Hello to all and showing off my new Egg!!

hophog87

Hey there guys and gals, just wanted to say "hello" to everyone since this is my first post as a new member here. I really got into the BBQ thing heavily this summer and decided that, after using a side-smoker for a while with good results that I should take the plunge and join the ranks of Eggheads. So, after stashing away every extra penny here and there and selling a few things I didn't need, I finally bought my Large Egg two weeks back. I decided to make myself a table for the egg on my own with a hybrid between a lot of different plans online. The result is below. I'm happy with how it turned out. Now to add a bottle opener and a few hooks to hang my cooking utensils! So far I've only been able to fire it up twice, once for a quick pizza and then, last night, did some BBQ pork loin which turned out very very well. Still learning how to get the long slow cook (mine wanted to hover around 300 instead of 225ish) but I'm confident I'll figure it out with more practice. Looking forward to a lot of good cooking with the egg over the winter (something I've not said before about cooking outside!).

tulocay

Good looking table and Welcome!

Foghorn

That's a great table - and welcome aboard. 

Yes, I'm sure you'll get the hang of going lower - while simultaneously learning not to sweat it too much if you don't hit your target temp exactly.

TexanOfTheNorth

Welcome to the lifestyle! That's a nice looking table.

You're not the only one that has/had trouble hitting and holding 225*. As @Foghorn said, don't get too hung up on exact temps.The main thing is to not get into chase mode. If your temp settles in 15-25* above where you want it it's (usually) not that big a deal.

Charlesmaneri

nice table you did a great job enjoy your new egg as far a temp controll relax if it's 10m to 25 over no big deal the important thing is that you have a good time EGGING as long as your enjoying everything will fall into place ,if your hell bent on exact temp them go out and buy yourself a BBQ Guru Digi Q DX2 that will keep yor temp at what you set it at 

Fred19Flintstone

Welcome! That set-up looks great! Nice job!!

jtippers

Good looking setup... welcome!

lousubcap

Nice set-up.  Welcome aboard.  Degree of Kool-Aid consumption a matter of personal choice.  Enjoy the journey.

Buckdodger

Looks like ur off to a good start...good looking set-up. And welcome.

MagnoliaBBQ

Nice table!  It does not take too long to learn how to control temperature on the egg.  Here are some tips I have found helpful for low temperatures.  Start out with a small fire.  I use a propane torch (MAP gas torch, actually) to light the top of the wood lump for about 5-10 seconds until I see a red glow (or at least hear the popping of the lit lump).  Initially, leave about a quarter inch opening on the bottom vent; and on top, open the daisy wheel so that about 1/4 to 1/3 of each daisy wheel hole is open.  With those settings, the egg should stabilize in the low 200 range.  Just remember that egg temperature control has a "momentum" analogous to steering a large ship--it may take a while for the temperature to respond to slight changes in the venting, but the changes will occur.  It is this resistance to change that makes the egg easy to "set it and forget it" so to speak.  When you get the hang of it, after starting a small fire, you can open up the egg's vents full throtlle initially and watch the dome gauge ramp up near your desired temperature (or even past your desired temperature) before restricting the vents to bring the temperature under control.  This pullback is possible because it takes a while for the ceramic to initially heat up and catch up with the dome temperature gauge.

RAC

Great set up! Welcome aboard and enjoy.

henapple

Welcome

hophog87

Thanks for all the nice comments on the table.  I certainly am enjoying the set up.  two cooks in the past two nights and one already planned tonight.  

I'm only adding these because, I know when I was planning how to build my table, looking at other's progress throughout the build helped me better think about how I could construct mine.  I'm definitely not posting them because I claim to be a carpenter of any degree...I'm definitely not.  However, I think it turned out pretty well and it works with plenty of room for a beer....errr...I mean plenty of table space left over to prepare the food.  Overall cost was just around 180 bucks and everything purchased from Lowes.    

shtgunal3

Welcome aboard. Nice job on the table.

Skiddymarker

Welcome to the zoo! Nice looking table, you are a carpenter/furniture maker - looks like Minwax finish. Great job, have some company over show off your skills and the egg. 

caliking

Wonderful setup and your table turned out great! Crack some beers open and keep cookin'.

Scottborasjr

Table looks great!!! Welcome to the cult.

ambrodsky

Looking good!  Get ready to keep trying new things!