Vent cap showdown: Daisy vs. Smokeware vs. rEGGulator, which is best? My winner is…

unoriginalusername

xfire_ATX said:

I bought a rEGGULATOR yesterday based on this thread.  Maiden run today

Cool. Hope you like the same things about it that I do 

cookingdude555

Love mine, using it right now. 

unoriginalusername

cookingdude555 said:

Love mine, using it right now. 

Awesome, what was inside the egg?

buzd504

The_Stache said:

unoriginalusername said:

The_Stache said:

g37 said:

I like the new reggulator top it doesn’t get stuck shut like the Smokeware. The daisy wheel was ok but the reggulator is the way to go.  

I have the original smokeware cap on one large and the newer version on my other large.  I have not had any issues with the original (only rectangular vent holes) ever sticking.  The newer version... yup... sticks and needs to be cleaned frequently.

True story. Both of mine are the new generation so I never experienced the hassle free operation 

Not sure why they made the change!

I suspect that with the angled opening, you (theroetically) get more control at lower temperatures, as you can get incrementally smaller openings with the angled instead of with the rectangular version.

That said, I have the rectangular version, and have never had a problem with it sticking, and it works for temp control just fine.

I will add, though, that as your top and egg get more  gunked up. (um, seasoned), even if you clean it, temp control gets a little easier because lots of little openings get filled with crud and air just doesn't travel as well as it does through a brand new egg.  It could just be experience (or it could be because I don't really clean my egg or my top), but that's what it seems like to me.

Carolina Q

I almost never use my daisy. It's in my garage... somewhere. I'm sure of it. If it rains, I don't egg. If it doesn't, 320° is low enough for any cook I ever do and no top vent control is needed for a temp that high. If I get caught in a rain storm, I'll either continue as is or put on my hardware store vent cap that I've had for years (long before there was a Smokeware). 

As for keeping the rain out, apparently that isn't an issue.

From yesterday's @Wanasmoke Smobot post...


And @Spring Chicken's years old daisy pic...

SoCalSooner

I think this is a great post highlighting new stuff BGE now has available. Joe is forcing the hand of BGE to do some new things, and it’s great to see people excited about the products. New gadgets and tools are what really draw some people to this style of cooking. Thanks for taking the time to put this out there. Guess I’m still a little sore to hear my local dealer may stop carrying BGE all together and only sell the red one moving forward because of customer response to their innovation with the product. 

Gulfcoastguy

Maybe BGE will make a Rutland gasket standard and include an Eggspander in the standard package. Preassembled correctly would also be nice.

cookingdude555

unoriginalusername said:

cookingdude555 said:

Love mine, using it right now. 

Awesome, what was inside the egg?

https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1219543/eggspander-woo-or-adjustable-rig

xfire_ATX

unoriginalusername said:

xfire_ATX said:

I bought a rEGGULATOR yesterday based on this thread.  Maiden run today

Cool. Hope you like the same things about it that I do 

Maybe my first cook shouldn't have been a brisket...... I also had the sense not to put the brand new Ash Basket and this on for a brisket cook.

My thoughts-
I rarely used the daisy wheel, but I "grill" more than "smoke".  But just the same I had the bottom vent choked down farther than normal and the rEGGULATOR what seemed like barely open just to stay ~250 (I do need a thermo check).

I also am used to pulling the daisy wheel when used off and using ceramic cap to close it down.  Not sure I want to leave the rEGGULATOR on full time.  I realized at end of cook the rEGGULATOR didn't have the SS wire to pull it so I had to get a glove to do that.

I do like the friction of the cap- it's not moving at all like the DW and I do egg in the rain so I can the cap open and using the hood.

Kick Ash Basket- salesguy noted it would change my vent settings, and after fun with above I didn't need it all different.  Brisket came out great though- 9 hours for 7# with great flavor.

stlcharcoal

xfire_ATX said:

Kick Ash Basket- salesguy noted it would change my vent settings, and after fun with above I didn't need it all different. 

BS.......it doesn't change the vent setting on low and slow.  The same amount of air comes and the same amount leaves to maintain a certain temp.  That's the same old tale as people saying it burns more charcoal, a FlameBoss uses more charcoal, or that smaller charcoal pieces burn faster.  Throw it in there and dont look back.

g37

Layer the bottom of your charcoal basket with the bigger pieces of charcoal then throw all the smaller pieces on top burns perfect. 

unoriginalusername

xfire_ATX said:

unoriginalusername said:

xfire_ATX said:

I bought a rEGGULATOR yesterday based on this thread.  Maiden run today

Cool. Hope you like the same things about it that I do 

Maybe my first cook shouldn't have been a brisket...... I also had the sense not to put the brand new Ash Basket and this on for a brisket cook.

My thoughts-
I rarely used the daisy wheel, but I "grill" more than "smoke".  But just the same I had the bottom vent choked down farther than normal and the rEGGULATOR what seemed like barely open just to stay ~250 (I do need a thermo check).

I also am used to pulling the daisy wheel when used off and using ceramic cap to close it down.  Not sure I want to leave the rEGGULATOR on full time.  I realized at end of cook the rEGGULATOR didn't have the SS wire to pull it so I had to get a glove to do that.

I do like the friction of the cap- it's not moving at all like the DW and I do egg in the rain so I can the cap open and using the hood.

Kick Ash Basket- salesguy noted it would change my vent settings, and after fun with above I didn't need it all different.  Brisket came out great though- 9 hours for 7# with great flavor.

Visually think of the exposed space on your daisy wheel to hold ~225, its barley anything. Same is true on the rEGGulator as it will look nearly shut. 

No no need to remove, try just closing it up and leaving it. I am finding it works as well as the cap

DonWW

I hear a lot of complaints about the Smokeware "gumming up" after a few uses.  While I can't deny this, cleaning it is a breeze.  If you don't have time for a dishwasher cycle, hot water and a little Dawn detergent brings it back to new condition in just a few minutes.  Never found it to be slower than the daisy wheel at extinguishing the fire.  When it's closed, it's closed - no air movement. 

Botch

DonWW said:

I hear a lot of complaints about the Smokeware "gumming up" after a few uses.  

I've had mine at least a couple years and it still adjusts fine, and I have the newer "triangular" design.  

JMCXL

First, thanks for your research and thanks to you wife for allowing you to send tons of $$$$ (haha).

I question one of your findings.

The rEGGulator 

...  Finally, and again without the equipment to scientifically prove it, outside of the ceramic cap this is hands down the best cap at getting the fire out quickly and keeping the most amount of lump for future cooks.

I have the rEGGulator and felt that it did not snuff the fire quick enough for my liking.  As you did say nothing works better than the regular ceramic cap.

Thanks again for the research.

unoriginalusername

JMCXL said:

First, thanks for your research and thanks to you wife for allowing you to send tons of $$$$ (haha).

I question one of your findings.

The rEGGulator 

...  Finally, and again without the equipment to scientifically prove it, outside of the ceramic cap this is hands down the best cap at getting the fire out quickly and keeping the most amount of lump for future cooks.

I have the rEGGulator and felt that it did not snuff the fire quick enough for my liking.  As you did say nothing works better than the regular ceramic cap.

Thanks again for the research.

Thanks, I am comparing the daisy the SS and the rEGGulator to each other not vs the ceramic cap. Out of the theee I find it the best at extinguishing the fire to the point where I no longer bother using the ceramic. I do have felt on the dome so perhaps that helps with air tightness 

tacomeat

HELP!

I got the reggulator recently, but I'm seeing smoke leaking from the outside. I guess it's not sealing, so the smoke comes out from the bottom of the reggulator intead of only coming out the top opening. Wondering if anyone else is experiencing this and if there are any easy solutions. Not sure how big of a deal it is, but the leaking can't help when I want to keep my temperature dialed.

cookingdude555

tacomeat said:

HELP!

I got the reggulator recently, but I'm seeing smoke leaking from the outside. I guess it's not sealing, so the smoke comes out from the bottom of the reggulator intead of only coming out the top opening. Wondering if anyone else is experiencing this and if there are any easy solutions. Not sure how big of a deal it is, but the leaking can't help when I want to keep my temperature dialed.

The eggs are all a little different on the chimney size I have found.  I recommend putting some gasket around the chimney to seal it up tighter.

ST1SSDV

Thanks for the nice detailed comparison.

I used a daisy wheel for about 12 years and upgraded to the Smokeware about 6 years ago shortly before the rEGGulator became available.

The daisy wheel was perfectly functional, except for the already mentioned issues that it didn't snuff out the fire completely and I had to watch it closely to keep the cap from shifting while opening.  I never had any issues with rain.

The Smokeware was better at snuffing the fire and I found it to be easily adjustable.  My only issue with it has been that it drips grease tracks onto the Egg when it's hot.  I disassemble it and clean it periodically but I don't have a dishwasher.  Maybe that would be the solution.

I may switch to the rEGGulator at some point to solve the grease issue and perfect the snuffing function.

lkapigian

I was expecting @jonessteave

shtgunal3

^^^me too^^^

RRP

ST1SSDV said:

 I disassemble it and clean it periodically but I don't have a dishwasher.  Maybe that would be the solution.

I'd never pit mine in our dishwasher...instead I will use EasyOff oven cleaner once or twice a year.

From messy and baked on like this:




To this:

JohnInCarolina

RRP said:

ST1SSDV said:

 I disassemble it and clean it periodically but I don't have a dishwasher.  Maybe that would be the solution.

I'd never pit mine in our dishwasher...instead I will use EasyOff oven cleaner once or twice a year.

From messy and baked on like this:




To this:

This is the way.