Lighting the lump

Love Handles · February 2003

I've always scooped up the left over lump, added some fresh lump and lit it in a chimney style starter. The hands always get real dirty, which is no big deal, but I'm wondering if I couldn't just stir the left over lump, add some new lump and then use a weber starter cube on top of the lump. Do you think this would take the lump a lot longer to get going or not. See-Yaa

Wise One · February 2003

Love Handles, I basicaly us ethis method and have found it to be fine with two exceptions. If I am going to do a lo'n'slo, I have found I need to clean out the dead lump and make sure all the holes are clear. Likewise when I want a hot fire (750 or so) it pays to have fresh lump.

CR · February 2003

Love Handles, this is exactly how I have been doing it for quite some time and it works fine. Also I have found a Wok ladle(looks like a small shovel about four inches square with a long handle) that is the best for stirring the lump. You can scoop the lump around and kind of fold over; this really gets all the ash and small pieces to fall through the ash grate. Then just add a little more fresh lump for your cook. Once in a while I just let the remaining lump burn-off at high temp to clean the egg and then start again with a new load of all fresh lump.[p]

Car Wash Mike · February 2003

Love Handles,
I personally like to use an electric starter but keep the cubes on hand, just in case.
I think it does take longer using the method you described. I place my starter under the used lump (usually just a couple handfulls), after it gets going good, then add for the type of cook for the day.
A balmy 47 here today.[p]CWM

Steve-O · February 2003

Love Handles,
I always stir the left over lump real well with an ash tool, then add fresh lump to the pile. I used an electric starter until just before Christmas when I got a MAPP gas torch. No way I'm going back to the electric starter - it's hanging on the wall in my basement. The torch has cut in half the time it takes to light the fire and get up to cooking temps.

Love Handles · February 2003

Car Wash Mike,
Last night I tried one of the weber cubes on top of a mixture of used and new lump. I let it go for about 10 min, came out of the house and noticed it wasn't going as good as I expected. I closed the lid and left it alone for a few more minutes with both vents all the way open. In another 10 min when I came back out it was up to 700* I guess that answered my question. Thanks for your reply--See-Yaa

Lighting the lump

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