the table during the summer. Had a customer who had a stucco table with bar stools around it, the Egg created heat throughout the table. Once he added a little table nest the heat problem went away.

Skiddymarker · March 2015

Table nest, much better than sitting by itself, IMO. MBGE sits wide open in a nest, it is very stable. You can also rake the ash out better with the egg raised, pie plate slides right under it.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/9d/a7fpgbcdn4mv.jpg

anton · March 2015

@Skiddymarker, I spy a ash tool made from a spreader bar from an electrical rough-in fixture or the like. Backyard genius.

Chubbs · March 2015

I think the nest is stable enough. You can always modify the legs of the nest for added stability or friction. I believe @NPHuskerFL added some rubber feet to keep his MM from sliding in his truck. This would likely ease your concerns in this setup too.

Skiddymarker · March 2015

@anton - Thanks, never been able to find anymore of this stuff other than the 12" or so that was in my steel junk bin. It is 1/2" angle, maybe two or three times heavier than drywall corner bead. It has 1/4" holes that alternate on each side.
Used the vise to reshape and voila, ash rake. It is sturdy enough that with a pair of channel lock pliers, I can pick up my place setter when it is hot.

Airflow under BGE - how important is it?

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