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Curing the Gasket

egghead43
egghead43 Posts: 138
in EggHead Forum
Per BGE First Timer Tips:

DO NOT cook at high temperatures on your first use
This may damage the gasket before it can properly seat itself. Keep the temperature on your first few cooks under 350°F / 177°C to allow the gasket adhesive to fully cure and adhere to the EGG. If you do happen to damage the gasket, you can easily replace it with a self-adhesive high temperature replacement gasket available from any BGE dealer.

Yesterday and today I took my new Egg up to around 350 (exceeded it a little bit one time) for about half an hour and shut it down.  I didn't have any food in there, I was just trying to cure the gasket so I could start using the thing.  Should I be good to go now?

As a first time Egg owner, the temp was pretty hard to keep below 350 and got hot really fast with only a few coals burning. I think a low and slow is going to be hard to pull off.
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Comments

  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    You are good to go.  The key on getting lower temps is catching the temp on the way up.  Start closing vents a bit 50 degrees below goal temp. There's a learning curve but you'll master it fairly quickly.  Good luck!
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • egghead43
    egghead43 Posts: 138
    bgebrent said:
    You are good to go.  The key on getting lower temps is catching the temp on the way up.  Start closing vents a bit 50 degrees below goal temp. There's a learning curve but you'll master it fairly quickly.  Good luck!
    I did use a propane torch to get a few coals lit, but then just shut the dome.  It would rush up to 350 or so in about a minute.  After my 2 burns up to 350 and an hour or more of burning, only a decent chunk in the center have burned at all.  

    I thought I had read to light the coals, leave the lid open for 10 minutes or so, then close the dome.  If I did that, no doubt the temp would be well over 350. Maybe they didn't intend for people to light with a Propane Torch lol.  
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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    The gasket doesn't matter. You are going to fry it sooner rather than later anyway. Mine lasted two months tops. And I did all that stuff they said to do. Buy a Rutland!

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • egghead43
    egghead43 Posts: 138
    Carolina Q said:
    The gasket doesn't matter. You are going to fry it sooner rather than later anyway. Mine lasted two months tops. And I did all that stuff they said to do. Buy a Rutland!
    I'll keep that in mind.  It seems that BGE would install quality gaskets from the beginning!  And I'm sure it works fine, but that cast iron wheel on the top is kind of a joke in terms of precision.  Someone could design something much more precise that wouldn't flop all over the place.
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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    I almost never use the daisy wheel. I control with the lower vent only. In the early days, they didn't even HAVE a daisy. 

    As for alignment, if you arrange it like this, it won't flop around...
    Pic from Big Green Craig.

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    Or....

    smokeware cap, Rutland gasket from @rrp and hi-que grate 
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    If you want to do a low and slow, light your fire centrally, one spot, let the fire establish, around 10 minutes, then close the dome and monitor the temps.  My gaskets are a couple years old and hanging in. 2 Rutlands on standby.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • egghead43
    egghead43 Posts: 138
    Carolina Q said:
    I almost never use the daisy wheel. I control with the lower vent only. In the early days, they didn't even HAVE a daisy. 

    As for alignment, if you arrange it like this, it won't flop around...
    Pic from Big Green Craig.

    Thanks, I did see that suggested somewhere and I have it aligned that way.  I'd much rather adjust via the bottom vent anyway.  Funny story, my wife and I setup the Egg yesterday and got the coals going.  They got too hot and I went to shut the thing down and then bottom vent wouldn't close all the way.  It turns out you can get the solid portion behind the screened portion.  We thought the thing was broken.  You can also just completely slide the solid portion out of the Egg entirely.  I'm sure I'll love the Egg, but they could really stand to improve the bottom and top vents.  If there are any well known upgrades, I'm all ears.
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  • egghead43
    egghead43 Posts: 138

    theyolksonyou said:
    Or....

    smokeware cap, Rutland gasket from @rrp and hi-que grate 
    I'd read mixed reviews on the Smokeware cap, but it definitely looks like a better design.  It seems people complained about temp control with them, but if you're using the bottom vent only, I guess that's a non-issue.  Once my gasket burns out, I'll look into the Rutland.  I got some grill grates for a Christmas gift, so I'm probably ok on grates for now.  
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    Check out the Smokeware cap.  I've got these on my eggs and like them for several reasons.
    http://smokeware.com/collections/chimney-caps/products/stainless-steel-vented-chimney-cap
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    Hi que is a charcoal grate not a cooking grid. More airflow over OEM. 
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  • egghead43
    egghead43 Posts: 138
    bgebrent said:
    Check out the Smokeware cap.  I've got these on my eggs and like them for several reasons.
    http://smokeware.com/collections/chimney-caps/products/stainless-steel-vented-chimney-cap

    Thanks, I had read up on these on Amazon.  Most like them, but then some say they are worse for temp control, cause grease to accumulate in your Egg, etc.
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  • egghead43
    egghead43 Posts: 138

    theyolksonyou said:
    Hi que is a charcoal grate not a cooking grid. More airflow over OEM. 
    Thanks, I'll look into that.  However, at the moment, it looks like I'll have a problem keeping temps low enough! :)
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    Smokeware caps are excellent at temp control!
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,454
    egghead43 said:
    bgebrent said:
    Check out the Smokeware cap.  I've got these on my eggs and like them for several reasons.
    http://smokeware.com/collections/chimney-caps/products/stainless-steel-vented-chimney-cap

    Thanks, I had read up on these on Amazon.  Most like them, but then some say they are worse for temp control, cause grease to accumulate in your Egg, etc.
    Amazon shows 69 reviews and 3 people knocked it for "grease" build up whatever that is! I assume they meant creosote which is the same issue you will find sooner than later with your cast iron daisey. If I were you I would believe the popularity toward the SmokeWare on this forum far more representive of a cross section of eggers than 3 inexperienced malcontents on Amazon.
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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  • egghead43
    egghead43 Posts: 138
    RRP said:
    egghead43 said:
    bgebrent said:
    Check out the Smokeware cap.  I've got these on my eggs and like them for several reasons.
    http://smokeware.com/collections/chimney-caps/products/stainless-steel-vented-chimney-cap

    Thanks, I had read up on these on Amazon.  Most like them, but then some say they are worse for temp control, cause grease to accumulate in your Egg, etc.
    Amazon shows 69 reviews and 3 people knocked it for "grease" build up whatever that is! I assume they meant creosote which is the same issue you will find sooner than later with your cast iron daisey. If I were you I would believe the popularity toward the SmokeWare on this forum far more representive of a cross section of eggers than 3 inexperienced malcontents on Amazon.
    Good point! Do you still snuff the coals with the ceramic top and keep the ceramic on when not in use?
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,454
    egghead43 said:
    RRP said:
    Amazon shows 69 reviews and 3 people knocked it for "grease" build up whatever that is! I assume they meant creosote which is the same issue you will find sooner than later with your cast iron daisey. If I were you I would believe the popularity toward the SmokeWare on this forum far more representive of a cross section of eggers than 3 inexperienced malcontents on Amazon.
    Good point! Do you still snuff the coals with the ceramic top and keep the ceramic on when not in use?
    No, my SmokeWare snuffs just fine. In fact any build up of creosote is on the passages where air was escaping...IOW the creosote blocks the leaks. SmokeWare does sell a disc designed by @Jeepster44 for those who feel they need additional sealing. Me otoh haven't reverted to my ceramic rain bonnet in years! 
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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  • SmokingPiney
    SmokingPiney Posts: 2,319
    No offense to the Rutland gasket guys, but why would anyone advocate frying the OEM gasket (see it frequently here) early when it's not a problem? 

    I'm going to ride and take care of my original gasket for as long as I can. I don't cook thermonuclear hot, nor do I do nuclear clean burns. 

    When my OEM gasket fries, I'll replace it, but I'm not going to rush the process. 
    Living the good life smoking and joking
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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    SmokingPiney said:
    No offense to the Rutland gasket guys, but why would anyone advocate frying the OEM gasket (see it frequently here) early when it's not a problem? 

    I'm going to ride and take care of my original gasket for as long as I can. I don't cook thermonuclear hot, nor do I do nuclear clean burns. 

    When my OEM gasket fries, I'll replace it, but I'm not going to rush the process. 
    Not a problem?! LOL, good one! I did all the stuff they tell you to do re low temp cooks and all. My OEM gasket lasted less than two months. I bought a Rutland at a local hardware store for about $5.50. Installed in no time at all. If I ever buy another egg, the first thing I do will be to peel off the piece of junk it comes with and install a real gasket. Then I'll light the lump.

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • SmokingPiney
    SmokingPiney Posts: 2,319
    edited December 2015
    Carolina Q said:
    SmokingPiney said:
    No offense to the Rutland gasket guys, but why would anyone advocate frying the OEM gasket (see it frequently here) early when it's not a problem? 

    I'm going to ride and take care of my original gasket for as long as I can. I don't cook thermonuclear hot, nor do I do nuclear clean burns. 

    When my OEM gasket fries, I'll replace it, but I'm not going to rush the process. 
    Not a problem?! LOL, good one! I did all the stuff they tell you to do re low temp cooks and all. My OEM gasket lasted less than two months. I bought a Rutland at a local hardware store for about $5.50. Installed in no time at all. If I ever buy another egg, the first thing I do will be to peel off the piece of junk it comes with and install a real gasket. Then I'll light the lump.
    @Carolina Q 

    I've had my Egg for almost a year now and cook on it three to five times a week. My OEM gasket still looks good and seals the Egg.

    I'm not bagging on the Rutland gasket at all. When my time comes. I'll put a Rutland on my Egg. 

    My point is the outright disdain for the OEM gasket here - "go ahead and fry it, it's junk". That has not been my experience. I have cooked hot with no problems, but I don't seek to purposefully destroy the gasket with nuclear heat.

    I speak just from my experience here. Obviously, YMMV. 
    Living the good life smoking and joking
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