[AzJohnnyC]

My 4th of July cook took a while.  I had different types of charcoal, so I used some of each in the process.  I had about half to two-thirds of a bag of Cowboy Lump.  It seemed to be alot of small bits.  Then I used a bag of Royal Oak.  The RO had larger chunks, but seemed to burn like the Cowboy, I didn't notice a difference in the consumption, or temp.  I finished it off with some Kingsford Blue.  I didn't do that long enough to really tell, but I think it burned well.  In fact, I'm using the rest of it tonight on some ribs.  I'm finding it to be burning longer and somewhat hotter, which is opposite of what I've heard should happen.  The ash was less with the lump.  I saw an earlier post about "ORM-D" being on the Kingsford Competition briquettes bag, relating to accelerants/hazmat in the charcoal, but I've found the same "ORM-D" on the Cowboy and RO.  Maybe it's just something that has to be on charcoal?  I'm going to keep experimenting, and try to keep enough of my favorite on hand, as I found out it takes alot for a good, long smoke.

[azkitch]

I keep readin' all I can about KBLEU, and they put in sawdust and (burned) coal and lime; I've always thought K was heavy on the ash, and I feel like what I burn leaves less. OTOH, Rhythm and Que and Jaybird kick the livin' $hit out of everybody with regularity. I think they could do it if they burned boxes of matches...Makes me wonder why I'm being so finicky...Part of me knows I just wanna be different. I don't want to be herded by marketing and purchasers. Not that I'm calling Vince and Jay cows, mind you! Obviously, the coal, anthracite, bauxite, borax, propylene glycol, aluminum stearate,...ok, I'm funnin' again. Obviously the stuff K puts in doesn't mean bad flavors, cuz RnQ and Jay are just the tip of the iceberg.
On top of all that, RO briquettes were $1 cheaper than K at KMart last weekend. But next time K is cheepcheep, I think I'll buy it. And maybe do a burn off in the weber. Make 2 piles of 20 and drop a lit brick or 2 in...
Chatty tonight, ain't I?
dk

[AzJohnnyC]

I hear you, Kitch. When I was lifting the lid tonight, I did notice a smell I didn't like, and that I don't remember from my cooking with the Cowboy or RO. It waso't pleasant, and may make me switch to RO for now.

[Quiggs]

This will fill you in.....http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm