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Uh oh.... wierd eggness

mfox2064
mfox2064 Posts: 39
edited November -0001 in EggHead Forum
So, i've had my egg for ~ 6 years now and have never seen this one... I've got a butt in for an all-nighter and just noticed that my egg is "puffing" some some and embers from the bottom vent every few minutes. I've never seen this and i'm doing nothing differnet than the many other times i've set up for an all night smoke job.

Kinda scary as this could cause a fire if not dealt with.

Any ideas ? Maybe a clogged grate ?

Thanks !!!
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Comments

  • Semolina Pilchard
    Semolina Pilchard Posts: 768
    Sounds like either your fire grate holes are clogged or you have a load of lump with many small pieces and the fire is not getting all the oxygen it needs. If it is a clogged fire grate you can unclog it some by bending a coater to 90 degrees about 3 inches from the end, stick it in through the bottom vent and jam it up into the holes of the grate.
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  • AZRP
    AZRP Posts: 10,116
    I've never seen an Egg puff at low and slow temps but I suppose anything is possible. If you are getting little explosions and temp spikes following them, you have blocked airflow. A wiggle rod as semolina suggested will work but be careful, you can get flashback out the bottom vent too. -RP
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  • lowercasebill
    lowercasebill Posts: 5,218
    no appolgies for the caps but i am sorry i did not post sunday night... in outline version
    sifted old lump returned to egg
    dumped bag lots of little and dust
    long time getting hot
    at 325 explosion out the draft door ash and coals shot 4 feet.
    temp went from 325 to 450 in 30 seconds
    elder pit was a witness..
    stood to the side to be safe but did not expect flash back at 425
    boy is impressed with lack of my lack of arm hair
    S.P. is correct lack of o2
    please be carefull
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  • mfox2064
    mfox2064 Posts: 39
    great idea.... the coat hangar fixed the problem. I'm guessing that putting new RO on used caused the problem.

    I'm pulling the screen out on the bottom vent just t o be safe :0

    thx
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  • mfox2064
    mfox2064 Posts: 39
    thanks.. I was getting the puffs with an occasional blow-out of hot embers. The temp was 175 when it started and it jetted to 225 and then 275.

    Poked the holes with a hangar and now all is good. Glad I was not standing in front of it drinking a beer (as usual).
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  • Semolina Pilchard
    Semolina Pilchard Posts: 768
    Good catch AZRP. Burnt hair on the arm and maybe a little singe of the eyebrows is one thing, but a full blast in the face from the bottom vent would be a whole other deal.
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  • Semolina Pilchard
    Semolina Pilchard Posts: 768
    Semolina Pilchard wrote:
    ... you can unclog it some by bending a coater to 90 degrees...
    What is a COATER? :laugh:
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  • Grregger
    Grregger Posts: 13
    I think a coater is one of those things that Joan Crawford detested.
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  • AZRP
    AZRP Posts: 10,116
    Coat hanger. -RP
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