Putting out the fire and other newbie question??

Unknown

I am/was all set to order my Large BGE within the new 2-3 wekks when I stumpled upon a competitors site and I have a few questions that I hope someone can answer. On the other site it was mentioned that in order to put out the fire in the egg you ,this was lifted directly from the other web site forum, "have to take off a hot metal top and put the rain cap on to put out the fire. (Someone said that they have to put a wet rag under the rain cap to help seal it to put out the fire.)". Is this true that the top need to be changed out in order to put out the lump? Does the firebox cracking issue happen to alot of people and if so why does it happen and is it covered by the warrenty? The ceramics in the other brand are thicker/better?? then the egg. The other question that was raised is the constant replacement of the gasket, while the other does not have a gasket to replace. I hope that I will not get flamed on this topic as I have been reading this forum for the last 3-4 months and I can not wait to get my large BGE. I found the other web site by accident and I want to make sure that all my ducks are in a row before making my purchase. Please Eggheads make me believe again!!!

Nature Boy

Still Undecided,
Not heard the wet rag thing. The ceramic cap, and closing the bottom vent, put the fire out pretty quickly. A closed daisy wheel will also put out the fire, just takes a bit longer as some air gets in.[p]Can't really comment on how they compare , as it is against the forum rules, but I can tell you that the BGE is a fantastic choice, and your concerns are not really issues. Fire goes out fine, and the gaskets last years if you don't fry them. I have 5 or 6 eggs and have only changed 2 gaskets in 6 years. And I do a boatload of cooking.[p]Cracked fireboxes are covered under warranty, and it is not uncommon. What IS uncommon is when a cracked firebox actually affects your life in any kind of negative way.[p]Welcome to the forum, and best of luck on your decision!
Chris

Mark Backer

Still Undecided,[p]You can believe this. That "other guy's" store near me closed. [p]they may say lifetime guarantee, but if they go under, what are they guaranteeing?[p]p.s. I suggest you email some folks direct and ask them for advice / info. [p]

BucsFanJim

Still Undecided,
To extinguish the fire in a BGE, close the daisy wheel and the bottom vent... or remove the daisy wheel using the handle provided and place the rain cap over it. Personally I have NEVER used the rain cap. [p]I have a cracked firebox.... still works great and I plan on calling BGE one of these days and getting a replacement... yes it is warranteed. [p]I've never heard of the competitive brand of which you speak...so I'll refrain from offering an opinion on it. [p]I have had to relace my gasket twice in 2 years (very easy job).... while others that I've spoken to have never had to replace a gasket. [p]I'll bet your not that undecided...go for the BGE. That's one decision I have never regretted. [p]Jim

badbruce

Mornin' Still Undecided,
There was a 'leap of faith' for me when I bought my first egg. Never having used ceramics before & the first time I saw it in person @ BBQ Galore in Palo Alto caused a lot of doubt. Still the best cooking decision I ever made.
As to your questions. my rain cap fits just fine, all you have to do is find the right size. All parts are fully warranteed by BGE, when my firebox cracked they didn't even ask for proof they just sent me a new one. I use my main egg at least 5 times a week usually more & I can see the time is comming for gasket replacement, small issue. I do not know about the other website you mentioned but are their users/owners as dedicated as users/owners are on this thread?
Hope this helps.
bruce[p]

Sundown

Still Undecided,
You are asking reasonable questions when you are about ready to invest in something like a ceramic cooker.[p]Putting out the lump: Close the bottom vent and put on the rain cap. That's it period. The "hot metal top" Daisy, has a little handle on it and in 5 years I've never been burned or had any sort of similiar problem.[p]Fracked fire box: They crack. I'm still cooking on the same cracked fire box, and will continue to, until it falls completely apart. It does not effect the cooking at all.
When I went to my dealer and told him about the cracking he handed me a new on right off the floor model. When I asked him if he wanted the cracked one he said to keep using it until it fell apart.
There's a lifetime warranty on the Egg except for stupid human screw-ups like dropping the rain cap like I did. New one was only a couple of bucks again, from my local dealer.
As for the gasket, in 5 years I've replaced mine once because I had to, there was nothing left. Easy job. Took about an hour. I wouldn't call that constant replacement. There are exceptions and you'll hear about them.
I'm more impressed with The Cult of the Big Green Egg and the people in the cult than I am by anything else in my world. Ceramic cooking is ceramic cooking. But, I'm always proud to say "I own a Big Green Egg."
Last but not least, when you tell someone (a less fortunate human) that you grill and smoke on a Big Green Egg, the conversation is good for at least another hour while you explain what a Big Green Egg is.
You'll make the right decision which is best for you and I'm sure you'll be happy with that decision.

Trouble

Still Undecided,
I cannot speak to the quality of the other cooker. I can tell you a few things about the BGE, which I've had for just over one year, now.[p]You do not have to replace the daisy wheel top with the rain cap to put out the fire. The daisy wheel closes completely and the fire will go out just as quickly with either the closed daisy wheel or the raincap. I have also, on occasion, wanted to place the daisy wheel inside after a particularly hot cook--it helps to keep it clean. I have had no problems lifting it by the handle, which seems to stay out of the way of the intense heat. Still, caution should be used if you decide that it's necessary to handle it.[p]I'm sure others will chime in about the cracked firebox. From what I have seen, they've all had it replaced without issue. Mine is cracked and I haven't done anything about it. It seems like a hassle to take it out and take it to my dealer for replacement when it works just as well as it did before the crack. I can maintain very low temps and achieve lava temps just as well as always. It's been cracked for about six months.[p]What I can tell you with a high degree of certainty is that cooking on the egg has become a passion, at least for me. Mastering it, exploring different methods, working on projects with all the wonderful help found here at the forum and, above all, the tremendous quality of the food...you'll love it.[p]Perhaps others here have experience with both cookers and will be able to draw more direct comparison points for you. For me, I cannot imagine cooking on anything but the egg anymore. Whatever you decide, good luck and happy cooking.[p]Joyce

badbruce

Nature Boy,
5 or 6 eggs? You are my hero.
bruce

Unknown

I still believe in the BGE but like I said in my message questions that I never gave a thought to came up and I was curious about the answers. The Naked Whiz's web site has been read and reread by myself many times and has some excellent information and direction. Again I mean no disrecpect to the BGE family of products I just got myself so confused. Thanks again for so quick a responce.

Nature Boy

A hero because I can't remember how many eggs I have??[p]Hee
Chris

HolySmokes

Still Undecided,
only flames you'll get around here are the nice
warm ones from a pile of lump and good people...
cheers and join up as soon as you're ready,[p]I bought mine without seeing it, without hearing
about it; I read about it at another website. Found
this place after mine was on the way. No regrets.
HS

badbruce

Nature Boy,
Because you have 5 or 6. A goal I can shoot for.
bruce

BlueSmoke

Still Undecided,
I'd factor in the style/durability of the handle and hinge on any cooker I was looking at. [p]My first BGE had the auto-lock hinge, which was a disaster that didn't wait long to happen. (Daughter pulled the band off the dome, resulting in sprung hinge and broken dome.) The spring-assist hinge replacement is far and away better, and miles beyond the scissor hinge on our mini BGE.[p]As to handles, let me just say that I prefer a fixed handle to the bale type. Again, the large BGE has a fixed handle; the mini a bale, and opening the dome is easier (for me) with the fixed handle. Half a dozen uses per cook extrapolates to 30+ a week, to more than I want to count over the life of the cooker.[p]There is one certainty: you won't go wrong with a ceramic cooker.[p]Ken

The Naked Whiz

Nature Boy,
I have four eggs. I am sure I have four eggs. I do not have 5 eggs, nor do I have 3 eggs. Four eggs is the number of eggs I have. (Holy Grail, anyone?)[p]TNW

BlueSmoke

The Naked Whiz,
If only they made an Egg in my favorite color, plaid.[p]Ken[p](I think the lamp above the convent door is lighted. I'm pretty nearly almost sure it's lighted.)

Nature Boy

<p />While you don't need that many unless you compete, I gotta say it is nice to have the selection of sizes, and to have mutliple cookers when you have several things cookin. All the different sizes have their own advantages. [p]I was lookin through my pictures from the Jack Daniels yesterday, and found this night shot that is a pretty cool lineup of those green toys. [p]Good tuesday toya Bruce.
Chris

Unknown

Wow talk about flashbacks. Anyone other then myself watch Doctor Who? All I could think of when I saw your picture was a bunch of Daleks lined up cooking ribs and pulled pork under their hoods. You will Obey! You will Obey! Kill the Doctor! Kill the Doctor!

thirdeye

Still Undecided,
Just weigh out all the options and decide what YOU feel good about using. owner confidence, features, reliability and satisifaction all come into play. If you REALLY want to get confused about products & equipment.....take up fly fishing.

fishlessman

thirdeye,
fly fishings not confusing, you just need a 3 weight, 4 weight, 2 5 weights, a 6 weight, an 8 weight a9 weight, a 10 weight, a 13 weight. 2 - 3 reels for each rod with multiple spools for each reel with lines on each spool. you need a tackle box thats 10 by 14 feet with french doors to store all your flies in and another area for accessories. book shelves everywhere. very easy and simple

thirdeye

fishlessman, Let's not forget a vest (and an index to the contents of all of the pockets), a few of those $80.00 chicken necks, a couple of rodent scalps and of course backing. Not the backing on the butt of your line...financial backing which is really important when starting present day fly fishing.[p]~thirdeye~

Chef Arnoldi

Still Undecided, IT'S EASY
look at the chatroom volume of participants - the more people use the chatroom, the more popular the product.
this equates to more profits from sales and the company is around to take care of warrantees. All the others me fade away sooner or later.[p]

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BUY the BGE

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you wan't regret it :>))

fishlessman

thirdeye,
float tube, 13 ft canoe,19 foot grand laker canoe(75% finished),14ft row boat, 18 foot deep vee powered, bassboat for flats fishing, lobster boat for lake trolling and offshore use. lake house, camp on sebago lake. fourwheel drives. list goes on and on and on... and its all as essential as a raised grill for an egg. infact if you fish, you NEED an egg. i figure with all the equipment that i have, the price for a pound of fish is down to about 50 dollars.dont even want to know how much per pound for the ones ive actually kept. and never add up the cost of travel.

Smoked Signals

Still Undecided,
Wow ... I used to watch Dr. Who. That takes me back ... thanks for the memory.

Wahooegger

Nature Boy,
I can't wait until the day when I have so many eggs that I can refer to having "5 or 6"![p]Wahooegger

Bobby-Q

Still Undecided,
Well you're going to adjust to the little quirks and conveniences of whatever you buy. It sounds like you reached a sound decision and got side tracked by nay sayers. I imagine if this was that type of forum and group of people we could pick apart their product the same way.[p]Same principles as running a negative campaign from the politicians who don't have a solid platform...and please this was not meat to light a political fire, just a generic comparison.[p]BGE for President!!!!

Unknown

Ok, I give up!! Like Chef Arnoldi said I guess I got side tracked and you good people have shown me the light. So I am going to order my Egg on Saturday at my local egg dealer that I just found last week. I will be ordering the following and please let me know what I forgot:
Large BGE (naturally)
Electric Fire Starter
Ash Tool
Grill Gripper
Fish and Veggie Grid
Porcelain coated V-Rack
Vertical chicken roaster
Plate Setter[p]I want to do pizzas on the egg so if the egg has a grill diameter of 18" why use a 14" pizza stone instead of a 16" stone?[p]I also will be ordering the BBQ Guru within the next week or so. [p]I will be building a table for my egg so I do not need a nest. Any other suggestions??[p]Thanks John - Soon to be Knows as Retired Railroader[p]

BlueSmoke

Still Undecided,
Okay, who's in charge of teaching Still the secret handshake? LOL[p]Ken

mad max beyond eggdome

BlueSmoke,
i'll teach the handshake if you teach the bge fight song!!

Mark Backer

mad max beyond eggdome,[p]Boys, none of that matters if he can't make the kool-ade right...

QBabe

Still Undecided - No More!!,[p]What part of the country are you in? You'll find the best price around if you can pick one up at a 'Fest as a "demo". Same egg, better price.[p]Check out the links at the top of this page for information about some upcoming Eggfests, one in Florida that I organize, and one in Waldorf, Maryland that is hosted by Seasonal Distributors.[p]Glad to hear you're going to join the family!
Tonia
:~)

Nature Boy

Wahooegger,
You mean the day when you start losing your memory?? ;>)