Raising coals for fast hot direct?

danhoo

Anyone raised the coals for a short hot direct felt line cooking grate cook? 

Langner91

What are you trying to cook?  I am not understanding what mean by raising the coals.

When I want a hot direct cook, I take the grid down to the fire ring, or lower.  I get the cooking grid as close to the coals as I can.  But, it is always below the felt line.

Getting your coals hot at the felt line is a sure fire way to roast a gasket (Unless you have an upgraded gasket) or cause other problems.  

lousubcap

The easiest deal here is to lower the cooking surface as mentioned by @Langner91.  Pull the ring and get yourself a 17" grate that fits at that height or get something even smaller that you can drop right on the lump.  
If you want to get after it, then just go caveman.  You'll be glad you did.  Should you try any of the above, the closer you get the longer the necessary tongs and the faster the thermo.  FWIW-
Merry Christmas.

danhoo

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I want to cook at the normal grate height, use my CI grate but raise the coals to get a hotter direct cook.  

So basically raise coals to the level of the fire ring

I've tried removing the fire ring and cooking with a different size grate over the fire bowl, but its a pain to reach down into it. Even with long tongs and leather gloves.

Langner91

You can fill the fire bowl up to the top of the fire ring.  Fill her up and let her rip.  

Just remember to burp it.

Battleborn

^^^Agree Button^^^

Photo Egg

Like others have said, fill the lump to top of fire ring. 

Even using a raised ring at felt level, temps will be raging hot.
I agree with you on trying to sear lower in the Egg.

danhoo

Ok. My kids gave me a CGS spider and heavy duty 13 inch heavy duty stainless grate so I'll try cooking closer to the coals. 

Botch

danhoo said:

Ok. My kids gave me a CGS spider and heavy duty 13 inch heavy duty stainless grate so I'll try cooking closer to the coals. 

Timely gift!