Rocks? WTF?!?!

stlcharcoal

SenecaTheYounger said:

Perhaps there are luxury lumps out there with perfect size and denisty and warranted to be free of inclusions.
[shrug]

SenecaTheYounger said:

If we shun every manufacturer who includes a rock or plastic or chunk of uncarbonized wood, or has too many small pieces, or too many big pieces, we'd be SOL.

I'll warranty that our charcoal is free from rocks, but I'll charge $100/bag for it.  Call it "NoRock Rockwood", "RockFreeWood", "R***wood", [any other ideas??].  LOL!!  Then every other bag I'll process the warranty claim, but only after people send the charcoal (and rock) back to St. Louis.  Re-bag it without the rock and send it back.  Brilliant plan--to whom do I send the royalty check to for this idea??   )

Seriously, you nailed it--anybody that would make this claim is full of it.  We've been #1 on the Naked Whiz's site for a year now and there is the occasional rock, strapping, etc in our bags.  The overage of charcoal in each bag makes up for the weight of the rock, but all of this stuff was either encased in the tree, or was part of the production.  I certainly hope you never find concrete, soda cans, or other trash in our bags--that can usually be spotted during bagging *if* it somehow made it's way into the load.  But a char dust covered rock looks JUST like a chunk of charcoal.

Funny story, I had a bag of another brand given to me by a customer to try.  I wasn't about to dump it in the brush pile because it looked and smelled like good stuff.  So I dumped it into my large BGE and heard a huge CLUNK!  There was a nearly 2 lbs chunk of concrete w/ rebar in it.  I want to think it was put in there on purpose, but I know it was just luck of the draw.  It still gave me a good laugh (and sense of pride.)

bicktrav

@stlcharcoal - Good points about the rocks.  What about plastic?  How would that find it's way into a bag of charcoal?  I've never encountered a plastic bit myself, but I know several have and burning that up into your food would concern me from both a taste and a health standpoint.  Rocks may be harmless, but would finding a piece of plastic in your charcoal reflect a cardinal sin on the part of the charcoal manufacturer?

ringkingpin

SenecaTheYounger said:

You found it, though.

Pretty difficult to pour charcoal into the egg and not see something like that.

If we shun every manufacturer who includes a rock or plastic or chunk of uncarbonized wood, or has too many small pieces, or too many big pieces, we'd be SOL.

Yes, I did find it but I'm pretty certain that I didn't find it for the first couple of times.  I was picking up this really odd smell and it wasn't until I found a ball of melted plastic that I went hunting.  The polyethelyne is white and after being in the bag, it turns black.  Really, it's pretty darn hard to see.  Usually when I'm pouring charcoal in, I'm not looking.  I hold my breath and try to do it as quickly as possible. 

The plastic was kinda the kicker.  I was having other problems with Cowboy, tons of small pieces, no good lumps (which could have been from improper handling) hard lighting, TONS of sparks when lighting, excessive smoke, excessive ash, etc.  I made the switch to one of the many private labeled Royal Oak brands.  I'd like buy a pallet of rockwood charcoal.  

Here is some of the strands I found, again, not so easy to spot out.  

stlcharcoal

bicktrav said:

@stlcharcoal - Good points about the rocks.  What about plastic?  How would that find it's way into a bag of charcoal?  I've never encountered a plastic bit myself, but I know several have and burning that up into your food would concern me from both a taste and a health standpoint.  Rocks may be harmless, but would finding a piece of plastic in your charcoal reflect a cardinal sin on the part of the charcoal manufacturer?

I have a feeling that the plastic comes from charcoal that is transported via cargo ship.  I have seen pictures of charcoal in these gigantic poly woven bags--looks like a big IKEA bag.  They look like they hold about 3 tons of charcoal per sack, then it's bagged in the US (so it can be marked "Made in the USA" just like Craftsman tools were years ago.)  All just speculation on my part, not saying that's what you found.

There isn't any plastic to be found in the Rockwood production cycle--so we should hopefully be plastic free.  I would definitely be embarrassed and apologetic if you found plastic in a bag of our pride and joy.

RRP

stlcharcoal said:

There isn't any plastic to be found in the Rockwood production cycle--so we should hopefully be plastic free.  I would definitely be embarrassed and apologetic if you found plastic in a bag of our pride and joy.

LOL - don't go issuing a challenge! BTW years ago in a bag  - I forget the manufacturer - I found the remains of a Phillips screwdriver with the yellow plastic handle being partially blackened but well disfigured by the ordeal. Stuff happens and in that case I'm sure that screwdriver fell out of some worker's pocket. I just don't understand the outrage of finding rocks in a bag of lump - never have and never will!

Mastro

Plastics and rubber can certainly be grounds for a lawsuit... Specially if it's a common occurrence

SenecaTheYounger

The mere fact that is in the bag would be grounds for a lawsuit?

To that end, so would the rock, or anything else not 100% hardwood charcoal.

I see your point, but the problem is an exaggeration. What happens other than the loss of the price paid, if a piece of plastic smokes and ruins the flavor of my roast? What is the claim?

Little Steven

I'm sure there is a disclaimer on the bags. You could also sue for the carcinogenic characteristics of grilling meat over lump. 'Merica!