Wicked lump charcoal takes a long time to heat up

Chetscapes

has anyone experienced the same problem with the wicked charcoal? I need to keep the bottom vent open a lot more when using this charcoal.

rosem

I wound think it would have to do with airflow (smaller pieces) than the actual lump itself. What did you use before?

rossv1

I just finished my first bag last night but I didn't notice much of a difference in heating times between it and Rockwood, although I wasn't really paying that much attention. I did notice that it popped a bit more upon lighting though. 

Chetscapes

Royal oak

robnybbq

I found it a little longer to get hot but it burns allot longer once going.

Chetscapes

I am using a kick ash basket. If that makes a difference

82c52ksl

I didn't notice much of a difference.  Just finished my first bag of it.  The one thing i will say, is that you get great lump at the top of the bag, and a TON of small pieces at the bottom.  As the bag gets used, every re-fill gets smaller pieces which can block the airholes.  

I'm going to switch to Rockwood going forward, and just stick with it.

rosem

Now that you mention Rockwood...

I've used a few bags of the BGE brand lump when I first got my egg, then switched to Ozark Oak, then to Rockwood. 

Randomly in a pinch last month I bought some Royal Oak and I noticed it didn't have any near the burn time of these others. 

Maybe you're having the opposite effect I had. 

Royal Oak didn't seem to get up to temp any quicker though. More I just had to add more to cooks where I usually don't have to.

Chetscapes

Do you use a kick ash basket?

Phatchris

The lump is extremely dense and takes a while to get going, but once it gets going it get real hot real quick.

Chetscapes

I think I need to do clean out with shop vac

pgprescott

I've found the coal that burns the longest is generally a bit more difficult to light. It's a dance between density and ease of lighting. Might try a different method  of lighting as an experiment. 

krobertsmsn

I also noticed that. It took me FOREVER, like an hour to get it lit. I finally mixed in another brand and it did ok after that.

loveTheEgg

If it took an hour something else was definitely wrong! It was not the lump