Learned something new last n ight.

MickeyT

Before I cook, I normally stir my lump around with my grid lifter then light. Last night I did something different. Opened up my lid and lit the lump (without stirring) where the hot parts of the fire were. easy to see. This indicated to me the air flow. I lit that in three spots with my Mapp torch. 5 minutes later, 450 degrees.[p]Wild. Going to try it again tonight to make sure it wasn't a fluke.[p]Mick

Sigmore

MickeyT, It wasn't a fluke. Read about that here or another forum.

djm5x9

MT:[p]For grilling: Light first, regardless of fire starter or torch with vents wide open. Once it is going good, give it a stir or three to sift ashes and mix the lump. Then add more lump based on the cook and adjust the vents for your desired temperatures.[p]For low and slow cooks it is a clean firebox with a fresh lump foundation and a few second generation lump chunks to start the fire off.[p]Just some basic thoughts on a very important subject.

wdan

MickeyT,
Have had the same experiences. But sooner or later you do have to pay the piper and clean out the ash...you'll know when you got your vents wide open and you can't hit 300 in the dome.[p]The tricky part is knowing when that sub-300 moment will come. If I had a quick cook the last time and I'm feeling a tad lazy or otherwise in a rush, I'll add a bit more lump and light her off. I've gotten away with it many times. There have been other times too, however, when I can't get it warm enough to melt candle wax. There is a lot of variability in the ash content of at least the lump I use. This is the wild card in play here.