Kroger Charcoal Briquets Test (Part 4)

 This test was done at a time of 20 degrees warmer temperatures than the others, I am not quite sure how to account for that. Also the ash pan picture was taken almost immediately after the test due to time constraints. I shook the charcoal grate to get it all down and get an accurate representation. Ash pan picture:

Preheat time to 200 degrees: 44 minutes

Smoke was bitter, but cleaned up in second half, much like Royal Oak Natural.

Peak temperature reached: 342 degrees. 

Time from 200 degrees back down to 200 degrees: 190 minutes. 

About the test: http://lonny90.blogspot.com/2020/11/charcoal-testing-setup-and-ground-rules.html

Royal Oak All Natural Hardwood Charcoal Briquets Test (Part 3)

 Ash pan the next morning:

Preheat time to 200 degrees: 38 minutes.

Peak temperature reached: 354 degrees.

Time from 200 degrees back down to 200 degrees: 133 minutes. 

The smoke was clean for a briquet, but still bitter, only after the peak temperature was reached did the smoke clean up to about the same cleanliness as the Rockwood did. 

About the test: http://lonny90.blogspot.com/2020/11/charcoal-testing-setup-and-ground-rules.html

Rockwood Charcoal Test (Part 2)

 Ash pan the next Morning:

Preheat time to 200 degrees: 26 minutes

Peak temperature reached: 316 degrees

Smoke was ultra clean, only smell was grease from the grill, could have baked bread. This is my preference because it allows me to add more smoke with the wood of my choice. 

Time from 200 degrees back down to 200 degrees: 110 minutes.

About the test: http://lonny90.blogspot.com/2020/11/charcoal-testing-setup-and-ground-rules.html

Charcoal Testing, Setup and Ground Rules. (Part 1)

 I have moved from a gas smoker, to a charcoal grill. I love my charcoal grill. It is an Assassin 36, I can configure it with a drip pan that directs heat across to cook similar to an offset or a indirect heat grill like a Holland Gas. I can configure it with a water pan to cook similar to a classic cabinet style or bullet smoker. I can configure it with no pan in order to grill with direct heat or 2 zones, similar to the classic weber kettle or rectangular charcoal box. Lastly, I can take out the lower cooking grate and cook with wood splits. 

Check out Assassin grills here: https://www.assassin-smokers.com/charcoal-grills/

 The reason for the tests:

 I am used to getting a lot of btus for my dollar because of cooking with propane. Propane is cheap and extremely efficient. However, it leaves a lot to be desire for flavor, and I am a big believer in a charcoal bed with wood chunks added for the best flavor. So, I want the best all around charcoal for my Assassin, I want it to heat quickly, burn a long time, preferably very hot, so I can control it down to desired temperature with air flow, and leave me with as little ash as possible. I studied charcoal tests and reviews online and learned a lot about the theory, however, most tests focus on comparing different brands of lump to each other, or different brands of briquettes to each other. So, I was stuck between 3 options:

1. Nearly the cheapest and most convenient for me: Kroger briquettes, which are made by Royal Oak. Here: https://www.kroger.com/p/kroger-original-ridged-charcoal-briquets/0004126037327

2. A good natural briquet, based on what I found, the Royal Oak brand is about as good as any, and I like the transparency about what's in it. Here: https://www.royaloak.com/products/all-natural-hardwood-charcoal-briquets/

3. A good lump, after reading The Naked Whiz, (http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm) Rockwood, appears to be the best or amongst the best lump charcoal in their database. Here: https://rockwoodcharcoal.com/

The ground rules: 

I will take each charcoal and fill my camp chef brand chimney to the brim, then I will dump it out onto the Assassin's charcoal tray, put a lit pine mountain wax starter in the ash tray, shut the door, leave the vents wide open, and lid down throughout. I will track temperatures with a Thermoworks Smoke. I want to see how long it takes to climb to 200 degrees. How hot it gets, and how long before it falls below 200 degrees again. If the temperature rises to 400, I will choke the vents to help extend the burn time. After logging that, I will check the ashtray and take a picture of it the next day. Each test will be started with a clean ash tray. As far as pricing, the Rockwood is more expensive per pound than both briquets, but, it is similarly priced by volume due to how dense the briquets are. So using a chimney will cause the Rockwood to have less weight in the grill, but also bring it's price inline with the briquets. 

If He Only Knew....

  He looked through his books, he marked his diary one last time, no words, just a cross, the last several years had been hard, he was pretty much bankrupt. He was alone and friendless on the steamship Dresden, the year was 1913. He had a dream, an invention, something that would be revolutionary in industry, but no one seemed to believe him. This invention had nearly killed him, and now it had drained his pockets. He had no backup plan, no hope, no future. He put his last papers in order, and arranged his cabin. Before leaving, he had left the last of his money with his wife, in a briefcase with instructions to not open it until the following week. He walked out, on the side of the ship, he looked down into the cold waters of the English channel, laid aside his overcoat, and jumped in. 

  He had been on the way to England, to discuss his invention with the British. He was a German. There are those who believe he was murdered, but most known records point to suicide. He never made it to England. He thought his life a waste, but it wasn't. With the benefit of time, we can see the point of his invention, we appreciate it even when we don't think about it. The device you are using to read this article right now has benefited from his invention, in terms of shipping costs. The food you eat has more than likely been brought to you by hard working farmers who were made more efficient by his invention. After his death, the value of his invention was finally realized, the invention is an engine, it produces huge torque, it is efficient, and reliable. I'm not sure how we would do without it. They named it after him. 

  Sometimes life does seem pointless, but, we only see our bit of history and our present. Don't waste yourself. Ultimately, trust the one who was there in the beginning, and will be there at the end, He will give you hope. If you need to, talk with someone who knows Him well enough to help you talk with Him. Don't waste yourself. 

Oh, his name was Rudolf Diesel. So, Mr. Diesel, thanks for the engine. :) 

-Loren 

Life Choices in the Jungle of Somewhere (Part 2)

Catch up here. 

 

  Jesus and Helgon arrived at the pool. It was beautiful and so refreshing with the fear gone. Helgon had an idea, how many other people were wanting to come to this pool and were caught up by fear? Could he do something to help? Jesus was still with Him, and so he sketched out a plan, he laid a walkway connecting the path to the pool. Along the walkway he put up a freedom building, he then outfitted this building with the latest and greatest in "constrictor removal equipment". Over time the many different people came down the walkway, and arrived at the Freedom Building in timely fashion to be freed from constrictors of fear of their own. Over time, various different people stuck around and began to assist in the work, some of them younger and more energetic, and more gifted at specific nuances of the work than Helgon. 

  Jesus spoke to Helgon again, He said, "The work here is good, and I am in it, but I am also in you, and the time has come for you to leave the Freedom Building and walk on. Leave this work to others of my disciples" To which Helgon replied, "Where to?" "That is not important just now, just follow me, the faith that I have earned from freeing you earlier, follow me in that faith." Jesus replied.

  Helgon pondered Jesus' words, and he just couldn't bring himself to leave the Freedom Building. So he stayed and kept working. Over time, the fun went out, and different people gravitated towards other workers because there was a something about Helgon, a lack, a weary performing way about him that was so different from the bright cheery nature of the others in the building. 

  One day it all came to a head, Helgon couldn't sleep, his mind was tormented by images of snakes around other people, a sense of futility, and Christ waiting for him by the path, with a sign marked "Future". Helgon finally realized that he had become so enamored with defeating fear in it's many forms, and in what he could do for other people that he had kind of forgotten about Jesus. Early that morning, he prayed with his fellow laborers, those who were called to this place for a time, and were alive in it still. Then he walked out, and joined Jesus and together they went towards the future. 

 There is a thing in us that seems to want to build for Jesus rather than keep it all about Him. He wants the depth of His nature explored and the gospel of the Kingdom spread, but we seem so often to be to busy planting churches, installing politicians, and policies or fixing people through various programs to pay attention to the deep truth that it is all work by human hands, unless it is actually done by the indwelling life of Christ. When Helgon put in the building, he felt alive and fulfilled, it was right, and good, but when Christ interrupted him, he wanted to stay with "his work." The thing he built for Christ had begun to mean more to him than Christ. These things should not be. Every thing we have or believe, we should be willing to test and give up for Christ. Everything. Everything. Everything. In this we actually find freedom. For Christ cares for us better than we care for us. Always has, always will. 

Thought provoking snippet.

  

Life Choices in the Jungle of Somewhere (Part 1)

  Somewhere, there was a jungle of beauty and peril. In some unfathomable way a person found himself in this jungle. This person may be a he or a she, you can decide. I will refer to him as a he and will call him Helgon. Helgon saw the beauty around him, on the surface it was marvelous, and yet there was something ominous, and sinister about it. It looked like it had once been perfect, and yet somehow fallen. There was a beautiful deer, and yet here lay a skeleton from some long dead animal, life and death all in one place. Here before him lay a walkway, well lit, and yet on either side lay dark foreboding shadows with creepy noises in them. Helgon started to walk, he didn't know where, he didn't know why he was here or where he belonged so how could he know where he was going?

  

  After walking for a mile, Helgon saw a beautiful pool off to the left side of the path, he knew that the shadows were dangerous, but he decided to go and look at it anyway, he wouldn't go far he thought. He left the path, he walked towards the pool. It was further than he thought, mud squished around him, and the shadows closed in. Something gripped him tightly, and he found himself being constricted by a great and terrible thing, he fought it with all his strength but it kept closing in around him, and it seemed he was doomed to this thing forever. It was at this moment Helgon remembered that he had just started walking, he had never looked for, or asked for a guide, he needed him now, so he began to call for help. Help came.

  Help came in the form of a man with scarred hands, this man quickly and efficiently uncoiled the serpent and crushed it's head with his foot. After Helgon recovered his breath he thanked the man and introduced himself. The man said, "I knew you from the beginning of time, I am Jesus, I saw you go alone and pursued you." Helgon asked, "Why did I ever go alone? How could I be so foolish? What was that awful snake? Jesus responded, " When you were on the walkway, you were confident, and believed in you. I believe in free will, and so I let you go it alone. When you wanted my help, I came. I followed you and was close by and waited for you to change your mind, for you see, this jungle is fallen, and I knew you would need help, it was just a matter of weather you wanted it or not. That snake is fear, and as long as you go with me, you will never need to face it again." 

Jesus moved towards the pool and Helgon, having learned his lesson went with Him. 

Do you believe in Christ? If so, you are Helgon. A part of God is in you at all times and therefore God is always with you. You never need to face fear again either, when you do, remember God within you. When I say you never need to face fear, I am talking to me....sigh....

-Loren