700 degrees

Dave · 2004 27

Sorry if this has been covered but I couldn't find it in archives.[p]Question: How do you get the heat to 700 degrees on a big egg? Highest I've been able to get is 550. Is this a function of the amount of charcoal?[p]I'm leaving bottom gate open. [p]BTW the steaks at 550 were still MUCH better than anything ever cooked on gas grill.[p]thanks,[p]Dave

Grumpa · 2004 27

Dave,[p]Are you leaving the daisy wheel off as well?[p]Should roar like an inferno......

Mark Backer · 2004 27

Dave,[p]700+ requires the bottom door wide open and the daisy wheel thingy on top wide open. To get there faster, I use a pretty good sized load of coal and I have a handheld fan that i point at the lower vent opening. [p]I can get over 700 in about 15 minutes with the fan.

BlueSmoke · 2004 27

Dave,
Check to make sure there are no small pieces of lump blocking the holes in the firebox, and that the "vent" in the firebox is exactly lined up with the bottom opening.[p]I fill the firebox almost to the fire-ring, but temperature is more a matter of airflow than of lump quantity.[p]Ken

aka mr. Earl · 2004 27

Dave,[p]i had this same problem over the summer. Once I was sure I had everything else right - door aligned, etc. - I tried different brands of charcoal.[p]I had the hardest times getting fires to high temp with Cowboy brand charcoal (and its several variations). I got the best results with Canadian maple (see Naked Whiz' website for details on brand names). [p]Canadian sugar maple lump is real hard to get, but if you go to their website they list Canadian dealers who can ship it to you (and since the Canadian dollar is weaker than ours, it doesn't cost as much as you might think).[p]

Steve-B · 2004 27

Dave,[p]I agree with Bob. Leave the daisy wheel off. I leave it on and wide open for pizza that I cook at 550°.[p]Steve-B

Joder · 2004 27

Dave,
Leave the daisy wheel off. Light the fire in multiple locations. Should blaze beyond 700. A little fan in the vent will really get it going.

BucsFanJim · 2004 27

Dave,
as with others I leave the daisy wheel on but with the slide all the way over to the side...at night it looks like a jet engine... oh yeahhhh

Wise One · 2004 27

Dave, getting the temperature to 700 is not difficult but does require you to watch several things.
1) First - your top and bottom vents must be wide open. I would suggest removing the daisy wheel entirely.
2) Second - you need to make sure all the air holes in your bottom grate are clear. Remove old lump and ensure that you do not have a undue amount of ash below the grate.
3) Build your large pile of lump carefully. While you can just dump your lump into the firebox, it is best to selectively place larger pieces on the bottom to allow better airflow to the fire. Place more lump on top of these larger pieces and fill the firebox completely with lump. You should be at least level with the top of the firebox. If you go above into the ring area, no harm done.
4) Start your fire in several places, low in the pile. You want a hot fire and you want it fast. You will eventually get there by starting the fire in one place at the top of the pile but why? Start it in three or four places (or use an electric start buried into the pile) and let them get going before you close the dome.
5) Give it a bit of time. When you close the dome, you shouldsee an immediate jump in the theromometer to 150 degrees or so. After a few minutes you will see it rising rather quickly up to about 400. It will slow a bit but will continue on up. After about 30 minutes you should see it in the 600-700 range.
6) Provisional: Some lump burns hotter than other. Mesquite lumps burns really hot but it sparks as well. Go visit Tha Naked Whiz's web site to se ehow he rates the lump. I achieve 700-800 with BGE lump so I have never really worrie dabout.
7) Be careful. At 700 degrees the outside of the BGE will be quite warm. Also, be careful when yu raise the dome. Fire thrives on oxygen and when you raise the dome you supply more oxygen. Hot oxygen-starved lump can burst into flames when you let it meet the air. Best it do that when you are in front of it than when you are over it.

Unknown · 2004 27

Wise One,
Nice post. The only other item that I would mention would be the calibration of the thermometer.[p]Matt.

stike · 2004 27

Dave,
is your daisy wheel OFF?

EggMaster · 2004 27

aka Mr. Earl ,
Do you happen to have the url for maple leaf brand charcoal?

stike · 2004 27

Mark Backer,
if you take the daisy wheel totally off, you probably won't need to bother with the fan...
bottom open and daisy on (but swung open and rotated open) gets me to 600 on a natural draft

Mark Backer · 2004 27

stike,[p]I agree completely. The fan just gets you there a little faster...

stike · 2004 27

Mark Backer,
well, if you go faster, there's less time to hang out back at the egg enjoying a refreshing, mind-altering beverage![p]heck, i crank the lower vent shuit, tell the wife, "dunno, she's takin her time getting up to temp tonight..." and sip some more patron.[p]hahaha[p]

Mark Backer · 2004 27

stike,[p]dude, that's funny. I never really thought like that. However, here is how I do that difficult job...[p]

Jopa · 2004 27

<p />Dave,
I keep my egg under a lani and use a standing fan to blow smoke towards the screened pool area. But as I start the burn I aim the fan for the wide open vent at the bottom. (I do have my top wide open). Works fast and fine.

Wise One · 2004 27

South O, I figured that if you're at 700 or at 750 or at 800, it really doesn't matter. Now if you're at 150 or 200 or 250, it does. LOL

WilliamH · 2004 27

<p />Dave,
Before I got a small, I couldn't see why high temps could be unattainable. I haven't made an expanded metal charcoal grate for it yet, so I don't know if that will do it. But, in the mean time the smoke stack does the trick. I don't think it needs to be as long as the one in the photo. This thing also needs a handle because it gets really hot. If you do this, don't leave it unattended! Of course it's bulky and cumbersome, but if nothing else works - you might try it. Good luck.
-William

Yazoo · 2004 27

WilliamH,[p]Very interesting. Best I can tell, you made a header for your egg. Cool.

ranger ray · 2004 28

Dave,
i have a hand cranked forge blower for sale (seriously)....guaranteed to get the fire up to 1000 degrees or more... you might start making tools...after the meal...lol.... your leaf blower will get ya instant results too...

Dave · 2004 28

ranger ray,[p]Thanks, so get some more air too it, eh?

700 degrees

Comments

Categories