Removable top vent.

alaskanassasin

Following along with the "My last post here" thread I learned that the new Large* (at least) eggs are shipping with a non removable top vent. While attempting to dig a little deeper @JohnInCarolina offered an insightful, thought provoking response, quite honestly some of his best work, most likely lifted directly from his thesis. Nevertheless, I thought this topic might warrant a separate thread, I am curious what everyone's thoughts are on a fixed top vent.

 Personally I mostly cook on the egg with the top vent removed. I started with a daisy wheel that I retrofitted to a Smobot. When I went to get another daisy BGE had replaced them with the new style top vent, so I bought that, and for me its a pita, every time I get it out its completely seized. I get all dirty trying to hold it in a head lock while working it loose then the rubber tab comes off.  So I guess from this stand point having it glued to the dome is a plus.  Will Smobot come up with a new design?  Is there a New This Year page on Big Green Egg website where we can see whats in the pipeline?

ColtsFan

If this is true then they really messed up with this idea. 

DoubleEgger

I find all of this hard to believe. I remember the daisy wheel was too tight if you installed the gasket around the top of the dome. Is this what folks are talking about? The ceramics come from Mexico. I can’t envision a profitable scenario for BGE to ship cast iron parts to Mexico to have the them installed on the ceramic dome. Also, the cost of warranty replacement skyrockets for BGE if they have to replace the cast iron vent top along with the dome. 

As for the idea of a fixed cap, it sucks. 

fishlessman

Never understood why folks put a gasket on the daisy vent in the first place.....it's a problem that doesn't need fixing as the thing is supposed to ....vent

Canugghead

whisperer bait 

fishlessman

Canugghead said:

whisperer bait 

Like a Karen, if the whisperer did not vent....he would blow up

alaskanassasin

@CP92 fired a email off to the mothership seeking clarification, Hopefully he will keep us posted

Elijah

Seems like a dumb idea that doesn't improve anything. I did put a piece of gasket around the top to make my daisy wheel tighter since I threw it off several times when opening the lid. 

CP92

alaskanassasin said:

@CP92 fired a email off to the mothership seeking clarification, Hopefully he will keep us posted

I did the same. Direct cut and paste from HQ.

Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, the rEGGulator can be removed.

If it is stuck, you can try placing a small block of wood under the rEGGulator and LIGHTLY tapping it (12 o'clock...3 o'clock...6 o'clock, etc...) to see if it will loosen.

I say proceed with caution and at your own risk.

Regards,
Chris

JohnInCarolina

This all seems like a clever ruse to stop people from continuing to buy those shiny Smokeware caps.

CP92

JohnInCarolina said:

This all seems like a clever ruse to stop people from continuing to buy those shiny Smokeware caps.

Nods. 

Legume

Honestly, if you don't have a cap on, how do you control for using different sizes of lump?

DoubleEgger

Legume said:

Honestly, if you don't have a cap on, how do you control for using different sizes of lump?

I use a digital micrometer to ensure that all of my lump is the same size. When needed, I use a palm sander to get the lump to the appropriate size. 

Botch

DoubleEgger said:

Legume said:

Honestly, if you don't have a cap on, how do you control for using different sizes of lump?

I use a digital micrometer to ensure that all of my lump is the same size. When needed, I use a palm sander to get the lump to the appropriate size. 

A belt sander throws the dust away from the lump in one direction, whereas a palm sander would rub the dust into the O2 holes, affecting the burn rate:
 

 
Recommend you switch to a belt sander.