Another Rockwood problem?

msloan

to hell with it all.....I think it's the lump!  

stlcharcoal

Glad it didn't happen again, but that's all we really know--is that it didn't happen again.  If there was some way to replicate the conditions, and I could be certain it was the lump, I would have love to have tried to figure out what was going on with the lump.

I'm still at a loss, because I don't know how it could have been.  Those bags are loaded by weight, not by volume.  But the bags are sized to accept the average volume based off the average carbon and moisture content (~80% & <5% respectively).  If that ratio was off, you would have known it the second you picked it up--would not have been as full if carbon was low & moisture was high; or would have been light if the carbon was higher.

If some softwood found it's way into the wood scraps, it would have had to have been offset by some other heavy wood like walnut that would have had to be in the EXACT same bag that filled to volume at 20#.  Neither of those woods are plentiful in southern MO, nor purchased by the plant, making the odds highly unlikely that they ended up in the same bundle, and eventually the same scoop from the loader.  Powerball odds with that theory I came up with.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm still thinking it was a combination of factors and just created the perfect storm.  I don't know what those factors are, and I'm not excluding the lump, I just cannot think of how the laws of physics were defied to make 10# of lump burn in 4 hrs at 280F......and that's ANY lump, not just ours.

In any case, I'm glad the problem is [hopefully]  gone......keep in touch and let me know if you ever experience it again.

SmyrnaGA

Not to stir the pot, but, a pound of charcoal, regardless of brand, SHOULD give off close to same amount of heat.  I use multiple brands for different cooks ranging from COWBOY (gold/premium) to ROCKWOOD.  With the less dense charcoal, it may look like a whole lot, but, it burns quickly, hot, and fast.  The more dense charcoal I use for long cooks since it seems to last forever.

Lastly, I've recently leave a tiny crack open at the bottom vent after a cook for parties in case I need to heat something up quickly.  The temp hovers around 200-250 either way.  But, if SWMBO says "We need more cookies!!!", all I need to do is open wide the top & bottom vents and we're in business in 10 mins vs starting up a new fire.

Even though the egg retains heat and very efficient, that slow burn has eat up a whole lot of coals.

stlcharcoal

SmyrnaGA said:

Not to stir the pot, but, a pound of charcoal, regardless of brand, SHOULD give off close to same amount of heat.  I use multiple brands for different cooks ranging from COWBOY (gold/premium) to ROCKWOOD.  With the less dense charcoal, it may look like a whole lot, but, it burns quickly, hot, and fast.  The more dense charcoal I use for long cooks since it seems to last forever.

That's my point......and that's the point of charcoal in general.  The caveman invented charcoal for a consistent fuel.  Wood is completely unpredictable because of the grain, smoke, flavor, moisture, etc.  Wood after  pyrolysis, removes most of those variables.  The process is never perfect--but it's pretty constant.  Lump charcoals will still vary, but the amount of BTU's should ultimately be the same by weight if it truly "charcoal" (properly carbonized.)

And yes, fun fact for the day, the cavemen had charcoal!  Researches have found evidence of charcoal fueled fires in the vicinity of cave drawings.  Therefore, charcoal is the oldest manufactured product known to man.  Or was it the paint brush?  So many "History of the World Part I" references come to mind.

StillH2OEgger

tfhanson said:

Photo Egg said:

SloppyJoe said:

Sounds like a made up story.  Any normal person would have the decency of trying another bag/experiencing the problem more than once before attacking a reputable company.  

Really, his post sounds to you like an attack on Rockwood Lump?
Looks like a detailed, well written post explaining a problem.
The advantage of being a member of a good forum like this one is to ask questions and seek help. 

Thanks for the support!  SloppyJoe post was totally uncalled for and certainly gave me a bad taste for this forum.  I was just trying to figure out if anyone else here had the same problem.  No company or product is without an occasional mishap.  I was trying to make sure there was not a problem with my egg.   

I have no interest in playing internet police, but as long as we're calling people out I'd prefer to not see the "R word" thrown around casually and derogatorily on this wonderful forum as well. It was also repeated in another post. My older brother, who did nothing to deserve the hand dealt to him and can teach us all a thing or two about keeping a positive attitude in the face of challenges, would appreciate that as well. Off soapbox. Carry on.

tfhanson

StillH2OEgger said:

tfhanson said:

Photo Egg said:

SloppyJoe said:

Sounds like a made up story.  Any normal person would have the decency of trying another bag/experiencing the problem more than once before attacking a reputable company.  

Really, his post sounds to you like an attack on Rockwood Lump?
Looks like a detailed, well written post explaining a problem.
The advantage of being a member of a good forum like this one is to ask questions and seek help. 

Thanks for the support!  SloppyJoe post was totally uncalled for and certainly gave me a bad taste for this forum.  I was just trying to figure out if anyone else here had the same problem.  No company or product is without an occasional mishap.  I was trying to make sure there was not a problem with my egg.   

I have no interest in playing internet police, but as long as we're calling people out I'd prefer to not see the "R word" thrown around casually and derogatorily on this wonderful forum as well. It was also repeated in another post. My older brother, who did nothing to deserve the hand dealt to him and can teach us all a thing or two about keeping a positive attitude in the face of challenges, would appreciate that as well. Off soapbox. Carry on.

For that, I apologize since it was I who used the word.