How to get a good fire going

Marilynb · August 2012

I have trouble starting the BGE, help!

midwestsmoker · August 2012

For starters what are you using for lump, and how are you starting it and at what point do you close the lid.

burr_baby33 · August 2012

It shouldn't be that hard. Fill the fire box with lump. Think air and fuel. Make sure lower vent and top are wide open. Lots of ways to start the fire, cubes work, 91% alcohol works, paper towel with cooking oil works and more. Then light it up if you are using new lump wait until the smoke clears before you put food on. Don't rush it. Give it 20 - 30 minutes to burn and you should be fine.

Bullhalsey · August 2012

Two words.... Chimney Starter

rebelmrd · August 2012

I use one small blue butane torch from home depot. I heat the coals in 2-3 spots for ~60 seconds each. The I crank the leaf blower and just let it idle and blow into to bottom vent. I stand back approx 10-15 feet. You will get he feel for it. Gets it hot in a hurry. Just be carful of the ash if you have cooked on the coals already.

SkinnyV · August 2012

I use one small blue butane torch from home depot. I heat the coals in 2-3 spots for ~60 seconds each. The I crank the leaf blower and just let it idle and blow into to bottom vent. I stand back approx 10-15 feet. You will get he feel for it. Gets it hot in a hurry. Just be carful of the ash if you have cooked on the coals already.

I do this minus the leaf blower, might run a little longer than 60 depends.

gte1 · August 2012

I just grabbed a bottle of alcohol to try it out. Fire starts out strong then goes out. Do yo let it soak in or liGht imeadeately after putting the alcohol on? I am doing something wrong.

njl · August 2012

If you want to cheat to get fires lit or achieve super high temps, and you have a power source nearby, and don't want to spend real money, get one of these:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062283

a 90mm 12v fan, 12v DC transformer, a few other misc parts, and build this:

This sits nicely on the egg table up against the bottom vent. It's something I had lying around from a previous use...it's even got adjustable voltage / speed control. I haven't had to use it recently, but if I'm in a hurry or am having a hard time getting the lump lit, this is the solution.

Radio Shack spare parts stoker. :)

Mickey · August 2012

That is for a large. DO NOT use in the Mini (that is what a Mapp Tourch is for).

Fouker187 · August 2012

I use a chimney starter. I have a gas grill that has a side burner that I had never used before and someone I worked with suggested using that to start my charcoal. It works great and I don't have to light paper.

On a side note, have you ever cleaned your egg? The holes can get clogged and your fire will go out without proper air flow.

Shiff · August 2012

I just grabbed a bottle of alcohol to try it out. Fire starts out strong then goes out. Do yo let it soak in or liGht imeadeately after putting the alcohol on? I am doing something wrong.

I start my charcoal using 91% alcohol purchased at Walmart. I use a pencil to poke a tiny hole in the seal and then squirt a little alcohol in 4 places in a circle about 4 inches in from the outside rim of the charcoal. Then a little squirt in the center. Wait a few seconds then toss in a match.

Alcohol burns clean and quickly starts the charcoal. It is very safe as long as you stand back a little when dropping in the match. The warmer the day, the more it evaporates before lighting and can cause a flash. In the winter, it doesn't evaporate and I actually have to hold the match at the squirt points.

gte1 · August 2012

That is exactly what I do, it burns like hell then goes out.

JeffM · August 2012

I have tried:

Fire starter squares

Small blue butane torch

91% alcohol

2 paper towels lightly soaked in vegetable oil

And the winner is.........paper towels in oil. My least successful was alcohol but all the others work fine but the paper towels/oil works better and faster even and is easy.

Botch · August 2012

Wait till you see a fair amount of glow around where you put the cubes, towels with oil, etc. then shut the lid with the bottom wide open and the DW off...

Hmm, I use the BGE paraffin squares, and close the lid right away, don't wait until the coals are lit.

And one thing I do that I know is different from most: I always start the fire just with the remaining lump in the egg from the last cook; once I see a fair amount of glow then I dump in fresh lump, if needed. I figure the volatiles (bad smoke) will be driven off quicker if the fire is burning from below, rather than from above.

cralle · August 2012

I just started using a looftlighter. I light the lump in 2 or 3 spots for a minute and it's good to go in about 10 minutes.

ribnrun · August 2012

I light the deck on fire and wait until the heat ignites the lump in the egg. If that does not work I fill an old champange bottle halfway with gasoline and gelatin, stuff an oil soaked rag in the opening. Light the rag and toss it into the egg, stand back a little though, you don't want any to splash on you, it is kinda sticky. If all else fails, I resort to hairspray and a lighter.

JeffM · August 2012

I light the deck on fire and wait until the heat ignites the lump in the egg. If that does not work I fill an old champange bottle halfway with gasoline and gelatin, stuff an oil soaked rag in the opening. Light the rag and toss it into the egg, stand back a little though, you don't want any to splash on you, it is kinda sticky. If all else fails, I resort to hairspray and a lighter.

What octane gasoline do you prefer? Can it be unflavored gelatin?

ribnrun · August 2012

87 seems to light off the easiest. Gelatin flavor depends on what will go on the egg. I reccomend apple and cherry for pork.

Aviator · August 2012

I light the deck on fire and wait until the heat ignites the lump in the egg. If that does not work I fill an old champange bottle halfway with gasoline and gelatin, stuff an oil soaked rag in the opening. Light the rag and toss it into the egg, stand back a little though, you don't want any to splash on you, it is kinda sticky. If all else fails, I resort to hairspray and a lighter.
What octane gasoline do you prefer? Can it be unflavored gelatin?

More importantly, do you prefer gasoline with corn in it?

Wildhorse1966 · August 2012

i use the BGE electric fire starter and the BGE eggcellerator i picked the electric firestarter up on craigslist brand new for $20 and the eggcellerator was included with a XL bge i bought i kept the eggcellerator when i sold the XL because it was too big for my balcony

stevesails · August 2012

I made this to get air flowing quickly

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