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Egg Base, Tables, and Fire Safety Revisited
WileECoyote
Posts: 516
It has been a few years since I purchased my large egg, painted it gold, and built a custom egg table. I absolutely love this egg and it has truly changed my life. We almost never cook anything in our kitchen and our fancy electric range has become nothing but a shelf and extra counter space. We eat better tasting and more healthy food than ever before.
My freshly painted egg in the brand new custom table that I built a few years back:
I originally had some trouble with cracked tiles and burnt table wood under my egg. I conducted weeks of extensive research and testing including scientific analysis with a lab-grade meter and 10 thermocouple sensors wired to every part of the egg and table. I ultimately decided on a new table design which involves placing firebrick and ceramic feet under the egg with the table shelf cut out beneath the firebrick. There have been many posts and a fair amount of debate on this topic but my research and testing led me to the conclusion that my new design was the safest and best setup for my situation. You can view my original table design with lots of photos here (slow to load), read about the paint job here, and read my full research report about the egg base on TNW's site here.
Well I have been using the same egg and table design for almost 2 years now and I just recently removed the egg so I could clean out the table and check everything for any signs of gradual heat or fire damage. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my original research was correct. There are no signs whatsoever of any heat or fire damage. No burns, charring, warping, cracking, discoloration, drying, splintering, melting, or any other signs of trouble. The egg, table, firebrick, ceramic tiles, siding, stained wood, and accessories all look just as new as they did when the table was first built. And this is after I have used the egg at least 3 times a week for 2 years, often cooking with the table doors shut and the egg fully enclosed, and sometimes with egg temps in excess of 800-1,000 degrees F.
So my conclusion is that there may be multiple solutions for what to put under the egg and how to design a safe table but I know for sure that my research was correct and that my design is very safe. My table is more elaborate than most with ceramic top, vinyl siding, electric lights, solar power, BBQ guru system, fully enclosed storage areas, sliding doors, etc. and flammable items such as lump, wood chips, wiring, lights, and plastic containers inside but none of these things have been damaged despite heavy use.
If you are not already using firebrick and ceramic feet under your egg then you should seriously consider doing so. If you have an egg table then also consider removing the wood shelf from beneath the firebrick. If you prefer to use some other design then at least remove your egg and check everything periodically to ensure that you do not have any gradual damage or unsafe conditions which could eventually lead to a fire.
Here are some photos of my table after the egg was recently removed. These were taken before I cleaned the loose dirt, cobwebs, and ashes away. Note how the wood support beams under the firebrick are in perfect condition with no charring or signs of heat. The center wood support beam has a thin strip on the front edge which looks a little dark but this is wood stain that was spilled during table construction and you can see it has remained unchanged from my original table photos. The stained wooden wall panels on the inside of the table which surround the egg are not discolored or warped despite being fairly thin and close to the egg in some places. I hope you find similar results when checking your tables. It only takes a few minutes so do what you need to do to stay safe.
Looking down through the ceramic top:
From the front:
Left side:
Right side:
Under the base:
Bricks removed from the top:
Bricks removed from the front:
Under the ceramic top:
Center table top support:
My freshly painted egg in the brand new custom table that I built a few years back:
I originally had some trouble with cracked tiles and burnt table wood under my egg. I conducted weeks of extensive research and testing including scientific analysis with a lab-grade meter and 10 thermocouple sensors wired to every part of the egg and table. I ultimately decided on a new table design which involves placing firebrick and ceramic feet under the egg with the table shelf cut out beneath the firebrick. There have been many posts and a fair amount of debate on this topic but my research and testing led me to the conclusion that my new design was the safest and best setup for my situation. You can view my original table design with lots of photos here (slow to load), read about the paint job here, and read my full research report about the egg base on TNW's site here.
Well I have been using the same egg and table design for almost 2 years now and I just recently removed the egg so I could clean out the table and check everything for any signs of gradual heat or fire damage. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my original research was correct. There are no signs whatsoever of any heat or fire damage. No burns, charring, warping, cracking, discoloration, drying, splintering, melting, or any other signs of trouble. The egg, table, firebrick, ceramic tiles, siding, stained wood, and accessories all look just as new as they did when the table was first built. And this is after I have used the egg at least 3 times a week for 2 years, often cooking with the table doors shut and the egg fully enclosed, and sometimes with egg temps in excess of 800-1,000 degrees F.
So my conclusion is that there may be multiple solutions for what to put under the egg and how to design a safe table but I know for sure that my research was correct and that my design is very safe. My table is more elaborate than most with ceramic top, vinyl siding, electric lights, solar power, BBQ guru system, fully enclosed storage areas, sliding doors, etc. and flammable items such as lump, wood chips, wiring, lights, and plastic containers inside but none of these things have been damaged despite heavy use.
If you are not already using firebrick and ceramic feet under your egg then you should seriously consider doing so. If you have an egg table then also consider removing the wood shelf from beneath the firebrick. If you prefer to use some other design then at least remove your egg and check everything periodically to ensure that you do not have any gradual damage or unsafe conditions which could eventually lead to a fire.
Here are some photos of my table after the egg was recently removed. These were taken before I cleaned the loose dirt, cobwebs, and ashes away. Note how the wood support beams under the firebrick are in perfect condition with no charring or signs of heat. The center wood support beam has a thin strip on the front edge which looks a little dark but this is wood stain that was spilled during table construction and you can see it has remained unchanged from my original table photos. The stained wooden wall panels on the inside of the table which surround the egg are not discolored or warped despite being fairly thin and close to the egg in some places. I hope you find similar results when checking your tables. It only takes a few minutes so do what you need to do to stay safe.
Looking down through the ceramic top:
From the front:
Left side:
Right side:
Under the base:
Bricks removed from the top:
Bricks removed from the front:
Under the ceramic top:
Center table top support:
Comments
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Can you share the locations of your thermocouples and the temps they recorded for a given dome temperature?
-
WileECoyote, Great job! You have a nice setup there. The paint job looks nice to. I think if I would paint an egg I would have a flame job done on it! Thanks for sharing you have clearly thought this whole thing out and gone to extremes to learn about the BGE and a nice table. Tim
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I see you spaced the dome thermometer. Has that altered the cooking temps that you were used to in any way before the spacer?
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nice set up .. seems the paint held up real well.. thanks so much for posting this there have been a lot of new eggers and new tables and many have not used the little green feet etc .. maybe G.G will include a link to your safety post in his links for newbies
bill -
mjrodney wrote:Can you share the locations of your thermocouples and the temps they recorded for a given dome temperature?
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2Fategghead wrote:WileECoyote, Great job! You have a nice setup there. The paint job looks nice to. I think if I would paint an egg I would have a flame job done on it! Thanks for sharing you have clearly thought this whole thing out and gone to extremes to learn about the BGE and a nice table. Tim
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thegrillster wrote:I see you spaced the dome thermometer. Has that altered the cooking temps that you were used to in any way before the spacer?
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WileECoyote,
You truly a Gold Egger! (sorry, that was dumb, wasn't it...) But you ARE! (a gold egger, that is, not dumb...) sheeeesh.
I was going to ask you just now how you prepped the egg for paint, but just remembered you had a link to it...so I'll go look at it! -
Thanks for the update, great post.
GG -
As luck would have it, I came across a deal on a medium egg today and will now be painting it in a similar manner. What an odd coincidence that I got a new egg on the same day that I posted this thread, after a long spell of being away from the forum. A very pleasant surprise though so I am not complaining. And here I never would have guessed that I would ever own more than one egg, but now I have three with my eye out for a deal on a small to complete the family...
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Congratulations on the find. Yup, the only thing better than an egg is another egg.
GG -
WileECoyote, Did you buy a used medium? If you did my if be so bold as to ask how much and what did you get? I'm only asking this because I want to know what a deal is when I see one just in case I have the money to jump on one. If that makes sense. Tim
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WileECoyote wrote:As luck would have it, I came across a deal on a medium egg today
Was it on Craigslist in Murfreesboro ? -
Hi Woody - hope all is well with you. Yes, it was on craigslist in Murfreesboro but it was actually located in Beechgrove.
Tim: I have purchased several used eggs over the years. Some for me and some for family / friends. Here are some of the deals that we got:
Large egg, nest, plate setter, non-spring band, needed a dome thermometer but otherwise in good condition: $325
Large egg, non-spring band, good condition: $225
Medium egg, nest, plate setter, needs a replacement spring but otherwise in great condition: $330
Mini egg, metal stand, cedar table, good condition: $125
We got a few other deals as well but I don't remember them all. I am always helping people find deals if they can't afford new eggs or if they don't have a local dealer. My personal guideline when buying used eggs is to pay no more than half the best available retail price, otherwise I would prefer to spend the extra and buy new. If the egg is missing any parts or needs a lot of cleaning or repair then I deduct the cost of the fix-up from what I am willing to pay. Distance is also a factor as I have passed up some great deals which were just too far to be worth it for me. For example, I helped a guy in California land a small egg for $90, and a guy in Alabama get a large egg for $200. You can use this link to search all of the Craigslist sites at once for anything BGE related.
Also, some advice when buying used:
- Ask for lots of photos or inspect it in person before finalizing the deal. Some eggs can be very old and replacement parts for those can be harder to get. Cracks and chips can often be hidden under soot or grease, and small missing parts may not be noticed until you get it home.
- Look at the condition of the gasket for an idea of how much the egg has been used. Most people don't replace the gaskets so they can tell you whether it has been a workhorse or a dust collector.
- If it has a non-spring band or is missing the stainless draft door then it is an older model, except for the mini which does not use a spring band.
- If it is missing accessories like the ceramic cap, daisy wheel, temp gauge, etc. then check on the cost of replacement parts before buying it.
If you search the ads often, 2-3 times a week or more, then you will eventually find some great deals but you have to jump fast as they sell quickly. Also be prepared to invest some elbow grease in the cleanup, and remember that you don't get a lifetime warranty when buying used so handle with care. -
WileECoyote, I offered Paul $300. and sent him my number. I am watching for a large and that is contingent on my money situation. Which is unemployment checks. I would love to negotiate a $300. large.
You must not live to far from me. I live in Lafayette,Tn. Tim -
2Fategghead wrote:WileECoyote, I offered Paul $300. and sent him my number. I am watching for a large and that is contingent on my money situation. Which is unemployment checks. I would love to negotiate a $300. large.
You must not live to far from me. I live in Lafayette,Tn. Tim
I always give my used eggs a major overhaul: disassembling to the smallest parts, cleaning down to the bare ceramic, filling in any chips or cracks, painting the exterior if I plan to keep them, replacing / upgrading any worn or missing parts, adding a nomex seal, re-sealing the draft door with a better high-temp liquid copper gasket, and re-aligning the dome and base bands for a perfect seal. Then I do a high temp burn to clean off the grate and daisy wheel, and finish by treating the daisy wheel with lard like you do with a cast iron pan. They usually come out better than new and they hold up much better over time. I just have to decide if the medium is worth the effort or if I should sell it and wait for a small. Or keep it and end up with 4 eggs once I find a deal on a small. :blink: -
How hot does the underside of the fire bricks get? Do you have to be careful with the types of items that you put in the space underneath the fire bricks?
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