$299 Char-Griller Kamado First Looks - Page 42

foppa78 · 07-16-2012, 01:02 PM

For those of you who are able to hold temperatures ~250 have you made any modifications to your CGK? I am also curious as to what your vent settings were to get it to stay steady for so long.

okiereddirt · 07-16-2012, 01:14 PM

Look at post 474 for my mods

Berock · 07-16-2012, 01:14 PM

No mods and I can hold temps at 220 or 250 based on the following: Load Kingsford (not supposed to burn as hot) and only light like 4 coals and keep all open. When temp is 70 degrees from desired temp (180 for 250) I move the settings to a 3 on top and bottom. when temp is 25 out (225), I move to the top of 0.7 and bottom of "barely cracked". It will continue to rise very slowly to 250 and usually maintain around there.

foppa78 · 07-16-2012, 01:20 PM

Kingsford briquettes? I have been using royal oak lump. I wonder if it burns hotter and is harder to stabilize?

wilhump · 07-16-2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foppa78

For those of you who are able to hold temperatures ~250 have you made any modifications to your CGK? I am also curious as to what your vent settings were to get it to stay steady for so long.

I usually try to run at 275 but it likes to run about 280. My bottom vent will be a little less than 1 and the top will be at 1 to just over 1. After i light it up i leave vents fully open til it reaches 150 then i shut down to 1 on the bottom and 1.5 on top and let it creep up.

Berock · 07-16-2012, 01:23 PM

That was my theory on using Kingsford briquettes based on other people's recommendations. Its worked for me but I'd also like to see what other's are doing to see if charcoal type really makes a difference.

wilhump · 07-16-2012, 01:28 PM

I have only burnt lump in mine because it produces less ash.

bb0bbby · 07-16-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foppa78

For those of you who are able to hold temperatures ~250 have you made any modifications to your CGK? I am also curious as to what your vent settings were to get it to stay steady for so long.

No mods here...(yet but soon to come) I made sure all bolts were good & tight, including the ones that were already installed. Some of those were loose to begin with. I also hook the latch before I let it go all night. The key I learned on this site & others is to not light all the lump at once...start in the middle and let it catch the remainder throughout the cook. I used to light it all at once & wondered why it was too hot & burned so quickly. It doesn't take much heat since these style cookers are so well insulated. As far as the vent settings, I had the bottom at about .5 and the top at about .75.

foppa78 · 07-16-2012, 01:52 PM

Thats impressive. I dump in a good amount of lump and then cut a Webber starter cube into fourths. I take one fourth and light it right on top with one piece of lump on it. When I get to ~100 I will shut it down to the 2 setting on both vents. Then ~150 I shut them down to 1. From here it will slowly raise up to ~225. I will then shut the bottom to .5 and top to either .5 or .75. At this point it will either keep climbing or go out. I really thought bringing it up very slow would help but my temp will still soar right past 225 up to 350+. Yesterday I sealed it up with some BGE gasket. I will give it another run this evening.

foppa78 · 07-16-2012, 10:45 PM

Here is an update to my previous post. I decided to give my CGK another run now that I have it all sealed up with BGE gasket. The gasket appears to have made a big difference. According to my Maverick ET732 I was able to park it at 225 and I held it there for over 3 hours. Tomorrow I plan to bring the temperature up 100 degrees and smoke a chicken.

bbqlearner · 07-17-2012, 08:30 AM

I've been thinking of grabbing one but finally bought one this weekend at a local Kroger store because of the sale ($165). Will start using it next week

NeckidSmoke · 07-17-2012, 11:54 AM

I haven't had to make any mods and I can keep it between 225 and 240 with no problems. I put lump in the fixebox, and just cover the bottom of a Weber chimney with natural wood briquettes. I get 1 side of the briquettes lite and lay them on top of lump. I have both vents open to 5 until the temp hits 175, then I cut them both back to 2. I let the temp rise to 200 and then I can usually zone in on 225 with the top just below 1 and the bottom at .5

Hope this helps.

bejean · 07-17-2012, 01:51 PM

These dropped to $229 at two Krogers I've been to in the Atlanta area.

Berock · 07-17-2012, 02:13 PM

I'm getting worried they are discontinuing the product.

foppa78 · 07-17-2012, 08:18 PM

I smoked my first chicken on the CGK today. Temp was steady at 325. It was great!

07-16-2012, 01:14 PM	#617
okiereddirt Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 04-15-12 Location: Poteau, OK	Look at post 474 for my mods __________________ Okie Red Dirt, UDS, Char-Griller Akorn kamado, Holland Companion

07-17-2012, 08:30 AM	#626
bbqlearner Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-04-12 Location: Houston, TX	I've been thinking of grabbing one but finally bought one this weekend at a local Kroger store because of the sale ($165). Will start using it next week __________________ Shirley Fabrication 24x55 Cabinet, GC28, Large BGE, Mini BGE & DCS 30 NG Grill

07-17-2012, 11:54 AM	#627
NeckidSmoke Found some matches. Join Date: 05-10-12 Location: Charlotte, NC	I haven't had to make any mods and I can keep it between 225 and 240 with no problems. I put lump in the fixebox, and just cover the bottom of a Weber chimney with natural wood briquettes. I get 1 side of the briquettes lite and lay them on top of lump. I have both vents open to 5 until the temp hits 175, then I cut them both back to 2. I let the temp rise to 200 and then I can usually zone in on 225 with the top just below 1 and the bottom at .5 Hope this helps. __________________ Char Griller Pro/ Char Griller Kamado

07-16-2012, 01:02 PM	#616
foppa78 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-14-12 Location: Kansas City	For those of you who are able to hold temperatures ~250 have you made any modifications to your CGK? I am also curious as to what your vent settings were to get it to stay steady for so long.

07-16-2012, 01:14 PM	#618
Berock Got Wood. Join Date: 06-21-12 Location: Wichita	No mods and I can hold temps at 220 or 250 based on the following: Load Kingsford (not supposed to burn as hot) and only light like 4 coals and keep all open. When temp is 70 degrees from desired temp (180 for 250) I move the settings to a 3 on top and bottom. when temp is 25 out (225), I move to the top of 0.7 and bottom of "barely cracked". It will continue to rise very slowly to 250 and usually maintain around there.

07-16-2012, 01:20 PM	#619
foppa78 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-14-12 Location: Kansas City	Kingsford briquettes? I have been using royal oak lump. I wonder if it burns hotter and is harder to stabilize?

07-16-2012, 01:23 PM	#621
Berock Got Wood. Join Date: 06-21-12 Location: Wichita	That was my theory on using Kingsford briquettes based on other people's recommendations. Its worked for me but I'd also like to see what other's are doing to see if charcoal type really makes a difference.

07-16-2012, 01:28 PM	#622
wilhump Got Wood. Join Date: 06-06-12 Location: IL	I have only burnt lump in mine because it produces less ash.

07-16-2012, 01:52 PM	#624
foppa78 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-14-12 Location: Kansas City	Thats impressive. I dump in a good amount of lump and then cut a Webber starter cube into fourths. I take one fourth and light it right on top with one piece of lump on it. When I get to ~100 I will shut it down to the 2 setting on both vents. Then ~150 I shut them down to 1. From here it will slowly raise up to ~225. I will then shut the bottom to .5 and top to either .5 or .75. At this point it will either keep climbing or go out. I really thought bringing it up very slow would help but my temp will still soar right past 225 up to 350+. Yesterday I sealed it up with some BGE gasket. I will give it another run this evening.

07-16-2012, 10:45 PM	#625
foppa78 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-14-12 Location: Kansas City	Here is an update to my previous post. I decided to give my CGK another run now that I have it all sealed up with BGE gasket. The gasket appears to have made a big difference. According to my Maverick ET732 I was able to park it at 225 and I held it there for over 3 hours. Tomorrow I plan to bring the temperature up 100 degrees and smoke a chicken.

07-17-2012, 01:51 PM	#628
bejean Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 04-23-12 Location: Lawrenceville, GA	These dropped to $229 at two Krogers I've been to in the Atlanta area.

07-17-2012, 02:13 PM	#629
Berock Got Wood. Join Date: 06-21-12 Location: Wichita	I'm getting worried they are discontinuing the product.

07-17-2012, 08:18 PM	#630
foppa78 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-14-12 Location: Kansas City	I smoked my first chicken on the CGK today. Temp was steady at 325. It was great!