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Getting the most out of your coal

Powak
Powak Posts: 1,412
in EggHead Forum
How do you guys get the most out of your coal? I’m referring to all the small pieces that seem to work their way down to the cast iron grate and block the airflow. Is there a good way to burn those like by removing, filling with new coal and throwing them on top?
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Comments

  • EggNorth
    EggNorth Posts: 1,535
    I just leave them and mix with the added wood.
    Dave
    Cambridge, Ontario - Canada
    Large (2010), Mini Max (2015), Large garden pot (2018)
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  • FrostyEgg
    FrostyEgg Posts: 614
    I save all the really small pieces/end of bags for higher heat direct cooks.
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  • td66snrf
    td66snrf Posts: 1,838
    I run my ash tool around grate and and get what I can to fall through.  Then add new and light. I clean out the ash as needed. 
    XLBGE, LBGE, MBGE, SMALL, MINI, 2 Kubs, Fire Magic Gasser
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  • BigGreenKev
    BigGreenKev Posts: 278
    I get cheap wire fence stuff from lowes/home depot that has quarter inch openings, fold over once to line the base so it's double thick.  Replace like twice a year grilling 4-5 times a week.  Nothing but ash gets through and heats as normal
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  • Powak
    Powak Posts: 1,412
    BigGreenKev said:
    I get cheap wire fence stuff from lowes/home depot that has quarter inch openings, fold over once to line the base so it's double thick.  Replace like twice a year grilling 4-5 times a week.  Nothing but ash gets through and heats as normal
    Man that’s a great idea.
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  • dldawes1
    dldawes1 Posts: 2,208
    How many times do you cook on a new piece of wire?  It seeme it wouldn’t hold up very long if someone cooks a lot. Just curious, and I do like the idea. Thanks‼️

    Donnie Dawes - RNNL8 BBQ - Carrollton, KY  

    TWIN XLBGEs, 1-Beautiful wife, 1 XS Yorkie

    I'm keeping serious from now on...no more joking around from me...Meatheads !! 


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  • Powak
    Powak Posts: 1,412
    Is the kickash supposed to help burn all the useable coal?
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  • hoosier_egger
    hoosier_egger Posts: 6,808
    I have a KAB in mine. Anything that falls through gets cleaned out with the ash. I'm not using the cast iron grate below the KAB like some people do

    Most of what falls through is nickle sized. If a couple larger pieces happen to get through, they get thrown in the KJ Jr
    ~ John - Formerly known as ColtsFan  - https://www.instagram.com/hoosier_egger
    XL BGE, LG BGE, Med BGE, BGE Chiminea, Ardore Pizza Oven
    Bloomington, IN - Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

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  • jonnymack
    jonnymack Posts: 627
    BigGreenKev said:
    I get cheap wire fence stuff from lowes/home depot that has quarter inch openings, fold over once to line the base so it's double thick.  Replace like twice a year grilling 4-5 times a week.  Nothing but ash gets through and heats as normal
    Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.
    Firing up the BGE in Covington, GA

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  • smbishop
    smbishop Posts: 3,061
    Powak said:
    Is there a good way to burn those like by removing, filling with new coal and throwing them on top?
    I have the KAB with the grate in.  Any left over pieces on the grate get put back in on top...
    Southlake, TX and Cowhouse Creek - King, TX.  2 Large, 1 Small and a lot of Eggcessories.
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  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,866
    I just stir up any remaining lump and then add new coal on top.  The stiring clears the ash from the air holes well enough for me to not have experienced an issue.  (Now jinxed).  
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    lousubcap said:
    I just stir up any remaining lump and then add new coal on top.  The stiring clears the ash from the air holes well enough for me to not have experienced an issue.  (Now jinxed).  
    This. I use a Weber charcoal grate (same as High-Que except not stainless). I have a H-Q that I bought for when the Weber died, but the Weber just won't die. =) Small bits fall through of course, but they still burn.

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

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • xfire_ATX
    xfire_ATX Posts: 1,188
    My method probably overkill I admit.
    1. Stir all the lump in the egg.
    2. Scoop out a Chimney worth
    3. Add lump as needed
    4. Pour lit lump from chimney on top of new (if needed).

    So what this does- It gets all those small pieces on the top to get burned first in the current burn.
    XLBGE, LBGE, Charbroil Gas Grill, Weber Q200, Old Weber Kettle, Rectec RT-B380, Yeti 65, Yeti Hopper 20, RTIC 20, RTIC 20 Soft Side - Too many drinkware vessels to mention.

    Not quite in Austin, TX City Limits
    Just Vote- What if you could choose "none of the above" on an election ballot? Millions of Americans do just that, in effect, by not voting.  The result in 2016: "Nobody" won more counties, more states, and more electoral votes than either candidate for president. 
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  • GrillSgt
    GrillSgt Posts: 2,507
    I have a KAB in the large and shake out and clean out the lower with the ash tool almost every time. I also shop vac every 2-3 cooks especially after a long one. Any time I have had temp control issues I believe it has been due to too many small pieces even when redistributed.
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  • Kupkaked
    Kupkaked Posts: 33
    I usually clean it out before a long cook, or if I notice I have temp issues. Usually I use a two bucket method. One bucket holds the loose chunks I plan to add back in that haven't burned away, and the other holds the ash as I clean out the egg. 

    I've been eyeing a KAB tho, I think that would make separating the ash and chunks very quick and easy. 
    Haddon Township, NJ
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  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 11,549
    goes in my chimney starter
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
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  • Acn
    Acn Posts: 4,490
    I dump the small pieces and fines from the end of bags into some homer buckets.  Then I'll sprinkle on top or use for fire starting, either when camping or in the fire pit.

    LBGE

    Pikesville, MD

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  • TEXASBGE2018
    TEXASBGE2018 Posts: 3,831

    td66snrf said:
    I run my ash tool around grate and and get what I can to fall through.  Then add new and light. I clean out the ash as needed. 

    This ^

    I have not yet had the air flow issue with the small pieces of lump. Then again I usually am doing a pizza cook weekly with the daisy off and the vent fully opened so anything small seems to get burned up frequently.


    Rockwall, Tx    LBGE, Minimax, 22" Blackstone, Pizza Party Bollore. Cast Iron Hoarder.

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  • DWFII
    DWFII Posts: 317
    theyolksonyou said:
    Jesus, what a bunch of words.  Dump that shît in and light it.  Cook something.  Holy hell. 

    Bespoke boot and shoemaker--45+ years
    Instagram
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  • baychilla
    baychilla Posts: 387
    DWFII said:
    theyolksonyou said:
    Jesus, what a bunch of words.  Dump that shît in and light it.  Cook something.  Holy hell. 

    Interesting.  I guess that comment got moderated or was purloined from another thread?  
    Near San Francisco in California
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  • DWFII
    DWFII Posts: 317
    baychilla said:
    Interesting.  I guess that comment got moderated or was purloined from another thread?  
    I asked a very similar question in another thread and I got that and a couple of other seconding replies.

    At the time, I didn't think it was all that "interesting." :|
    Bespoke boot and shoemaker--45+ years
    Instagram
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  • baychilla
    baychilla Posts: 387
    DWFII said:
    baychilla said:
    Interesting.  I guess that comment got moderated or was purloined from another thread?  
    I asked a very similar question in another thread and I got that and a couple of other seconding replies.

    At the time, I didn't think it was all that "interesting." :|
    I guess to me the "interesting" part is a moderation that allows quotes of things that have been removed to remain.  Less interesting is the apparent willful ignorance approach of the removed comment.
    Near San Francisco in California
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  • Powak
    Powak Posts: 1,412
    DWFII said:
    baychilla said:
    Interesting.  I guess that comment got moderated or was purloined from another thread?  
    I asked a very similar question in another thread and I got that and a couple of other seconding replies.

    At the time, I didn't think it was all that "interesting." :|
    It’s not interesting but it’s good to know how to burn up all those small pieces. I use primarily RO and a fresh bag has mostly huge pieces that cover up the old small coal. I’ve tried the method of removing all the coal, loading in fresh coal first and then topping with the old coal and I wind up getting white smoke halfway thru my cook and get that non-tasty smoke flavor on my food.
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  • DWFII
    DWFII Posts: 317
    edited July 2018
    baychilla said:
    I guess to me the "interesting" part is a moderation that allows quotes of things that have been removed to remain.  Less interesting is the apparent willful ignorance approach of the removed comment.
    You're making an assumption that simply isn't true--the comment was never moderated or removed.

    I don't "collect" what, for lack of a better term, might be considered unhelpful snark.  I did remember it, however, and since I started the thread it was posted in, I knew where to find it. 

    I'm sorry if the comment bothered or offended you  (FWIW, it bothered me too)...I'm not the author, however. Don't shoot the messenger.
    Bespoke boot and shoemaker--45+ years
    Instagram
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  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,866
    @Powak - Sounds like you are concerned about VOC's (the origin of the nasty white smoke upon light-off) .  There are many detailed posts here about the VOC's but the short story is the once you get decent fire going (even at L&S temps) the VOC's will burn-off, thus the initial alert to wait for the good smelling smoke.  But once there you are home-free.  There is no way half-way thru a cook that the "foul smelling"VOC's" are resurfacing.  
    Give the search function a look-something doesn't fit here.  FWIW-
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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  • baychilla
    baychilla Posts: 387
    DWFII said:
    baychilla said:
    I guess to me the "interesting" part is a moderation that allows quotes of things that have been removed to remain.  Less interesting is the apparent willful ignorance approach of the removed comment.
    You're making an assumption that simply isn't true--the comment was never moderated or removed.

    I don't "collect" what, for lack of a better term, might be considered unhelpful snark.  I did remember it, however, and since I started the thread it was posted in, I knew where to find it. 

    I'm sorry if the comment bothered or offended you  (FWIW, it bothered me too)...I'm not the author, however. Don't shoot the messenger.
    Ah that's where I went astray then.
    Near San Francisco in California
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