fire starters

There are a lot of ways to start the fire. Crushed up potato chips work as well as starter cubes. Some are better than others. My issue with the starter cubes is if you close the lid too soon, you get a lot of bad smelling smoke. Never tried oil direct on the lump, but many are successful with alcohol sprayed on the lump then lit. I've used and abandoned starter cubes and the electric starter. I'm currently using the oil soaked paper towels, prepared ahead of time in a Tupperware container. There are a lot of Mapp torch users here as well. Many ways to go.

I use a chimney starter and have a small pump thing in the kitchen for spritzing oil and I just use that to quickly blast a paper towel to light the chimney.  I usually just light it, lid down, vents open and walk away for 5 minutes tops and it's roaring when I come back.  Never takes long.

I use Rutland starters as well. I didn't know you could get them at Tractor Supply though. I've been getting ripped off at Amazon. Thanks for the tip @SGH‌.

@victor1‌ , This always starts a good little debate about lighting methods when the topic comes up. Your actual question will get lost in the mess of traffic about preferred lighting methods and how somebody's method is better than the next guys.

As far as lighting lump with oil squirted directly on it seems like it would be more trouble than it's worth. I just don't think it would take off compared to a paper towel. The paper towel soaked in oil acts like a wick in a candle and let's the paper towel burn slower and longer than just the paper towel it's self.

I kind of look at it like using a tire to start a brush fire. The tire burns great, but your not gonna start it on fire by holding just a lighter to it. Actually, a better example might be looking at how a fire started with small kindling is easier than trying to hold a match to log. Even if you were to use an accelerant such as gasoline. The kindling will take off, the log may not take off it the accelerant burns off too quickly.

Now to fuel the fire of this thread, I must advise on the best method of lighting the egg. Well, maybe I won't feed the animal. Seriously though, if you get lump to light with just oil, let's us know so people can quit wasting money on paper towels.

Has anyone tried the Looflighter?

Say hello to my little friend....makes the mini a little hard to find though

I was a starter cube guy then moved to oil soaked paper towel and that's where I reside now. 

johnkitchens said:

I used to use starter cubes. I then switched to an oil soaked paper towel. I then switched to rubbing alcohol. 

Now I am using a heat gun. At the moment I like the heat gun the best. It is the easiest and the fastest. 

yeah..but I'm a gas guy

@bcsnave You are indeed a gas guy.  :-\"