I got a strong smell of ammonia right after I poured on a second
batch of lump. The smell dissipated after 5-6 minutes. There
wasn't any meat on the fire yet, so I figure it will be OK.

Is ammonia a byproduct of wood distillation or did a cow **** on my
lump?

-sw

On May 4, 8:53*am, Sqwertz > wrote:
> I got a strong smell of ammonia right after I poured on a second
> batch of lump. *The smell dissipated after 5-6 minutes. *There
> wasn't any meat on the fire yet, so I figure it will be OK.
>
> Is ammonia a byproduct of wood distillation or did a cow **** on my
> lump?
>
> -sw

Something ****ed on your lump anyway.

I've noticed very weak smells of ammonia with burning wood before
though (whiffs really). IIRC ammonia can happen with wood+water+fire.
But that could be faulty memory.

On 4-May-2008, Sqwertz > wrote:

> I got a strong smell of ammonia right after I poured on a second
> batch of lump. The smell dissipated after 5-6 minutes. There
> wasn't any meat on the fire yet, so I figure it will be OK.
>
> Is ammonia a byproduct of wood distillation or did a cow **** on my
> lump?
>
> -sw

Likely the latter. I typically manage my fire by adding additional unlit
lump on the existing fire while the cook is underway. I've never
encountered that situation.

--
Brick(Youth is wasted on young people)

Brick > wrote:

> On 4-May-2008, Sqwertz > wrote:
>
>> I got a strong smell of ammonia right after I poured on a second
>> batch of lump. The smell dissipated after 5-6 minutes. There
>> wasn't any meat on the fire yet, so I figure it will be OK.
>>
>> Is ammonia a byproduct of wood distillation or did a cow **** on my
>> lump?
>>
>> -sw
>
> Likely the latter. I typically manage my fire by adding additional unlit
> lump on the existing fire while the cook is underway. I've never
> encountered that situation.

I start a half-size fire and then add some more just before I put
the meat on. I just added more lump and I didn't get that smell
this time, but now I have real wood smoking away in there.

-sw

Denny Wheeler > wrote:

> On Sun, 04 May 2008 15:53:13 GMT, Sqwertz >
> wrote:
>
>>I got a strong smell of ammonia right after I poured on a second
>>batch of lump. The smell dissipated after 5-6 minutes. There
>>wasn't any meat on the fire yet, so I figure it will be OK.
>>
>>Is ammonia a byproduct of wood distillation or did a cow **** on my
>>lump?
>
> You might want to have a word or two with your cat.

This wasn't a urine-ammonia smell, this was an ammonia-ammonia
smell. I smelled it again when I went to stir the lump before using
it to grill, but neither the smoked pork butt or the grilled chicken
tasted any different.

-sw