Klb vs Kbb vs Stubbs

[Bob Correll]

Ashes to ashes to ashes.
I lit 4 briquettes each of Klb (Kingsford long burning), Kbb (regular Kingsford), and Stubbs.

Klb top left, Kbb right, Stubbs bottom.

About 1/2 hour later:

Ashes scraped into piles.

Kind of hard to tell, but the Klb and Stubbs were nearly the same, and Kbb's pile had considerably more.(no surprise there)
In the second pic the Klb was slower in ashing over.
I used a small piece of fire starter square and then a torch.
The Klb was the hardest to get going, Kbb the easiest, Stubbs somewhere in between.
Not very scientific, but it gave me something to do on a no cook day.

 

[Ray.S]

Thanks Bob. Maybe next time place a thermocouple a fixed distance above to compare heat outputs.

 

[BFletcher]

I first started using charcoal 12 months ago and currently have 1300 lbs of kbb. Can you skew the results in favor of kbb, lol? My parents thought it was a Godsend when gassers were readily available and I never considered any other way until recently. Hence, throughout 2016, I stockpiled KBB when L & HD offered 37.2 lbs at $9.88.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

I wouldn't worry about skewing test results, use what you stocked, I would!
"Smoke me if you've got em"!

 

[Bob Correll]

Yeah Kbb is still my main coal due to price, but I'm kind of charcoal junkie and can't resist trying something new.
Currently my stock is several bags of Kbb, a couple of lump, Stubbs, half bag of Chef Select, one K-hickory, one K-comp pro, and a few bags of Coshell.
My one bag of Klb is almost gone.

 

[Rich Dahl]

Bob I agree with your comparison between the KBB and Stubbs thanks for sharing the results.
I've used KBB exclusively until just recently. I picked up some Stubbs that was on sale at Lowes to give it a try and I am impressed. Still white smoke but not as much as the KBB and a lot less ash than KBB. It also seems to burn somewhat longer than the KBB also.
I have a mini made with a SJ and I can run about 13 hours with a full load of KBB, but I have to dump the ash at about 9-9.5 hours which is a PITA. I did a very large Pork Butt and was able to go the 12.5 hours it needed with the Stubbs and didn't have to dump the ash.
So from now on Stubbs for the smokers and KBB for everything else.

 

[Bob Correll]

Rich,
I've danced my 18 and 14 many times to knock down Kbb ash.
Klb and Stubbs both seem to drop the ash through the grate as they burn rather than hold their form.

 

[Cliff Bartlett]

Thanks Bob. That was interesting and informative. I occasionally see Stubbs up here, but haven't seen the Klb yet. I'm kind of in the same boat as BFletcher. Those July 4th and Labor Day sales are hard to resist, with my Military Discount added on too. I have quite a stash out in the barn. We'll see what's on sale later this year.

 

[Rich Dahl]

Rich,
I've danced my 18 and 14 many times to knock down Kbb ash.
Klb and Stubbs both seem to drop the ash through the grate as they burn rather than hold their form.

Yep I do the kbb kick down dance too.
The problem with the mini is the Smokey Joe has a vent at the very bottom of the bowl so I have to have a can turned upside down over the vent that comes right up to the charcoal grate with holes on the top of the side of the can to keep ash from plugging up the vent. But at about 9-9.5 hours the kbb has filled the bowl with ash and starts chocking out the fire. With the stubbs having so much less ash I went 12.5 hours and still could have gone at least two hours more because of the lesser amount of ash.

 

[Jim Lampe]

Not very scientific, but it gave me something to do on a no cook day.

a no cook day.
geez, my stomach is growling already.

I've danced my 18 and 14 many times to knock down Kbb ash.

next time, can you record this "dance" so we can see first hand what you mean exactly?

Thanks for the comp, Bob... gonna look for the New Kingsford!

 

[Bob Correll]

next time, can you record this "dance" so we can see first hand what you mean exactly?

 

[Jim Lampe]

no
no
no.
you can't get off THAT easy... we want to see YOU do the dance.

 

[Cliff Bartlett]

I always liked Airstream trailers!

 

[John Sp]

Good experiment Bob - handy info to have. I too use KBB almost exclusively (mainly due to price and consistently). I did get roundly reprimanded recently for using KBB in a BGE - apparently that is a major faux pas...

Regards,

John

 

[Bob Ivey]

Just what charcoal are you "supposed" to use in a BGE John? Is this maybe an elitist thing? Do BGE owners think they are better Weber owners? Just wondering.

Good experiment Bob - handy info to have. I too use KBB almost exclusively (mainly due to price and consistently). I did get roundly reprimanded recently for using KBB in a BGE - apparently that is a major faux pas...

Regards,

John

 

[DuaneMac]

My buddy has 2 BGE's , I just asked him what he uses. He said he only uses lump charcoal because briquettes create too much ash and choke out the fire. He said there's not a whole lot of room for fuel in the fire box but that they burn so efficient you don't need much.

 

[DuaneMac]

Is this maybe an elitist thing? Do BGE owners think they are better Weber owners? Just wondering.

I think this is true to some extent. I know my local ACE is all about the BGE now. The Weber stuff is stuck away in a corner

 

[Bruno]

I am going the same route, love KBB for the price and will grill with it any time, however having such good experience with Stubbs in my WSM I am going to use that from here on out.

 

[ChuckO]

Every now and then Stubbs goes on sale at our Winco. Next time it does, I'll get a bag or two. Thanks for the info Bob