Opening the bag

JMCXL

How do you go about opening your bag of choice lump?
I usually grab a pair of scissors, I never mastered pulling that string and having it open and when I ripped it open it never goes well...

thetrim

Knife.  Slice it open w/ a maniacal look on my face.

jeffwit

I think it’s @DoubleEgger that has this down to a science. 

JohnInCarolina

I use my Hattori Hanzo sword.  Works like a champ.  String pulling is for Girl Scouts.

Legume

You need a larger egg - toss a 20lber into an XXL and light the bag, it’s the starter.

pgprescott

YouTube is your friend.

 It’s not 100% because sometimes they are just sewn poorly or whatever, but it’s a real satisfying deal. 

jtcBoynton

The good folks at Rockwood say "Rockwood bags have a double string lockstitch with closing tape from a pneumatic sewing machine head.  Look for the side with two strings (not the single clean stitch), then go to the left side and pull the knot out.  Grab the string that is on your side of the bag and pull.  It will release that string from the other side of the bag."

Legume

I still cut, I don’t usually want the bag open all the way across.

JMCXL

jtcBoynton said:

The good folks at Rockwood say "Rockwood bags have a double string lockstitch with closing tape from a pneumatic sewing machine head.  Look for the side with two strings (not the single clean stitch), then go to the left side and pull the knot out.  Grab the string that is on your side of the bag and pull.  It will release that string from the other side of the bag."

Someone must have a video of this

YukonRon

I agree with @JohnInCarolina, pulling strings is NOT manly.
I use one of the following: my switchblade, Ninja shuriken throwing stars, kunai, M9 bayonet, Leatherman, karate, my figure 4 pin move, table saw, local saw mill, radial arm saw, sawzall, box cutter, shears, hedge trimmer, chainsaw (talk about a lot of fines) or when in total desperation, just have My Beautiful Wife do it.
If there is a will, there is a way.

alaskanassasin

I just pull the tape off the hole that Ace puts in the bags

TN_Egger

I usually just grab the bag in a bearhug and rip it open with my teeth.

Botch

JMCXL said:
Someone must have a video of this

Someone posted a video on EweTube, "How to", and he plucked, and picked, and swore, and pulled some more, said a bad word and cut the bag open with a knife.
I've been doing it right all along!  

stlcharcoal

If the video on YouTube is Shotgun Fred (bbq guru), then that's a single chainstitch.  So it's different than a two string lockstitch.  If i get around to it, ill make a video.

DoubleEgger

jeffwit said:

I think it’s @DoubleEgger that has this down to a science. 

Thanks. I haven’t used a knife in a long time. It’s super easy to open. 

Place bag at your feet with the front of the bag facing you. You are going to unravel the knot on your right side by simply pinching the knot and pulling it straight back. Two or three quick pinch and pulls and the knot will be unraveled. Grab the loose string and pull it and you are good to go. 

theyolksonyou

dmchicago

I call Chuck Norris on the phone and describe the bag to him. 

Boom! Opened. 

caliking

Beer. I use beer.

When I find myself pondering the optimal method for opening a bag of lump, it means i have way too much time on my hands. And should be doing something more productive. Like how to get more beverages in me. 

yljkt

Marine Kabar knife. I like to sneak up on the unsuspecting bag of lump with the knife clenched firmly between my teeth. That way I have both hands free to wrestle the hapless bag of coal to the ground and quickly finish the job.