BGE table: is my gap enough?

Unknown

What's up my fellow egghead rump roasters?

I finally built my table. I'm concerned the gap I ended up with, around the body of the BGE, isn't big enough, and my table will ignite when I'm using the BGE for hours at a time. It's oak. Here are a few pics - those of you who built your own tables, is my gap big enough, or should I enlarge by 1/4"r? Many thanks.

Chubby

I think you'll find the concensus will be that "they would"!

JMO though!

Sure wouldn't hurt...and it doesn't look as though it will impact your astethics!

Nice job!!

Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker

I'd enlarge it, especially since the table top is lower than most (relative to the rim), and is closer to the firebox (where the action is)

RRP

that's pretty snug and I doubt adding another mere 1/4" will help much. Here's an idea...are you using the feet or not? that will raise the egg a bit or you could also add a 2" thick paver underneath that that will allow more distance from the wood.

LoveHandles

You're gonna find its way to close. Like others said, either raise the egg up or make the opening bigger. I've burned ones farther away than that. I'd look for about 3/4 to 1 inch gap if it was me. To nice of a top to screw up. Maybe even a little metal moulding around the wood too.

Unknown

Here's an idea...are you using the feet or not? that will raise the egg a bit or you could also add a 2" thick paver underneath that that will allow more distance from the wood.

Now that is a clever idea. Good one.

Photo Egg

Yea, kind of a bad spot at this point. Kind of a pain in the *ss to enlarge now but his Egg is already sitting high in the table. I'm still with you in raising the Egg on another paver and see how things look.
Running a router around the top and bottom will also help the air flow.
Darian

tcracing

I agree with RRP just put a concrete paver with the feet under the Egg and that should give you a better gap. The cut out should be as follows: XL should be 26 1/4", Large 21", Medium 18", and Small 16"

Capt Frank

Yes, you are way to close, all of the above advice is good. I would also use a 1/4" roundover bit in a router to remove the sharp edge on your cutout. Top and bottom if you can. If you can't get to the bottom side, use some sandpaper to remove the edge. That's where it will ignite.

Capt Frank
Homosassa, FL

Unknown

Thanks for all the info. I'm going to enlarge the hole. The egg is already sitting on 1" pavers, and the 3 feet, so raising it even higher probably isn't best. I think something was off with my initial calculations, since I didn't intend for the lip to be 4-5" above the tabletop...more like 2". Oh well. I already enlarged the hole a bit, so it shouldn't take me long this time.
I'll post more pics later this week after I get around to enlarging the hole. Thanks again!

thebtls

From a woodworking perspective, NICE FIT....from a Egg Table perspective look closely at a lot of the posts made with wood table tops and you will see some with scorches on them and then you'll be backing that off a 1/2" at least. The problem is smoldering of the end grain wicks like a cigar...take no changes, not worth it. Cut it back. My two Cents. Keep On Eggin'

Lawn Ranger

I was thinking exactly the same thing. That should do it if he's not using them.

Lawn Ranger

Oh well, Shoulda read through...good thought, though.

Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker

take a look at his pic. he's already 3 or four inches out. raise it up three inches, even, and that hole is not going to be much further away from the egg (it doesn't slope enough to gain any width for the height).

you'd have to raise it a good couple inches to pick up a half inch in airspace. leaving his rim 6 or 7 inches higher than the table

bigger hole... no getting around it

Hoss

You will be glad you did.

Chubby

Jai-Bo

It was a weeeee bit tight there.....lets see the follow up pics of the widen procedure....