Just Bought a Bag of Royal Oak

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Yno said:

I opened a bag of Rockwood and found a bass boat.

I have a lot of friends with bass boats and I find this comment repulsive. 

Hansm

I just opened my bass boat and found a bag of Rockwood

WoodworkerBED

I buy  Royal Oak because it is by far the cheapest around here and I am frugal. But no two bags are alike.  The current bag I am using is excellent, with mostly large pieces, while the last bag was as bad or worse than the bag pictured at the beginning of this discussion.  So if you are looking for consistency go with one of the better, but more expensive, brands.  The best bag of charcoal that I have used was a bag of BGE Eucalyptus.  

WildmanWilson

I've started using B&B and really like it. I've used RO for years and got tired of so much crumbs and dust. B&B is still reasonably priced and quality is much better.

jtcBoynton

WoodworkerBED said:

I buy  Royal Oak because it is by far the cheapest around here and I am frugal. But no two bags are alike.  The current bag I am using is excellent, with mostly large pieces, while the last bag was as bad or worse than the bag pictured at the beginning of this discussion.  So if you are looking for consistency go with one of the better, but more expensive, brands.  The best bag of charcoal that I have used was a bag of BGE Eucalyptus.  

Buying the more expensive brands does not mean more consistent large pieces. Quality lump is brittle and will break into small pieces with rough handling. Check for mishandling at the store before buying. 

alaskanassasin

Am I the only one who doesn’t pay attention to lump size? I just dump and go

Foghorn

alaskanassasin said:

Am I the only one who doesn’t pay attention to lump size? I just dump and go

Nope.

theyolksonyou

Foghorn said:

alaskanassasin said:

Am I the only one who doesn’t pay attention to lump size? I just dump and go

Nope.

Double nope. 

And not in the double negative way in which I would mean yep.  

fishlessman

alaskanassasin said:

Am I the only one who doesn’t pay attention to lump size? I just dump and go

the only egg where you need to pay attention is for low and slows on the 10 inch mini egg, it will go 10 hours plus if you really pack it tight. its the small pieces you want.  other than that, dump it in.

WildmanWilson

Too much small lump can cause airflow issues. If I do has a large amount of small stuff I will place big pieces on the bottom to keep a passage for air. 

alaskanassasin

WildmanWilson said:

Too much small lump can cause airflow issues. If I do has a large amount of small stuff I will place big pieces on the bottom to keep a passage for air. 

The only airflow issues I have encountered were caused by ash in the fire bowl holes or cast grate. I usually take the ash basket into the grass and shake it, finger the holes, dump lump on top and light it.

Mr1egg

I always buy Royal oak and it’s never been that bad for me

stlcharcoal

Kick Ash Basket......then never have to worry about the charcoal size again.  The cheap sewer drain style fire grate has always been the choke point, not the charcoal.

WoodworkerBED

I agree that the Kick Ash Basket really enhances air flow and helps get around the problem with small pieces that I encounter with about every other bag of Royal Oak

Mr1egg

Also the basket keeps the charcoal off of the ceramics making it harder for them to crack.