SteveinSpokane, First off, 550 degrees is pizza temp; 650 is too high. Put plate setter in legs down. Put spacer between plate setter and pizza stone. That will elevate stone above gasket level. Fill firebox with lump. Light lump and immediately put all the ceramic mass in Egg. When temp hits 550 wait about 20 min for everything to get that hot.You are not putting enough lump in if it is gone in 45 min.