How to achieve max Egg temperature

Ken

Another newbie question -
I was cooking steak last p.m. and trying to get maximum dome temperature. I had the lower vent completely open and no covering on the dome vent. Max temp. was about 350. I added the daisywheel and had it about 75% open and the temp went up to 560.
What is the optimum vent configuration to get the peak temp out of an Egg?
Thanks.

Fidel

Ken,[p]Peak temps are achieved with the bottom vent wide open and the daisy top removed. Also, light it in 3-4 places and not just one place. This lets it get up to temps faster.[p]If you got it higher with the daisy on then you didn't give it enough time or something is misaligned inside. Make sure the firebox is properly aligned and nothing (i.e. small pieces of lump)is clogging the airholes in the fire grate or firebox. Maybe you had some blockage that finally burned clear.[p]I can light mine, wide open, and have it well over 700 in 10 minutes or so.

ranger ray

Ken,
this is not a joke.... if ya want to get temps up quick... especially if ya think the air holes are clogged... fire up the leaf blower and put in the bottom vent ... it's be at lava temp in seconds...

Unknown

ranger ray,[p]The leaf blower is good idea if you have no ash in the egg, otherwise you might have ash over everything.

Unknown

Having the bottom vent open and the top vent completely open should get you max. temps. [p]A small hand held fan can help.[p]How much lump did you have loaded?[p]Was there a lot of 'fines' in the lump?[p]Spacey

Ken

Here's the procedure I followed:
One "chimney" of new coal. When it was really burning well, I dumped it into the fire box and mixed it with about half a chimney of old coal. I then sprinkled about 1/2 chimney of new coat into that mix. I let it burn for another 15 minutes and then closed the dome with the dome vent uncovered and bottom vent wide open. That's when I maxed out at 360.

Fidel

Ken,[p]Close your dome once you dump in all your lump. No reason to let it burn with the dome open.[p]Remove the daisy top, open bottom vent, and watch the temps climb in about 10-15 minutes.[p]Are you taking all the old lump out of the box? If you are using a chimney, just add your newly lit lump to what is left in the box - give it a little stir if you want to make sure the lit lump is mixed in, and let it go.[p]I think what might have happened to you is that you smothered your lit coals with the new lump you put on top, and it took some time for the fire to spread before it could breathe and get high.

ranger ray

Richard Fl,
it's not usually a problem.... just some nice sparks....lol... even so.... just blow the ash away...with the leaf blower....when you see ash and sparks.... the fire is going well anyway.... time to stop... unless you are gonna use the fire for some blacksmithing.... which i have done... .

billt

Ken,
i had that problem when the egg when was about a year old, lots of use. the chase/raceway around the firebox [that gets air to the little holes] was blocked with ash that had fallen thru the litle holes . i dismantled the egg cleaned and back to happy . now i stick the shop vac hose around the chase regularly.
using a turbinator now. i hit 950 so fast that the egg is ready before i am.

BigT

Ken,[p]Was the lump stored in a dry place?[p]If the lump was "humidity-logged", it may have needed to drive off the moisture first.[p]When I start up my Egg (preferably with a weed burner), I leave the bottom draft wide open, and to avoid runaways, I put the daisy on with the slide wide open.[p]One untimely phone call will fry your gasket / overrev your thermometer, and leaving the top draft on buys you a little insurance. It's really impressive to remove the top draft and watch the temp spike from there.[p]hth[p]Big T

East Cobb Eggy

ranger ray,[p]I did this myself and got ash everywhere. I felt like a real A$$ afterward and would have never expected to read about it here.[p]I would definitely not advise putting a leaf blower to the bottom vent.[p]Greg