Charcoal

[DATsBBQ]

Since the WSM (which hasn't been named yet) seems to be a charcoal guzzler I took a trip to Costco. Got 38# of regular Kingsford for .36 cents a pount ($13.68 for two bags) but I couldn't find any lump. Stopped at King Soopers (Kroger) a got a bag of Kingsford Lump which I've never tried before. Safeway stopped selling Laszario and I don't like the Cowboy Brand stuff I bought last time so hopefully I'll like the Kingsford lump. In any case, I shouldn't be needing charcoal in the near future

[bowhnter]

Never cooking on a ceramic, not sure how to compare the charcoal use to that. I can get 14+ hours on a load of 50/50 RO lump/Kingsford briquettes.
As long as anything I would cook on the WSM.
How wide open are your bottom vents? Is the center section tight? I had to turn mine a little to be tight with the lid and bottom...

[Burnt Food Dude]

18 hours is not unheard of with a load. I don't know how or why you are going thru so much charcoal. I usually put a layer of briquettes on the bottom and lump the rest of the way. I use about 12 -15 briquettes in a chimney to start.

[DATsBBQ]

Never cooking on a ceramic, not sure how to compare the charcoal use to that. I can get 14+ hours on a load of 50/50 RO lump/Kingsford briquettes.
As long as anything I would cook on the WSM.
How wide open are your bottom vents? Is the center section tight? I had to turn mine a little to be tight with the lid and bottom...

With Einstein, I can get 3 twelve hour burns with a small bag of lump with a little let over. The WSM used about 5# of charcoal over 6.5 hours with temps between 235 and 291 as measured by a Maverick ETsomthing. The ash pan is nearly full. This was the first burn on this cooker. Since it has an enamel finish, I let it burn for 3 hours so I could start the learning curve. I've heard they burn hot for the first couple of cooks.

[JamesB]

18 hours is not unheard of with a load.

I can attest to 24+ hour burns on a, single, full charcoal ring in the my WSM (this was during the spring/summer time with little to no wind). I always thought of that as pretty good... Now them ceramic things do have better fuel consumption habits, but the WSM won't shatter if it tips over...

James.

[bowhnter]

I can't remember what kind or if you mentioned the chaarcoal used on the first burn, but hopefully the K will work better for you. Can you get Royal Oak lump there?

[DATsBBQ]

Mike,
First burn was just regular old Kingsford, albeit a year or more old. Can't get any kind of Royal Oak here.

[SteerCrazy]

I scored some Original Charcoal Lump at Costco this past weekend. 20lbs for around $8. I always seem to blow through lump for some reason but I like the Original Charcoal (Rancher), we'll see how it does in the WSM and the Spicewine

[DaHorns]

Academy is carrying B&B Lump for $9.99 for a 20# bag.