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Advise

ferndchamp
ferndchamp Posts: 152
in EggHead Forum
I just wanted some advise because this don't seem right. I had the eggs bottom vent open to around 1 inch and a half and the top daisy wheel eyes open wide. The temperature was at around 250 which was good but ther was no smoke coming out the daisy. I then opened the vents to the pics below and smoke started and the temperature only rose to 275. I readjusted the daisy so the temp could be at 250. A little story from the start, I started the fire in the middle and let it burn for around 10 minutes then I put the plate stettet, the drip pan and then the grid temperature never went above 300 before I adjusted it to my desired temperature. If I opened my bottom vent all the way opened and took the daisy off, do you think I can reach temps up to 600? Thanks and sorry for the long post.
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Comments

  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    edited July 2015
    If you're  all open and good airflow you should soar over 600

    edit for poor grammar. 
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
    So I am thinking it is the airflow. I don't know if i covered all the circles on the grate, I didn not try to do that. I did however leave the outside holes uncovered.
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  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    You can also have a low load. I've had a problem before when I had all big pieces and couldn't get high temp. Need some smaller pieces too
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  • ksmyrl
    ksmyrl Posts: 1,050
    edited July 2015
    Probably clogged holes in your charcoal grate. Happened to me on my first pizza cook. Use the ash tool and give it a good stir and shake before each cook. Takes care of it. But thanks to @johnkitchens I bought a High Que grate for both my eggs. Not an issue since. 
    Fish, Hunt, Cook....anything else?

    1LBGE, 1MMBGE, somewhere near Athens GA
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
    I did have some small pieces as well but thanks for the suggestions. I got my temperatures where I want them but was just curious and wanted to learn about temperature controls while I cook the ribs. Maybe in the future I may want to raise the temps.
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  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
    Do you have any more pics? Specifically of the lump pile in the egg? If your lump is small compacted pieces, you'll have airflow issues. 
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
    No I don't bud.
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
    Maybe I need to set my lump different or buy better lump. I am using the free bag they gave me with the purchase of my BGE. This is my fourth cook and I have had the same problem twice, I am at 50%.
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  • TexanOfTheNorth
    TexanOfTheNorth Posts: 3,951
    Do you have your firebox position so that the opening at the bottom of the fire box is in alignment with the from vent?
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Well, "spa-Peggy" is kind of like spaghetti. I'm not sure what Peggy does different, if anything. But it's the one dish she's kind of made her own.
    ____________________
    Aurora, Ontario, Canada
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
    Yes I do fellow Texan.
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  • TexanOfTheNorth
    TexanOfTheNorth Posts: 3,951
    ferndchamp said:
    Yes I do fellow Texan.
    Okay, just checking.

    Lighting in only one place is generally what I do when I want to cook in the 225-250 range. For higher temps, I usually light in three spots - 12, 4 and 8.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Well, "spa-Peggy" is kind of like spaghetti. I'm not sure what Peggy does different, if anything. But it's the one dish she's kind of made her own.
    ____________________
    Aurora, Ontario, Canada
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  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
    I've experienced my fair share of temp problems. Temps climbing when they shouldn't and temps low when I want them high. There are some different brands of lump that might work better for you. Search the forum and look at the naked wiz website. Your BGE lump should be good for what your doing. Hopefully everyone will stay focused on helping you with what you got. Sometimes just the mention of lump brands gets people crazy about what's best. 
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
    Opened like that and stays at a steady 250
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  • TexanOfTheNorth
    TexanOfTheNorth Posts: 3,951
    Odd! Given that you only lit in one spot, probably just not enough lump burning to get any hotter (although 250* still seems low). Did you calibrate your dome thermo?
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Well, "spa-Peggy" is kind of like spaghetti. I'm not sure what Peggy does different, if anything. But it's the one dish she's kind of made her own.
    ____________________
    Aurora, Ontario, Canada
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  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
    edited July 2015
    By all means I'm not a fire expert, but try to think about two logs burning side by side. Too far apart equals less heat, too close and you get a smoldering fire due to lack of oxygen. But when the two logs are close with good a good oxygen supply you'll get a hot clean fire. That's how I try to create my  lump pile. 
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
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  • onedbguru
    onedbguru Posts: 1,648
    could also be humidity in the lump. Make sure you store it in a dry place with little humidity variation.
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  • GoldenQ
    GoldenQ Posts: 592
    lose your bottom vent to about 3/4 open and open the daisy more
    I XL  and 1 Weber Kettle  And 1 Weber Q220       Outside Alvin, TX-- South of Houston
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  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
    edited July 2015
    How long have the vents been open? If I light in one spot with less than desired lump pile(small pieces), sometimes my large egg will hang in the 300° range for a while. Once it finally hits the 400-450° range it will go nuclear in no time. 
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
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  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
    @RRP is experienced and teaches Egging, maybe he'll chime in. 
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
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  • tcampbell
    tcampbell Posts: 771
    I done that one day thinking I was 250 and she had completely wrapped around and I was at 950
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
    Onedbguru, you might be right because I live in south tx and I have left my bag outside. It is under a covered patio but the humidity might affect it anyway.
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
    The vents have been open for around 3 hours.
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  • fergi
    fergi Posts: 138

    If you haven't cleaned the vent holes in the firebox it can affect the temp.

    Fort Worth Texas

    Large & XL Green Egg

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  • GregW
    GregW Posts: 2,678
    edited July 2015
    Cooking with an Egg is a lot like riding a bicycle. When your just trying to learn to ride/cook there are a lot of scraped knee's and fires that just won't burn right.
    Hang in there, when I't does come to you it will be like second nature from then on. The damper settings will just come natural.
    Humidity will really cause problems with your charcoal. If I know I'm going to do a high temp cook for steaks I always prefer to use a fresh bag of charcoal.
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  • ferndchamp
    ferndchamp Posts: 152
    Thanks, I think it might have been the fact that I also did not put a lot of charcoal because it was all burned up at 4 hours into my cook. I had to restart the charcoal.
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