Lump for smoking

[jgg85234]

The first digit defines the numbering scheme (and check digit scheme) to be used for the rest of the numbers.
The next 5 are assigned to a manufacturer, and all of their products will have the same 5 digits (that's the part that gets assigned). The next 5 represent the actual product within a manufacturers' offering. The manufacturer gets to assign those.
The last digit is a check digit, which is a calculated number. It's purpose is to ensure a correct read of the rest of the numbers.

So, yes first and last are important, but mostly for a scanner.

Since we've probably used up the manufacturers code (99,999) entries in the 46 years since the bar codes started, I think the first digit is now being used to run through the 99,999 possibilities more than once, but I'm not certain of that.

American standard is 12 digits, and is called the UPC (Universal Product Code).

If you see 13 digits, it's an EAN code (European Article Number)

More useless trivia filling up my old brain
Jim

[CeramicChef]

jgg85234 - I'm dead serious when I tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to explain that to me. That has always been one of those things I was going to Google, but never did. Thanks again. That was a very lucid explanation that even I could follow.

[DWCowles]

I think the question Big Maple was asking was in reference to a kettle/SnS and an offset which both is way different than a ceramic oven. Big Maple I would use charcoal/wood chunks with the kettle and lump/logs with the offset.

[boftx]

I use nothing but lump and splits for my offset. I use briquettes in the grill. I find that lump and splits have far less ash buildup for long smokes. I mainly use lump to help get a bed of coals to build the main fire on with splits.