Lump Coal Questions (not what ya think)

TWags15

In a post where brand is not at issue (until someone makes it such), I have questions as I prep for an overnighter: 

Has anyone ever gotten a piece of lump this size? (I hope the snaps do it some bit of justice; it’s big and heavy.)

Should I split it or leave it as-is?

If I leave it, where in the bed should I set it? Is this something we want ignited from the jump or later in the cook? I’ll be fueling for two 9-lb. shoulders.

Been Egging for 20 months 3-4x/week year-round and this is the biggest hunk I’ve seen. Can’t even remember a close second.

Much obliged.

Blue smokin’,

Tim

stlcharcoal

If it's properly carbonized*, it's fine for a long cook as long as it has smaller pieces around it.  It's a huge heatsink, but as long as the fire can pass between those other pieces to maintain a kindling temp while that thing stays at temp, then it should be ok.  You wouldn't want that when trying to do a hot and fast with a quick start up.

*now that is the question......is it properly carbonized?  Because if it's not, you're putting a big black piece of firewood in your Egg--which means it's gonna smoke.  And depending on the species, that may be a bitter nasty smoke.  Heavy & dense "charcoal" = water & wood fiber and NOT charcoal.  It's not gonna hurt to break it apart.  Smack it with a hammer and see if you can break it.  If not, I wouldn't use it unless you're sure you like that smoke.

TWags15

stlcharcoal said:

If it's properly carbonized*, it's fine for a long cook as long as it has smaller pieces around it.  It's a huge heatsink, but as long as the fire can pass between those other pieces to maintain a kindling temp while that thing stays at temp, then it should be ok.  You wouldn't want that when trying to do a hot and fast with a quick start up.

*now that is the question......is it properly carbonized?  Because if it's not, you're putting a big black piece of firewood in your Egg--which means it's gonna smoke.  And depending on the species, that may be a bitter nasty smoke.  Heavy & dense "charcoal" = water & wood fiber and NOT charcoal.  It's not gonna hurt to break it apart.  Smack it with a hammer and see if you can break it.  If not, I wouldn't use it unless you're sure you like that smoke.

Awesome, thanks, STL (from a Cubs fan)! Should’ve asked one more: Should I even use it to begin with? You answered all of the above and then some. Thanks again.

stlcharcoal

Looking at the grain, I'm guessing that's a imported wood, so that's a NO from me unless it's highly carbonized (thus anything in it that makes smoke, is already burned out of it.)  You should be able to break it apart by hand if that is the case, or at least by throwing it on the concrete.  But my guess is that it's that big for a reason--wood fiber is holding it together.  Wood fiber = smoke and ash.

That's the good part about using U.S. Made lump charcoal, if there is something that's under carbonized in the bag, it's most likely oak, hickory, pecan, or some other hardwood you're probably already using to smoke.  So, nothing is going to be ruined by some random stink wood whose name you cannot even pronounce.

Try to break that thing open, and go from there.

WeberWho

TWags15 said:

 You answered all of the above and then some. Thanks again.

@Stlcharcoal Have you ever thought about getting into the charcoal business with all that knowledge?

BigGreenKev

You should take a hatchet and chop it in half. Curious what the inside looks like. equally dark or more wood fiber than the outside?

RyanStl

I would save it for the fire pit.

fishlessman

if i were truly concerned with it, i would toss it in the egg when shutting down the next hot fire. im not too concerned

TWags15

fishlessman said:

if i were truly concerned with it, i would toss it in the egg when shutting down the next hot fire. im not too concerned

Not concerned, was just genuinely curious. 

fishlessman

TWags15 said:

fishlessman said:

if i were truly concerned with it, i would toss it in the egg when shutting down the next hot fire. im not too concerned

Not concerned, was just genuinely curious. 

if you think its wood and not yet charcoal, putting it in a searing hot egg and shutting it down will turn it into lump charcoal

Mark_B_Good

SPLIT IT! I want to see what's inside!  LOL.
You should split that, seriously ... it's not even going to burn well as a coal. The surface area to weight ratio is way too low.

EggNorth

You are lucky, all the bags I bought recently are the size of a quarter, just junk.   I'm about to start returning bags to the store.   They need to lean how to handle them correctly and this is the only way.

RRP

EggNorth said:

You are lucky, all the bags I bought recently are the size of a quarter, just junk.   I'm about to start returning bags to the store.   They need to lean how to handle them correctly and this is the only way.

I understand, but the trick is to pick up the bag and give it a shake - the bag should feel full and you should only hear a clinking sound, but no lingering,  cascading sound of tiny pieces falling. HTH