Cracked granite

Bf56

Last week I got a piece of granite to go under the table nest.
After putting the XL egg in the table it sat to high. So I
took the table nest out and just use the granite for my base.
Tonight making pizza at 600 degrees the granite cracked
down the middle. I thought the granite would be able to take
the heat, but I was wrong. Anyone have this happen?

theyolksonyou

@Mattman3969

StillH2OEgger

Rather than being disappointed about the cracked granite, you should be grateful something far worse did not happen. You need an air gap.

Master_of_meat

Will a concrete paver take the high heat? 

StillH2OEgger

Master_of_meat said:

Will a concrete paver take the high heat? 

It may, but it will also conduct a good amount of heat to the table. Not sure if people think the table nest doesn't look as nice, but it's very important to have an air gap.

NPHuskerFL

Master_of_meat said:

Will a concrete paver take the high heat? 

Sure it will. It'll also allow for significant heat transfer through it and into the surface below/table. Air Gap...period. 

NPHuskerFL

@StillH2OEgger Must have been  Swyping on my phone at the same time you posted. Like minds on this subject. 

BigKize

Granite will take a certain amount of heat, but it's a naturally cool surface, so the cool to heat transfer is what did in the piece of granite. Definitely want that air gap like others have stated.

StillH2OEgger

NPHuskerFL said:

@StillH2OEgger Must have been  Swyping on my phone at the same time you posted. Like minds on this subject. 

I consider it an honor.

YukonRon

Two types of granite out there; 1) cracked granite, and 2) granite that is going to crack. Although beautiful to look at, it can be temperamental to use for counter type surfaces. Thinner veneers can struggle when subjected to a few years of seasonal changes and the elements. Indoors or with
consistant temperatures it will hold out longer.
Sorry about your table.

Mattman3969

My guess is the granite already had a fissure/fracture in it and the heat caused it to let go.  I know guys that actually cook on granite slabs when they go camping.  It will take the heat.  

Check this out 

http://youtu.be/vIAaPP6r3ak

HeavyG

StillH2OEgger said:

Master_of_meat said:

Will a concrete paver take the high heat? 

It may, but it will also conduct a good amount of heat to the table. Not sure if people think the table nest doesn't look as nice, but it's very important to have an air gap.

BGE's official literature says that while an air gap is preferable placing an Egg on a paver is an acceptable practice. They just say to NOT place it directly on a wood/combustible surface.

bgeaddikt

How thick was it? New? Old? Temps outside? Theres a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration

buzd504

I have mine in a nest just on wood.  I've been rethinking that.

Dondgc

I am in the same situation as @buzd504.  Just the egg on the little feet on wood.  My egg is out of the table for table repairs now.  Does a nest create enough of an air gap over wood? Or should I have the nest over a paver, and the paver on the wood?  That combination would raise the egg several inches, but I would rather deal with that than a fire...any thoughts?

I will add that the wood under the egg shows significant scorching.  It cannot go back the way it was.

Thecoiman

@dondgc & @buzd504, I would put a payer under your table nest. I have a minimax sitting on a home depot work bench and the egg has generated enough heat to melt the heavy duty plastic of the work bench. It is better to be safe than sorry.

jtcBoynton

Dondgc said:

I am in the same situation as @buzd504.  Just the egg on the little feet on wood.  My egg is out of the table for table repairs now.  Does a nest create enough of an air gap over wood? Or should I have the nest over a paver, and the paver on the wood?  That combination would raise the egg several inches, but I would rather deal with that than a fire...any thoughts?

I will add that the wood under the egg shows significant scorching.  It cannot go back the way it was.

What you should do depends on your comfort level with risk of fire.  An air gap is the best so the nest is the single best option.  Adding a paver helps. Adding fire bricks instead of a paver helps more.  There is no safe/unsafe, just more safe and less safe.  As usual, more safe will cost more in $ or convenience.

Jstroke

@fishlessman has the best answer. His eggs sit directly on a paver and the paver is sitting directly on the ground in a mudflat. Last I checked the heat absorption of the ground was pretty high.

In all seriousness--I had little feet on a wooden table but no paver and one day in the rain my wood was giving off steam so I figured that was close enough of a reason to create a concrete barrier. When I built the new table I just incorporated the paver into the math, plus an air gap. If you have an enclosed space for your egg in an outdoor kitchen it's even more important as they trap even more heat.

BilZol

Kind of off topic, with a table nest in place where should the shelf hieght be for an XL and an L so the hinge clears? Building a couple of nests for myself and the XL is in the box still.