Best place to buy charcoal...

[Thumper68]

Nimrod,
See if you can find Stubbs briquettes. They unlike Kingfords are an all natural charcoal briquette. Much better taste. I also struggled with temp contol with lump in by vertical smoker, but lobe the Stubbs briquettes. I get them @ lowes.

Is it an issue of balanced temp or consistent temps?

(I use a ceramic pot base wrapped in foil to help balance the temp.)

It is a consistent temp. I use the minon method and I find that the varying sizes of the lump charcoal sometimes makes them hard to catch fire. I just seem to do better with briquettes. I run sand in the water bowl instead of water. I have a Pro Excel 22 inch.

 

[Rod]

I'll check Walmart!

Thanks for all of the tips.

 

[Rod]

This is a better deal than Home Depot - 2 cents cheaper/lb. I'm going tonight to stock up. Thanks!

 

[emoshun]

I've used BGE lump as it's made with some of Royal Oak's (Another great brand you can't find out West) best selection hence the higher than average price.