Royal Oak - Red Bag

[meateater]

I use to get RO at Kmart very cheap. Now they don't carry any charcoal at all. "confused"

 

[outlaw44]

Anyone know the best place to pick up RO around Kansas City? I looked at my nearest super wally world yesterday actually and the only brand of charcoal I saw was Kingsford. They did have 47 different variations/flavors, but I did not see any RO or lump at all.

 

[ak1]

Funny, here in my part of Canada, RO is everywhere.

 

[5lakes]

I just went to our Waly World. The RO there is Made in USA. They have it year round.

I've tried it in the past with my Char Griller offset, but it never seems to bring it up to temp and doesn't last long. I really want to get it to work, though and am not giving up on it. I use it just like charcoal. Fill the basket, light some in the chimney, put the lit stuff on top.

Is this wrong? Any help on it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rickw]

Try throwing on some wood splits every so often.

 

[dick foster]

The cheapo offset I had was worthless for pretty much anything until I took it apart and did some fairly extensive modificatons to it. Mainly I added some sheet metal to give it some thickness and thermal mass to hold the heat in and moved the stack from the top to the side so the exit is at grill level. I also added the usual deflector plate and put some foil wrapped fire bricks in the bottom of the cooking chamber as tuning plates. The brick adds thermal mass too. It gets up to and holds temp with no problem now.
Oh yes, I also built my own closed loop, digitally controlled, stoker fan. You can buy those if you're not the handy type. The stoker helps maintain a constant target temp without too much fuss, muss and constant tending and fiddling around with dampers and such on your part. The stick burning purist on here po po those but I'm a retired engineer and simply couldn't help myself and it hardly cost me anything. Maybe 40 or 50 bucks. Compared to the cost of meat that could get ruined, that's pretty cheap insurance in my book.

 

[jdt]

You can go directly to the source! Walk around the building some and peak in the warehouse doors, you'll see whole pallets of RO red bag ready to be loaded onto trucks. They have a generic brand they sell to the public as well as wood chunks last time we were through there in 2007, 40lbs $11, you go up to a little window and order(cash or check only) and a guy will load it into your car for you(don't forget to tip).

Berger Brothers Charcoal
1176 N Cherry Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

 

[chicagochris]

The 40 lb. bags of lump at Berger Brothers are currently going for around $20.00.

 

[smoke 2 geaux]

+1 on the R.O. lump. I started using it when I sent girlfriends daughter to the store for some charcoal in an emergency. She brought back the RO and I have been hooked ever since. It's easy to get in South La. even the grocery stores have it.

 

[hdsmoke]

My Walmart has had it since i started smoking...but they didnt get a new shipment this spring. There new display is all briqs, and the remaining RO is in the outside (under tent thing) with the flowers/potting soil and stuff...been debating on buying the rest of it! Im fearing they "deleted" it. Seems like they do that to a lot of stuff that i buy! Of course i think i was the ONLY person buying it all summer last year.

 

[placebo]

I just got the last bag from my local wally world.

I hope they re-stock soon!

 

[chicagochris]

Same here. A couple weeks ago it was half a pallet, but yesterday there was a full pallet there. Otherwise, it is wall to wall Kingsford.

 

[chisoxjim]

not bad, about $.50/lb.

RD's works out to $.45/lb.

 

[rickw]

GFS also has lump that is made by RO.

 

[ncdodave]

Herky,
Im now down in medford and they carry it regularly. Back in february I bought 6 bags when i was in eugene
in april the super walmart in k falls had it in stock right now im burning hazel nut tree trimmings from the orchards in spfld

 

[ak1]

All the RO here is in a blue bag.

 

[dick foster]

I went to one of the local Wall Marts yesterday and they were out. I'm down to a bag and a dribble and have just enough to get though the weekend. I sure hope one of the other local stores has it or they get it back in stock soon. Damn flakey buyers and inventory managers droppin the ball like like that. I don't what to have to resort to Cowboy again.  

 

[rickw]

All the RO here is in a blue bag.

 Royal Oak in a blue bag?

 

[dick foster]

Red bag and check to see that the country of origin is the USA and not some other place. I think the blue bag is Asia or something.

Even the red bags can be from South America so you have to really look at the bag, not simply choose by the color of the bag alone.

This site has the whole story on lump charcoal. Most folks here who use lump go there to learn all about it.  http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm

 

[pakak]

i know all smokers are different i havent try smoking all night yet. how long would a whole bag burn for?