Goodbye fire starters & oil napkins

cazzy · October 2012

After my fire starters ran out, I started using oil soiled napkins to light the egg. I didn't feel like fooling with it anymore so I picked up this lil bad boy:

Outside of the expected ember flying around the egg, it was very easy to get the fire started and got up to temp much quicker. I wonder how long the bottle will last though...

The Cen-Tex Smoker · October 2012

cazzy said:

After my fire starters ran out, I started using oil soiled napkins to light the egg. I didn't feel like fooling with it anymore so I picked up this lil bad boy:

Outside of the expected ember flying around the egg, it was very easy to get the fire started and got up to temp much quicker. I wonder how long the bottle will last though...

they last forever. i bet I have 50 starts on mine and it's still going strong. Sometimes I use it to light cubes or oil and napkin so I guess that does not count. They do last a very long time though

BBQBeerman · October 2012

Where did you get it and how much was it

SmokeyPitt · October 2012

Agree with CT...they last a long time. I have at least 50 starts as well plus a few camp fire starts.

Tip: when u strart lighting hold the flame back from the coals a little. As the coals start glowing gradually move a little closer. This seems to help with the pops and flying embers.

Fred19Flintstone · October 2012

I don't like to get as close so I use a weed burner. During the summer, I light the Egg and while waiting for it, I go torch some pesky weeds. I'm about out of my second cylider since June. Not bad.

bigphil · October 2012

Fred19Flintstone said:

I don't like to get as close so I use a weed burner. During the summer, I light the Egg and while waiting for it, I go torch some pesky weeds. I'm about out of my second cylider since June. Not bad.

+1 i use the benz-o-matic have lit hundreds of fires with a small bottle plus the hose for my weber Q grill fits it so with a 25pound take and the small bottles i have am set for hundreds of fire starts

Griffin · October 2012

Very cool. I've got one of those on my short list now that I have a mini.

jlsm · October 2012

I have one but find oiled paper towels more effective for getting larger areas lit. The sparks can be really nasty; I switched when my husband caught a spark on his lip. If you don't wear glasses, I would recommend safety glasses.

gdenby · October 2012

The popping lump seems to be somewhat dependent on the brand. All will spark some, but every now and then, a whole lump will shatter. Repeated brief touches w. the flame seems to reduce the popping.

I use maybe 2 a year. My usual method is lite 3 spots, 45 - 60 seconds total.

cazzy · October 2012

BBQBeerman said:
Where did you get it and how much was it

I picked up from Home Depot for $65. They have cheaper ones that lack the cord but I'd rather not have direct heat over a tank. Lol

cazzy · October 2012

Lots of good info here. I'll pick up some safety glasses for sure.

@SmokeyPitt Thanks for the tip...makes a lot of sense!

BENTE · October 2012

+1 on the saftey glasses. i wear my sunglasses even in the dark. i had a friend who got hit with a flying ember in the eye. for two weeks he had to put drops in every thirty min. he had to set a alarm at night to wake up every thirty min to put drops in. made a believer out of me to use saftey glasses.

The Cen-Tex Smoker · October 2012

agree on the safety glasses. I use ozark oak and it rarely sparks. last night, it went nuts and burned a hole in my shirt. It was going everywhere for 30 seconds then stopped

Little Steven · October 2012

BENTE said:

+1 on the saftey glasses. i wear my sunglasses even in the dark. i had a friend who got hit with a flying ember in the eye. for two weeks he had to put drops in every thirty min. he had to set a alarm at night to wake up every thirty min to put drops in. made a believer out of me to use saftey glasses.

Same thing happened to a friend of mine:D

Mickey · October 2012

I only use it for the Mini (would work just fine for the Large) but use the weedburner on the Large.

probe1957 · October 2012

Funny because I went from using a MAP torch for the past 5 years ago to the oil soaked paper towel.

DocWonmug · October 2012

Why is that probe1957? I use the oiled paper towels and they are fine. A little messy....

henapple · October 2012

I use a Wagner heat gun...no gas needed.

Z_Eggineer · October 2012

My heat gun died (still under warranty at Harbor Freight though). Oiled paper towels don't always work for me. I love the Weber cubes (even better than BGE starter cubes, blasphemy I know).

Anyone know a place to get what is pictured for a lower cost?

brycos · October 2012

I've started using newspaper in the bottom ash chamber with great results - like a chimney starter. Is there any reason not to do it this way?

Botch · October 2012

brycos said:

I've started using newspaper in the bottom ash chamber with great results - like a chimney starter. Is there any reason not to do it this way?

Hmm, have to try this next weekend!

Ellis · October 2012

brycos I have also been usung the newspaper in the ash chamber. 1 1/2 sheets with a little veg. oil on the paper it works great. $65.00 that is a 6 mo. subscription for the local fish wrapper

JeffM · October 2012

I had a torch but found the vegetable and paper towels were just as quick, and easier. newspaper sounds interesting

NibbleMeThis · October 2012

I've used cubes, paper towels, etc but have preferred MAPpro gas since you could still actually buy real MAPP gas.

But just like cooking barbecue, there's no "right way". If you like cubes, use cubes. If you like soaked towels, use them. That's the great thing about grilling and BBQ. It's all good.

Ellis · October 2012

JeffM you need the High Q grate for the newspaper to work, for the XL you can use the fire grate from the 22 in. webber grill.

Zick · October 2012

I have a looftlighter. Clean and doesn't run out.

DonWW · October 2012

Zick said:

I have a looftlighter. Clean and doesn't run out.

+1. 60 seconds and the first fire is going. Repeat in other areas of the lumps as needed. Love it.

Stargaze · October 2012

I may get the looftlighter at some point but the Weber cubes are pretty cheap and it's so darn easy to put one in the middle of the coal...light it and give it a coal "roof" and it's good to go in a matter of minutes.

Z_Eggineer · October 2012

@Stargaze, can you explain this "roof" concept a little bit more? I want my grill up going as fast as possible with the cubes.

Stargaze said:

I may get the looftlighter at some point but the Weber cubes are pretty cheap and it's so darn easy to put one in the middle of the coal...light it and give it a coal "roof" and it's good to go in a matter of minutes.

SmokeyPitt · October 2012

I call it the coal teepee (tipi?...you know, the native american cone-shaped structure).

I think that is what stargaze is gettin at. Once you get your starters (or oiled napkins or whatever) lit, bridge a few pieces of lump balancing on one another...like a little campfire.

Idea is not to smother the lit fire, but get some lump above it that will burn.

FWIW I still do this even with the MAP torch. I dig a lil hole, get a spot lit, then build a tipi over it.

Here is a good video from Fred's

http://www.fredsmusicandbbq.com/category_s/513.htm

(about 1 minute in).

tjv · October 2012

The bottles last forever....

Only real issue is once in a great while little spiders make a home in the nozzle. Not sure how, but they mess with the ignitor. Quick spider eviction and clean up and you're ready to go again. t

Goodbye fire starters & oil napkins

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