What the heck is in my charcoal???

[Will work for bbq]

I once found a copy of the declaration of independence in a bag. :becky:

























Seriously though just rocks and nails here but I think I'd be more upset with finding plywood. The glue in that stuff can't be good for you.

 

[Skip]

I think it would cost more to add 1 rock to a bag of charcoal than they would see in profit. Intentional? Probably not. Careless? Probably.

Being in manufacturing and knowing the bagging operation the introduction of one stone would be difficult at best. What you are seeing is an unpaved storage bin for finished product based with a stone product. As the skidsteer or payloader grabs material they will inadvertently pull some of the stone and dump it to the hopper. The material will then load to the bag with the charcoal. The only way to stop this for them is to pave the hopper base with asphalt or concrete. That can be an added cost they are unwilling to utilize since "it works fine as it is".

 

[Enrico Brandizzi]

All that stuff is heavy and you paid for it! Not good!

 

[SteveKing]

Being in manufacturing and knowing the bagging operation the introduction of one stone would be difficult at best. What you are seeing is an unpaved storage bin for finished product based with a stone product. As the skidsteer or payloader grabs material they will inadvertently pull some of the stone and dump it to the hopper. The material will then load to the bag with the charcoal. The only way to stop this for them is to pave the hopper base with asphalt or concrete. That can be an added cost they are unwilling to utilize since "it works fine as it is".

This sounds like the most realistic scenario. That said, the manufacturer must know that they are not providing a bag of just charcoal. I can see some laborer saying "Hey there are a few rocks in each of my loads, should I pull them out?" and the foreman/super saying "Nah, that'd take too long. Besides, we sell everything by weight!".

Finding slag is strange though, why would they have that lying around? I know I've found slag before... even terra cotta pieces.

Has anyone noticed a disclaimer on the bags that say something like "May contain rocks or construction debris"?

 

[Skip]

This sounds like the most realistic scenario. That said, the manufacturer must know that they are not providing a bag of just charcoal. I can see some laborer saying "Hey there are a few rocks in each of my loads, should I pull them out?" and the foreman/super saying "Nah, that'd take too long. Besides, we sell everything by weight!".

Finding slag is strange though, why would they have that lying around? I know I've found slag before... even terra cotta pieces.

Production vs housekeeping. Production wins every time

The slag probably isn't from a smelter creating clean metal but rather the separation of an alloy that found itself in the kiln used to create the charcoal.

Has anyone noticed a disclaimer on the bags that say something like "May contain rocks or construction debris"?

Believe it or not I do feel I have read something like that. I believe it stated something along the lines of "(insert name here) charcoal is made from a wood construction debris and as such may contain small errant pieces of construction debris". Those white stones are probably no more than 20 grams at most.

Here is a great resource
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumprankpoll.htm

 

[SteveKing]

Those white stones are probably no more than 20 grams at most.

What do you think they are made of then? I remember getting them in my bags, but I really haven't used lump in years.

 

[drjiveturkey]

A lot of companies use scrap wood so my guess is that it was furniture in its former life. For lump I usually buy on amazon. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Quebracho-QHWC40LB-40-Pound-Hardwood-Charcoal/dp/B009P166SK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426601339&sr=8-3&keywords=lump+charcoal"]Amazon.com : Quebracho QHWC40LB 40-Pound Carbon de Lena Hardwood Charcoal Bag : Outdoor Grilling Charcoal : Patio, Lawn & Garden@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515HDJ67DgL.@@AMEPARAM@@515HDJ67DgL[/ame]

Never had a problem with rocks. But its pretty expenseive at about $1 per pound

 

[SmokinJohn]

A Space peanut?

 

[Skip]

What do you think they are made of then? I remember getting them in my bags, but I really haven't used lump in years.

Its probably just quarried stone used as a base for the hopper. I would guess it is probably limestone or granite but possibly a sandstone depending on where in the country it is manufactured.

 

[Doug Crann]

I have been using
http://www.lazzari.com/index.html
From Cash & Carry 40 pounds is $14.39. Wife & I cannot tell one smoke from another so it being Mesquite is not a problem. On our 7th or so bag and have found nothing but wood in it. Granted, some pieces are pretty big but ain't nothing a quick smack with an ax won't take care of...

 

[SteveKing]

Its probably just quarried stone used as a base for the hopper. I would guess it is probably limestone or granite but possibly a sandstone depending on where in the country it is manufactured.

That white rock doesn't look like metamorphic, granite is out. Def sedimentary. So if it's limestone, sandstone, or even neat concrete those figures I posted above are in the ballpark. Won't be much change in volume to accommodate the weight differences in those types of materials.

 

[ButtBurner]

they make the stuff by burning wood in huge concrete basins at super high temps

sometimes the concrete, insulation etc gets into the bags

this has been discussed here many times in the past

 

[YetiDave]

Trees will often grow around bits of stone and anything else in their way.. I really wouldn't worry

 

[Skip]

That white rock doesn't look like metamorphic, granite is out. Def sedimentary. So if it's limestone, sandstone, or even neat concrete those figures I posted above are in the ballpark. Won't be much change in volume to accommodate the weight differences in those types of materials.

Actually granite is an igneous rock. Marble is metamorphic.

What did you use for the unit weight of limestone in your calculation. I see you do tunneling and wonder if you are figuring the unit weight of a solid block or that of the crushed stone. The volume is different relative to mass. Also I work with multiple sources of aggregate and have found that even the specific gravities of different limestone products can vary greatly. I have seen trap rock and granite with specific gravity near 3.000 and limestone as high as 2.850 while I have had limestone and granite specific gravities of 2.650.

Not that any of this means a hill of beans in relation to charcoal :laugh:

 

[SteveKing]

Actually granite is an igneous rock. Marble is metamorphic.

What did you use for the unit weight of limestone in your calculation. I see you do tunneling and wonder if you are figuring the unit weight of a solid block or that of the crushed stone. The volume is different relative to mass. Also I work with multiple sources of aggregate and have found that even the specific gravities of different limestone products can vary greatly. I have seen trap rock and granite with specific gravity near 3.000 and limestone as high as 2.850 while I have had limestone and granite specific gravities of 2.650.

Not that any of this means a hill of beans in relation to charcoal :laugh:

Igneous, my bad. I used 145pcf based upon my professional experience in tunneling and reviewing dozens of data reports of white, unweathered limestone around the US (general found in south central to southeast US). Analysis using a unit weight of crushed stone / gravel would not be appropriate. Specific gravity could be used, but it adds another step to an already simple calculation. My steps for analysis are as followed. Assume unit weight, calculate volume for a specimen weighing 0.25lbs, take volume of sphere equation and solve for diameter using volume of the specimen.

It sounds like others are saying it's concrete, so a unit weight of 150pcf is general practice for that. The difference in size from first analysis is minimal.

 

[dadsr4]

Has anyone contacted a manufacturer and gotten a response?

 

[Skip]

Igneous, my bad. I used 145pcf based upon my professional experience in tunneling and reviewing dozens of data reports of white, unweathered limestone around the US (general found in south central to southeast US). Analysis using a unit weight of crushed stone / gravel would not be appropriate. Specific gravity could be used, but it adds another step to an already simple calculation. My steps for analysis are as followed. Assume unit weight, calculate volume for a specimen weighing 0.25lbs, take volume of sphere equation and solve for diameter using volume of the specimen.

It sounds like others are saying it's concrete, so a unit weight of 150pcf is general practice for that. The difference in size from first analysis is minimal.

Hmm why would you feel that unit weight of crushed aggregate wouldn't work. Also using the SG doesn't add a step it is the precursor to pcf. pcf/62.4 will give you the SG and visa versa. By using the SG you will garner a more accurate pcf. For instance in my region a test cylinder of concrete is approximately 34 lbs and the cylinder is .2 cf which means that the concrete would be 170 pcf or an SG of 2.724.

I questioned the 145 pcf because it is only a 2.324 SG which is quite low for stone. I would imagine it is a relative bulk specific gravity determined on crushed aggregate using the shoveling method of unit weight. A maximum specific gravity on southeastern limestone tends to be around 160-165 pcf. I am figuring your calculations in tunneling are for volume of excavated material for removal?

 

[SteveKing]

Hmm why would you feel that unit weight of crushed aggregate wouldn't work. Also using the SG doesn't add a step it is the precursor to pcf. pcf/62.4 will give you the SG and visa versa. By using the SG you will garner a more accurate pcf. For instance in my region a test cylinder of concrete is approximately 34 lbs and the cylinder is .2 cf which means that the concrete would be 170 pcf or an SG of 2.724.

I questioned the 145 pcf because it is only a 2.324 SG which is quite low for stone. I would imagine it is a relative bulk specific gravity determined on crushed aggregate using the shoveling method of unit weight. A maximum specific gravity on southeastern limestone tends to be around 160-165 pcf. I am figuring your calculations in tunneling are for volume of excavated material for removal?

What do you do for a living? It'll be easier to explain the analysis so we don't keep a back and forth going over this. And my experience goes beyond tunnels, that is only one specialty of mine.

 

[SuburbSlicker]

In our area, suburban DC on the Virginia side, white rocks in front of a house mean only one thing: Swingers Inside!

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/409421.page

Late one night, on the fire truck, we moved a number of large white boulders in front of the home of one of our members. Rumors spread.... Hilarity ensued....Until our chief made us remove them....

 

[jcog44]

Which Royal Oak is it? There are at least 5 Royal Oak Lump charcoals available (Royal Oak, Royal Oak Steakhouse, Royal Oak Argentinian, Royal Oak Brazilian, and Royal Oak Paraguay).

Check out nakedwhizz.com at http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpindexpage.htm?bag for these and many others.

You can click on the bag for reviews. Click on the banner at the top for the home page and other options such as test results and user reviews.

Great resource.