Need Advice Between Closed and Open For Egg

drew051

Hey Guys, 

I am in the final steps of having my outdoor kitchen built, they are starting to build the structure this week for the grill, egg, drawers, fridge etc. I am still at the point where I can customize how the egg will sit in the counter. 

I have a large egg, I have been googling pictures for ideas and it seems to be a mix of people having their eggs with the counter surrounding the top and then also people having the egg fully exposed. I am assuming having the counter around the top of the egg is a lot more secure? Is that the logic behind that do you think? Or is it an aesthetic thing? 

I am of two minds of what to do, I prefer it sitting without the counter. But I have kids and think the other way is a lot safer by the looks of it

Also does anyone have any specs of how much clearance I need at the back, sides etc. I read that I should have a little bit of clearance at the bottom of the egg, but I haven't been able to find much about it..

I want to make sure I am doing this right!! 

Thanks for all the help!

fishlessman

the egg is very stable on its own. open front makes it easier to move in and out of the table, some of us travel with the egg.

CarolinaCrazy

I would think without the counter would make it easer to upgrade to an XL or XXL, or to 'repurpose' the space for a Blackstone or different unit. More flexibility, no real downside.

kingsmoke

I have my egg "open " in kitchen area. Egg platform is 16 " high, 24" wide , and 34" deep.  I have extra depth because of a raised backslpashbehind the egg, and needed clearance for the dome in the open position.

milesofsmiles

If needed, how would you get the egg out for any type of service if fully enclosed ? 

Smolder

I personally prefer it enclosed. I like the area next to it for setting utensils, etc. I like the idea that it's seemingly more secure. We have high windstorms here and I never have to worry about it being blown over. I mostly just prefer the look of it better.
In all my years of owning it (27), the only time I ever needed to remove it was to transfer it to a new table. At that point, I just remove the lid and lift out the bottom. It's not that heavy that I can't do it by myself.

dmourati

milesofsmiles said:

If needed, how would you get the egg out for any type of service if fully enclosed ? 

Youd have to take it apart piece by piece and lift it out of there.

TEXASBGE2018

If I were you I would leave it on an open shelf like the top Picture, I would also make the space larger to allow for a potential larger egg later but that's just me. See these examples.

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1202906/new-outdoor-kitchen-covered-patio-w-pics/p1

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1153984/new-outdoor-kitchen-room-for-2nd-egg

drew051

Thanks for the help guys

I have been reading that I should get the nest from BGE, it looks like it makes it sit up slightly. Do you think it will mess with balance?

kingsmoke

Assuming your platform is flat, you will have no problems. I also sent you a pm with some other information

jtcBoynton

The table nest is more unstable than sitting on flat stone.  If using a table nest, I would definitely have a counter completely surrounding the egg.

The primary purpose of the table nest is to provide an air gap below the egg as a fire safety measure.  You do not want the egg in direct contact with flammable surfaces.

jdkeithbge

Thanks @TEXASBGE2018 for referencing my kitchen post!  To the OP, I'd say it is mostly an aesthetic choice, except for the ease of installing and removing.  Also, as @TEXASBGE2018 points out, it leaves room for flexibility in size in the future.  Since I had an XL, I wanted to allow flexibility for a future owner to put whatever they wanted in that space without being tied to an XL BGE counter top hole.  Definitely get the table nest.  And don't worry about the egg falling over or moving, these suckers don't budge without a lot of force.

drew051

I have had my large egg for a long time and had not thought about the potential upgrade(now I am!) 

I am going to go to my dealer hopefully today and take a look at an XL. Does the XL have a wider base?

DoubleEgger

If you like the open concept but want security, buy a nest (new/used) and modify it to fit your space. (Cut the legs off etc) The “arms” will hold it in place better than a table nest. You could even bolt the modified nest to your new island for even more security. 

jtcBoynton

jdkeithbge said:

Thanks @TEXASBGE2018 for referencing my kitchen post!  To the OP, I'd say it is mostly an aesthetic choice, except for the ease of installing and removing.  Also, as @TEXASBGE2018 points out, it leaves room for flexibility in size in the future.  Since I had an XL, I wanted to allow flexibility for a future owner to put whatever they wanted in that space without being tied to an XL BGE counter top hole.  Definitely get the table nest.  And don't worry about the egg falling over or moving, these suckers don't budge without a lot of force.

The XL may not move around, but a large sitting on a table nest does move quite a bit.

jtcBoynton

There is another option besides the open space or counter top with cutout.  A metal bar across the front (removable) can provide security from tipping and still allow for easy changing to another size.  I can't remember exactly when, but this was discussed before and there are pictures on the forum of a setup like this.

kingsmoke

jtcBoynton said:

jdkeithbge said:

Thanks @TEXASBGE2018 for referencing my kitchen post!  To the OP, I'd say it is mostly an aesthetic choice, except for the ease of installing and removing.  Also, as @TEXASBGE2018 points out, it leaves room for flexibility in size in the future.  Since I had an XL, I wanted to allow flexibility for a future owner to put whatever they wanted in that space without being tied to an XL BGE counter top hole.  Definitely get the table nest.  And don't worry about the egg falling over or moving, these suckers don't budge without a lot of force.

The XL may not move around, but a large sitting on a table nest does move quite a bit.

I have a large in a nest ( rubber  feet on granite) , it doesn't move without quite a bit of effort 

Foghorn

drew051 said:

I have had my large egg for a long time and had not thought about the potential upgrade(now I am!) 

I am going to go to my dealer hopefully today and take a look at an XL. Does the XL have a wider base?

Yes, @drew051, the XL has a wider base - although I'm not sure of the exact measurement at the level of the base.

jtcBoynton

kingsmoke said:

jtcBoynton said:

jdkeithbge said:

Thanks @TEXASBGE2018 for referencing my kitchen post!  To the OP, I'd say it is mostly an aesthetic choice, except for the ease of installing and removing.  Also, as @TEXASBGE2018 points out, it leaves room for flexibility in size in the future.  Since I had an XL, I wanted to allow flexibility for a future owner to put whatever they wanted in that space without being tied to an XL BGE counter top hole.  Definitely get the table nest.  And don't worry about the egg falling over or moving, these suckers don't budge without a lot of force.

The XL may not move around, but a large sitting on a table nest does move quite a bit.

I have a large in a nest ( rubber  feet on granite) , it doesn't move without quite a bit of effort 

The nest stays put but the egg slides around on the nest.  The folks at BGE do caution: "CAUTION: The metal Table Nest must be used in conjunction with a table, custom island or built-in surround. Not for use as a free-standing support for your EGG."