Removing the old lump - a messy job.

Jersey Doug · May 2008

I left replacing the lump in our new small one cook too late. It took forever to reach 525º with the draft door and the daisy wheel wide open. The skirt steak was good, but it would have been better with a hotter fire.

So this morning I put on a pair of the latex gloves my wife brings home from the soup kitchen and removed all of the old lump, including lots of little bits blocking the holes in the fire grate. It was surprising that it got as hot as it did.

I washed my hands at the outside faucet with the gloves on but it was still a messy operation. Has anyone devised a good tool or procedure for removing the old lump?

--Doug

vidalia1 · May 2008

Making sure all lump is cold...use a shop vac...very easy, no mess...just be sure and line up the fire box hole with the vent

Cpt'n Cook · May 2008

You should make, or get one from The Lawn Ranger a little jiggle stick out of metal rod to open up those holes from below. You will hear a sigh of relief from that little dude when it can breath again.

dhuffjr · May 2008

I would just get a fire going and let it all burn up. You'll clean your egg in the process. Then clean the ash out.

RRP · May 2008

As a matter of fact - yes! Little did I know that 51 years ago in junior high shop class that I was making this neat scoop that would clean my eggs with relative ease! Even the curved front matches the arc of my eggs!

Essex County · May 2008

I just use a really thin an flexible metal spatula. After seeing your shop invention, I will modify the front of my spatula.
Paul

Grandpas Grub · May 2008

I used to use a small round plastic bowl which worked pretty good. Went to Walmart and picked up a 1 or 2 qt soup pan with a handle and that works great.

I don't toss my small pieces of lump,

If you are having problems with your egg getting up to temp then use a wiggle stick to clear some of the bottom air holes through the lower grate.

GG

Cpt'n Cook · May 2008

I use a flexable plastic container about 1 gallon size, refill egg with new lump and pour the old lump on top and light. I only throw ashes on my compost heap, added bonus, It seems to speed up the the process of getting a clean burn with new lump.

tjv · May 2008

I made a large egg lump bucket that holds the lump and grate. All I do is pick it out and shake over a trash can. Also, I use a single gang electrical box to scoop out the remaining ash that dropped under the grate. Time wise, takes about two minutes and half a beer to complete.

Eggor and old forum member used a stainless collander with additional holes drilled in it as a lump bucket.

T

Grandpas Grub · May 2008

Tom,

That's no fair! Pretty slick.

So when are you going to sell those?????????

Kent

Lawn Ranger · May 2008

Tom:

In the picture, is your grate under that lump?

LawnBuddy

Big'un · May 2008

I just take three plastic grocery bags out with me. One on each hand, and fill the last one. When finished, take the bags off your hands and put them in with the spent lump and trash. Ashes get vaccuumed out. HTH.

tjv · May 2008

yes, egg grate is under the lump. Grate rests on a ring ledge and the ring rests on firebox. This way no pinching of gragte on the firebox. Grate is removable. T

tjv · May 2008

thanks, it sure make easy work of a messy job. I go back and forth on making them.....not sure I want to jump directly into the fire.....T

Keith W · May 2008

Doug,
I use one of the small sand pails with plastic shovel that they sell for kids. The shovel works great for cleaning underneath the fire grate, as well as removing the old lump.

Unknown · May 2008

I use a nickel-plated skimmer from a turkey fryer. It has an angled handle that fits the Egg perfectly. The "bowl" portion is screened so the ash just falls through. Works great!

Slotmercenary · May 2008

Yo Jersey,
being from SJ myself i know that you have access to an old minnow trap just use half of it and scoop the contents out of the egg into it and shake gently over a trash can and dump what is left on top of the next fire. i've been using one for a long time to do just that and it works great.

Frank from Houma · May 2008

Burn baby burn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-opY4qcidFk

Unknown · May 2008

With every good thing (great food) there comes a not so good thing (cleaning your Egg).

Get over it! Get your hands dirty and stand up like a man and say, "I cleaned the ash out of my Egg today."

The 'old timers' are rolling in their graves. An easy way to clean you Egg indeed. :evil:

Eggtucky · May 2008

:laugh: :P :silly:

:laugh: :ohmy: :silly:

:laugh: :silly:

Grandpas Grub · May 2008

When you are in the back or forth mode, I would like to know.

Kent

Jeffersonian · May 2008

I bought a small shop-vac just for my Egg, but the hose is too small to let little pieces of lump go through. If you're going to use one for this, get one with a large ID hose.

RU Eggsperienced · May 2008

I gotta pair of cheap leather gloves, a 5 gal bucket and a portable vacuum cleaner. Clean it every few cooks or before a long one. Every so often I pull out the firebox and vacuum that too. The vacuum was a recent but very good addition - it takes the rechargable batteries from a cordless drill so you don't have to cart around a cord.

Not sure this helps, but the best cheap advice I could give.. Oh yeah the portable vac was a hundred bucks so maybe not that cheap....

Removing the old lump - a messy job.

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