temperature difficulties

Unknown

the problem seems to be that with the small egg i am using that i can't seem to get the temperature up much past 400 with the vent at the bottom wide open and the top off. then when i add meat to the grill so that the surface area on the grill surface is covered the temperature drops back off to about 290-300 and i can't seem to get it up any higher than that. this poses fatal difficulties to the grilling of say, steaks...any suggestions?

Shelby

bloodwig,
I've found getting the small to higher temps a bit more difficult too. Hopefully others will add their thoughts but I know when I put a good load of fresh lump in, I get the temps I want. Too often, I get lazy when using the small for a quick grill and don't refresh the egg, etc...so it's not the egg's fault so much as it is mine.[p]Hope that helps.

The Naked Whiz

bloodwig,
Make sure that the hole in the bottom of the firebox is in line with the lower vent. Make sure that you don't have any ash clogging the holes in the firebox. Calibrate your thermometer. Make sure you have enough lump to achieve the higher temperatures. [p]TNW

CurryPowder

bloodwig,
I can get my small bge up to 550-600, haven't seen the 700 that the large bge owners talk about. I use a lot of small pieces of lump, rather than a large chunk. pile it up like you used to pile kingsford briquets in a pyramid shape in the fire box to maximize the surface area and get the chimney effect. usually takes about 20 minutes for all the lump to get going with the bottom vent fully opened, top vent off, lid closed. The steaks that I've cooked on there haven't had a problem searing at 550.
hopefully there's some other secrets out there.

QBabe

bloodwig,[p]We've "wrapped" the needle on our small before and it is the cooker of choice for steaks at our house. I think a mistake that many folks make is expecting it to be quick. Just let it go for awhile, go inside, have a beverage, prep something, and come back later (15-30 minutes). There really shouldn't be any problem taking it to "nuke" temps, if you've got good airflow and give it a chance to do it's thing. But, because the lower vent hole is so much smaller on the small egg, it does seem to take longer to achieve those temps than for the medium or the large eggs.[p]Tonia
:~)