Rutland Fire Starters

EggHeadinFlorida

A few days ago someone posted a sweet deal on these fire starters from amazon for under $5 per box that were regularly priced over $22. 

Here's a test I did today in my Minimax.

I only used (1) 1" square to get my MM up to temp. In fact, in 18 minutes I was able to get 600 degrees. Not bad I say. 

I know a lot of people have had issues with getting their minimax up to temperature, but if you look at the top of the pictures you'll see the timestamp that each picture was taken at.

Now I'm sure for the larger sized eggs you may want to use two of the squares or maybe even place one square in a couple of different places within your lump, but they definitely look promising.
Since these are prone to drying out, I vacuum sealed what I won't use anytime soon.

EggHeadinFlorida

forgot to mention that the bottom door was wide open and there was no cap on dome.

NPHuskerFL

I haven't used these to light either of my eggs but, I'd agree in that I also have had no issue getting mine &/or our Son's @HuddleHouseCook MM to fire breathing dragon temps or holding L&S temps. I have used a MAPP torch for years now and in a pinch peanut shells
That's a helluva good deal on the Rutland starters.

bigbadben

I use these and love them.  Lately I started lighting one propped up with a toothpick inside the bottom vent.  My new fav trick. 

EggHeadinFlorida

^^ does that get the lump going quicker?

bhedges1987

I've been using these for a while. Never had mine dry out. 

EggHeadinFlorida

I read a few reviews where some people had theirs dry out. Since I bought 2 boxes and its going to take me awhile to go through them, I didn't want to take a chance.

nolaegghead

Usually they're some kind of cellulose (wood fiber/pulp) with wax.  If they dry out and don't work, makes me think they're using some kind of semi-volatile hydrocarbon which would give the product a limited shelf life.  Let us know if this is the case and I'll avoid.  Like buying a candle that can dry out.  Not my bag, baby.

EggHeadinFlorida

I'll definitely keep ya updated. 

RRP

A few years back at "the end of grilling season" our Menard's had these on sale for a mere 50 cents a box so I bought 10. It took me some time to use them all and I never did anything special storage wise. During the course of my using them up I taught 5 classes at my dealer's store and I used fresh Rutlands. Those fresh ones clearly ignited faster and easier than my bargain ones, but my bargains worked fine just the same.

SciAggie

These are all I use.  They fit into my workflow just fine. 

bigbadben

bigbadben said:

I use these and love them.  Lately I started lighting one propped up with a toothpick inside the bottom vent.  My new fav trick. 

EggHeadinFlorida said:

^^ does that get the lump going quicker?

You asked, now that I light like this, all I do is 1 cube in bottom.  Set vents once cube is lit and walk away. I have only done this a few times but it works great.  I come back 2 hrs later on my Joe Jr and it is sitting at 250 F rock solid.  

bettysnephew

I bought one of the 144 boxes and they leached out into the box but I did have them in a deck box in the sun and Iowa summers do get hot so maybe if they were kept elsewhere they would be fine. I also had issues with the smell/taste of fires lit with them seemed to have a pine back flavor but I have been told I have overly sensitive nose and taste so maybe not an issue. Might have just been the wood used in the box I had I suspect it changes depending on what sawdust is available.

nolaegghead

bigbadben said:

bigbadben said:

I use these and love them.  Lately I started lighting one propped up with a toothpick inside the bottom vent.  My new fav trick. 

EggHeadinFlorida said:

^^ does that get the lump going quicker?

You asked, now that I light like this, all I do is 1 cube in bottom.  Set vents once cube is lit and walk away. I have only done this a few times but it works great.  I come back 2 hrs later on my Joe Jr and it is sitting at 250 F rock solid.  

If you're doing a low and slow and you have your egg fully loaded with lump, by lighting the bottom, that fire is at the bottom of a huge pile of unburned lump.  It's going to burn starting at the bottom and the heat rises through the unburned lump and this negatively impacts the quality of the smoke because you're baking off VOCs and there's no fire for them to travel through to burn.

Light the top (like a candle) and let it burn down and out.

EggHeadinFlorida

^^^  that makes perfectly good sense.  Never thought about it that way 

nolaegghead

I learned that from the BGE instruction manual.

BREWnQ

I bought a box of these based on egghead reviews and they didn't work at all for me.  They started well but burnt out quick leaving me with a smoldering smokey mess.  Still have a half box or more if anyone wants them.

nolaegghead

BREWnQ said:

I bought a box of these based on egghead reviews and they didn't work at all for me.  They started well but burnt out quick leaving me with a smoldering smokey mess.  Still have a half box or more if anyone wants them.

Did you put them on the top of the lump?

JustineCaseyFeldown

BREWnQ said:

I bought a box of these based on egghead reviews and they didn't work at all for me.  They started well but burnt out quick leaving me with a smoldering smokey mess.  Still have a half box or more if anyone wants them.

shutting the lid often causes these types of starters to snuff out.  they need a good bit of air to really throw some flame.  if they blow out or get choked out (by setting vents too early), they smolder like a candle wick does when it is blown out.  bad stuff. 

BREWnQ

I put them on top slightly buried but not totally covered.  Lid and lower vent totally open.  The same way I do with wax cubes.

nolaegghead

Well, I can't explain why they didn't work, sounds like you did everything right, although I just lay them on top.  The box says they should even work when stuff is wet.  Maybe they're not wax but oil based (more volatile than wax).  I bought a couple of boxes from Amazon for under 5 each.  Yet to try them.

EggHeadinFlorida

 So far I've had no issues.  I also laid a little cube on top of the lump and they covered up with a few pieces after the cube gets going 

outdoorsmin

These are what I use never had an issue. Use three for high heat and 1 for low and slows.