Rockwood "bad smoke"

Botch

I've used BGE lump mostly (could get it here $22 or so until recently) and one bag of Cowboy (never again).  I'm about halfway through my first bag of Rockwood and it sure seems not to give off any "bad smoke" at the beginning, in fact I usually throw the food on as soon as my Egg is up to temp.  Is this common, or did I just get a "well-cooked" bag first time out?  

WeberWho

Once you hit your target temp you're good to go. Now add a weed burner and you can be cooking in 5 minutes 

SoCalTim

I.Need.This.

Jeremiah

Yup. One of the reasons everyone loves it. 

pgprescott

Bingo!

theyolksonyou

Now you get it.  

bgebrent

+1

stlcharcoal

80-85% carbon content......that's why.  Not much ash, volatiles, etc left in there.  11,700 BTU/# on average

Set our 20# bag next to another 20# bag, and notice how much bigger ours is.  That's because there's more carbon in the bag, thus less moisture.  Density has nothing to do with performance, so don't fall for the "heavy, dense chunks" marketing.  It may mean that it's comes from a really dense/heavy wood, but it can also mean that it's way under kilned--you're buying a chunk of charred wood rather than charcoal.  If you can break it apart by hand, that means you usually have something that's at least 80% carbon.

When comparing value, it all comes down to BTU/#.  The higher the carbon content, the more BTU/#.  

blasting

Good for you Botch

Kind of feels like your seeing the world in color finally - doesn't it?

Music sounds better, women are prettier, bourbon tastes better

Possibly I'm overstating... 

HeavyG

Always puzzled by the "bad smoke" thing. I'm convinced that it really comes down to lighting method/technique.

Propane torch/weedburner = no bad smoke (with any of the three lumps I keep on hand - RO/RW/KJ).

YukonRon

blasting said:

Good for you Botch

Kind of feels like your seeing the world in color finally - doesn't it?

Music sounds better, women are prettier, bourbon tastes better

Possibly I'm overstating... 

That is exactly how it feels when you step up from BGE Lump. No overstatement at all.
What is unknown allows bliss to those who look no further.

pgprescott

HeavyG said:

Always puzzled by the "bad smoke" thing. I'm convinced that it really comes down to lighting method/technique.

Propane torch/weedburner = no bad smoke (with any of the three lumps I keep on hand - RO/RW/KJ).

I’m sure you are correct as always. 

jtcBoynton

HeavyG said:

Always puzzled by the "bad smoke" thing. I'm convinced that it really comes down to lighting method/technique.

Propane torch/weedburner = no bad smoke (with any of the three lumps I keep on hand - RO/RW/KJ).

I'm convinced that it really comes down to the amount of uncarbonized wood left in the product.  Yes a weedburner will bring the lump up to temp fast and thus burn off things quickly. Age may also play a part.  I once had four bags that turned my garage into a refinery for two weeks.  They must have been  really fresh from the factory.

SemolinaPilchard

@HeavyG I have been using a torch for over a decade, and inferior lump gives bad smoke. You mentioned Royal Oak, I may need to give them another try. Haven't used it in years because I always had to let it burn a while.

FATC1TY

This is the reason I use rockwood. 

Funny point- someone my mom and pop ace is closed when I can Swing by. Ill buy some cheap red bag crap
at my beer store. 

I somehow always forget to burp my egg and I always have an added 15 to light and temp stabilize with anything but rockwood. 

Im farthest from a rockwood homie. I started using it when I talked my local place 5 min away to carry it. Proof in pudding- he stopped selling cowboy because everyone kept buying rockwood. He now buys a bunch because I’ve told others about it, and I get a discount on it to boot!!

my main driver is even my wife notices it, on the rarity she had to light egg if I’m not home yet- she hates the other crap!!

OhioEgger

HeavyG said:

Always puzzled by the "bad smoke" thing. I'm convinced that it really comes down to lighting method/technique.

So you mean if I pour enough lighter fluid on it I should get good smoke right away? 

Mattman3969

Welcome to land of quick, non toxic smelling cooks!!  

Theophan

HeavyG said:

Always puzzled by the "bad smoke" thing. I'm convinced that it really comes down to lighting method/technique.

Propane torch/weedburner = no bad smoke (with any of the three lumps I keep on hand - RO/RW/KJ).

Dunno why our experiences are different, but bad smoke was normal for me with BGE/RO lump, and usually I have none with Rockwood, and I use a Mapp torch to light.

Mattman3969

Theophan said:

HeavyG said:

Always puzzled by the "bad smoke" thing. I'm convinced that it really comes down to lighting method/technique.

Propane torch/weedburner = no bad smoke (with any of the three lumps I keep on hand - RO/RW/KJ).

Dunno why our experiences are different, but bad smoke was normal for me with BGE/RO lump, and usually I have none with Rockwood, and I use a Mapp torch to light.

@Theophan - I'm sure you experience is based off of personal use.  I can't say the same for the comments made by @HeavyG  He seems to report off of what he has read on all the forums he trolls but has never posted a pic other than off topic crap like fake tombstone pics.  

Hans61

Botch said:

I've used BGE lump mostly (could get it here $22 or so until recently) and one bag of Cowboy (never again).  I'm about halfway through my first bag of Rockwood and it sure seems not to give off any "bad smoke" at the beginning, in fact I usually throw the food on as soon as my Egg is up to temp.  Is this common, or did I just get a "well-cooked" bag first time out?  

That was my first impression of Rockwood too. RO gets it done and cheaper but I’ve been buying Rockwood like my last 10 bags 

Focker

HeavyG said:

Always puzzled by the "bad smoke" thing. I'm convinced that it really comes down to lighting method/technique.

Propane torch/weedburner = no bad smoke (with any of the three lumps I keep on hand - RO/RW/KJ).

I believe it's more technique than anything, akin to folks who seem to struggle operating a simple WSM.  Let the ceramic preheat while burning off the nasties, pretty simple.

Grilling in 5 minutes doesn't tickle my fancy.  If it did, I'd buy another gasser.
RO works just fine for grilling, smoking, baking, have used it for years.  Nothing against RW, it's just more bang for my buck...and wait for it........................................it's Focking charcoal. Lol

Used to overthink what lump, rub, charcoal briq, grill, flavor of wood, etc etc etc.  Really the only thing now that does matter, is the quality of the ingredients, cut, you start with.

HeavyG

Theophan said:

HeavyG said:

Always puzzled by the "bad smoke" thing. I'm convinced that it really comes down to lighting method/technique.

Propane torch/weedburner = no bad smoke (with any of the three lumps I keep on hand - RO/RW/KJ).

Dunno why our experiences are different, but bad smoke was normal for me with BGE/RO lump, and usually I have none with Rockwood, and I use a Mapp torch to light.

Well, I don't just use a gas torch and call it a day. I use the gas torch (handheld with a BernzOmatic regulated head) just to get a hot spot lit - perhaps a half cup by volume right on top center of the lump pile. Generally just hold the torch over an area for 30-60 seconds. Time depends on the lump as some are more easily lit than others or if it it reused lump.

After I'm done with the torch I blow a stream of air on the lit coals. Sometimes I use my lungs , sometimes I use a cheap fireplace bellows, sometimes I use an old hair blow dryer that the heating element died years ago (I don't use that very often as I would need to run an extension cord). Most of the time I use the bellows. Thought about buying a BBQ Dragon but I'm fine with the bellows (the "exercise" does me good ). I'll vigorously pump the air over the lit spot for another minute or so. When I'm between pumps if the lit lump shows visible flame I'll pump for another few seconds then call it quits. And then the area is going strong and I don't pile any unlit lump or wood chunks on top of it as that would restrict air flow and perhaps create a smoldering situation.

Since there is no smoldering during the lighting process there really isn't going to be much smoke good or bad.

A couple of years ago I bought a box of those Rutland starter thingies as I had never used them and have always read that many people seemed to like them. First time I used them I broke one in half and put each piece in a different place and lit them up. Yuck. Stinky, slow, smoldering startup. Never used another of those again.

Maybe I've just been lucky with the bags of RO I get at my Home Depot. I haven't had to buy any RO in close to two years but I only have one bag left so I'll likely be buying some come January. I'll see if my luck has run out then.

Finally, you're not really using a MAPP torch. They quit making MAPP gas a decade ago so the stuff now that is called MAP-Pro is not the same gas and is nowhere near the temp output of real MAPP. Save your money and just use the blue bottles of propane which are a lot cheaper than the yellow bottles. The gas in the MAP-Pro bottles is just a couple hundred degrees hotter than the blue bottles whereas real MAPP gas was a couple THOUSAND degrees hotter than today's blue or yellow bottles.