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Propane Torch lighting

This is the way to light the egg in a hurry for sure!  If you really want to see a sight, hit the trigger and watch the lump light up!  Who else lights their egg with one of these? 

My brother got me the one shown in the link below.  So far, I love it!  A lot better than the starter cube (BGE starter cubes). 

http://www.harborfreight.com/propane-torch-with-push-button-igniter-91037.html

Question for those that are familiar.  How long do you generally leave the torch at your lump for a short cook (say grilled chicken, steaks, chops)?  How long for a long cook (butts).  Also, when you light the lump and have a good fire going, do you close the lid (like after the 10min or so for a starter cube to burn) or do you leave the lid open for 10 min or so then close the lid? 

Yesterday, I closed the lid after I shut the torch off and seemed to work out. 
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Thomasville, NC
My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
Instagram
Facebook
My Photography Site

Comments

  • Why not cook your steaks with the torch?
    CC, TX
    1 Small, 1 Large, BGE Lump... and a lot of love.
  • warwoman
    warwoman Posts: 279

    If it's the propane one, I've used that myself. A lot of folks here use the MEPPS torch, as they say it get's hotter. I may try one of those, but their more expensive.

    I have a connector that allows me to hook up the small propane bottle to a larger tank and refill it to some extent. Just be careful of putting the small tank too close to a heat source. I read a story recently where one lady did that and it blew up on her and caused serious injury to her.

    I very rarely use the torch now, opting for the plug in starter. However, if we ever lose electricity, which has happened up here, I have the torch to fall back on. I guaran-damn-tee you I wouldn't even think of putting lighter fluid in my Mean Green Cookin' Machine!!

    From the NE Georgia Mountains! Me, SWMBO, and two spoiled ass Springers!
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    edited January 2014
    warwoman said:

    If it's the propane one, I've used that myself. A lot of folks here use the MEPPS torch, as they say it get's hotter. I may try one of those, but their more expensive.

    I have a connector that allows me to hook up the small propane bottle to a larger tank and refill it to some extent. Just be careful of putting the small tank too close to a heat source. I read a story recently where one lady did that and it blew up on her and caused serious injury to her.

    I very rarely use the torch now, opting for the plug in starter. However, if we ever lose electricity, which has happened up here, I have the torch to fall back on. I guaran-damn-tee you I wouldn't even think of putting lighter fluid in my Mean Green Cookin' Machine!!

    I got this one to avoid putting the tank near the heat source. Love it!

    image

    OP...takes me about 60 seconds to get it lit...then I close my egg, open the vent, and leave off the daisy wheel. Fire is typically ready to go in 15-20 minutes for 400 degree cooks.
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,698
    Just having fun. Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). 

  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,698
    Ok, this is how 99% of the time in the two Larges. For the Mini I use the sissy Map. Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). 

  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 9,867
    @Mickey - It was a lot of fun to light for sure.  I was a little apprehensive to get mine going like yours in your first picture, but was like that only smaller.  My back deck is covered and I was afraid to catch something on fire, lol. 

    @Warwomen - The torch is well away.  There is a nice long line on that model so I keep my propane tank a nice distance from the egg. 

    The discussion if one gas is hotter than another... Meh.. It gets pretty dang hot with standard propane!  Look at @Mickey picture.  It does not take long to get the fire up and going with standard propance.  Heck, if it is quicker than the other then I see no fun in it...




    :O)
    ------------------------------
    Thomasville, NC
    My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
    Instagram
    Facebook
    My Photography Site
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    Mickey said:

    For the Mini I use the sissy Map

    =)) You're not right lol
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 9,867
    margareedaville - Lol... Guess you could.  I am sure someone has tried it and posted a YouTube video about it. 
    ------------------------------
    Thomasville, NC
    My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
    Instagram
    Facebook
    My Photography Site
  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 9,867
    cazzy said:
    For the Mini I use the sissy Map
    =)) You're not right lol
    Lol... For sure! 
    ------------------------------
    Thomasville, NC
    My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
    Instagram
    Facebook
    My Photography Site
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,698
    edited January 2014
    Look at the bottom of the handle. Burnt the crap out of it trying to light with weed burner. Have to use Mapp. image
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). 

  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 9,867
    @Mickey - Do you close the lid after you have the coals looking like picture 2 or do you leave lid up for a little while then close the lid?

    ------------------------------
    Thomasville, NC
    My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
    Instagram
    Facebook
    My Photography Site
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,698
    @Mickey - Do you close the lid after you have the coals looking like picture 2 or do you leave lid up for a little while then close the lid?

    Close
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). 

  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,293
    Weed burner all the way!
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
  • warwoman
    warwoman Posts: 279

    I have one of those "weed burners" that attaches to a regular BBQ propane tank. They used to call them "pear burners" in South Texas, cause they would use them to burn the needles off of cactus so the cattle could eat them. Greatest thing for an icy driveway, but you don't want to use it for that too often.....heat meets cold...sometimes cracks!!

    I've used them to kill fire ants, weeds, and unfortunately SWMBO's Dahlias and hydrangeas.

    From the NE Georgia Mountains! Me, SWMBO, and two spoiled ass Springers!
  • dlk7
    dlk7 Posts: 1,053
    I use the bernzamatic TS8000 with Mapp gas so I can pinpoint my lighting area.  I light only where I'm cooking since I usually only cook for two on my XL. 

    Two XL BGEs - So Happy!!!!

    Waunakee, WI

  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 18,943

    The weed burner makes short work of lighting the egg. Barely a couple of minutes with the weed burner gets it going very well.

     

    @WeberWho? : Where did you get the adapter to attach your weed burner to the little tank? Is that the fill adapter to refill small tanks from the big bbq tanks? I would love to not have to lug my big tank around to light the eggs. 


    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • ReldtiCDN
    ReldtiCDN Posts: 142
    edited January 2014
    cazzy said:

    If it's the propane one, I've used that myself. A lot of folks here use the MEPPS torch, as they say it get's hotter. I may try one of those, but their more expensive.

    I have a connector that allows me to hook up the small propane bottle to a larger tank and refill it to some extent. Just be careful of putting the small tank too close to a heat source. I read a story recently where one lady did that and it blew up on her and caused serious injury to her.

    I very rarely use the torch now, opting for the plug in starter. However, if we ever lose electricity, which has happened up here, I have the torch to fall back on. I guaran-damn-tee you I wouldn't even think of putting lighter fluid in my Mean Green Cookin' Machine!!

    I got this one to avoid putting the tank near the heat source. Love it! OP...takes me about 60 seconds to get it lit...then I close my egg, open the vent, and leave off the daisy wheel. Fire is typically ready to go in 15-20 minutes for 400 degree cooks.
    Just opened this one on christmas morning sure helped in melting the 3inches of ICE off my egg cover which put my egg in lockdown as I wouldn't chance chipping the ice off. This allowed the turkey for dinner to be egged and not done in the oven. SWMBO appreciated that.
    Brampton, Ontario



  • Cookinbob
    Cookinbob Posts: 1,691
    I got a MAP torch (Bernzomatic) for Christmas.  Have used it twice.  Much easier than the chimney I have been using up until now..  I am lighting in a couple of spots for less than 2 minutes total. So far only low and slow cooks, it is taking about 15 minutes to get the temp up to 225-250, though outside temp has been only 10 degrees or so.
    XLBGE, Small BGE, Homebrew and Guitars
    Rochester, NY
  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,293
    edited January 2014
    @caliking

    My Dad was sick of me dragging the bbq tank around for eggfests, camping, tailgating, bonfires, to his house, etc. He's a mechanical engineer by trade so he threw it up on AutoCad for the design and machined it down in his shop. He joked about making them and selling them. Who knows.
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
  • I use this....love it. You can use propane or MAPP. Been using propane thus far and it works great.

    image
    http://www.amazon.com/Bernzomatic-19425-Self-Igniting-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00008ZA0F/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

    Battle Ground, WA
    Large BGE,  MiniMax  and a Vision Kub.
    Could you call on Lady Day, could you call on John Coltrane?
  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 18,943
    @WeberWho? - If the cost is not too high, I would be interested in buying an adapter for myself. Do you think he would be game to make another one? I could throw in some rubs or sauces to sweeten the deal :)

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,293
    @caliking

    Not sure what pricing would be like since it's handmade. I think he was joking about making more but I could ask next time I talk with him
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
  • I see a group buy coming!!
    LBGE 2013, SBGE 2014, Mini 2015
    Columbus IN
  • A standard heat gun works just fine for me.  Little more control, but by the looks, the heat gun is much less fun. 

    :D
  • bud812
    bud812 Posts: 1,869
    I use this....love it. You can use propane or MAPP. Been using propane thus far and it works great.

    image
    http://www.amazon.com/Bernzomatic-19425-Self-Igniting-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00008ZA0F/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

    +1 on this. I got it at Lowes.

    Not to get technical, but according to chemistry alcohol is a solution...

    Large & Small BGE

    Stockton Ca.

  • I use propane, both a weed burner and a small torch whichever is necessary.
    Hate to break it to you guys but MAPP gas actually isn't produced anymore. Did you notice the tanks are marketed as "MAP/Pro"? It propylene now, still works great.
  • RV10Flyer
    RV10Flyer Posts: 140
    I use the same weed burner as the OP and I love it.  Yesterday I found an opened box of BGE starter cubes.  I decided to polish off the box since there were only two left.  I couldn't get the damn things to light due to the wind.  I grabbed the weed burner and pulled a @Mickey and lit their a$$ up with a huge burst of flames.  Man that was fun.

    @tarheelmatt, I leave the burner on the lump for about a minute.  It doesn't take long.  If it is a low and slow I close the lid and adjust the vents as needed.  If I'm wanting a higher temp, I leave the lid open for about 5 minutes to let the fire spread to more of the lump.


    North Texas

    XL and Small BGE

  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 9,867
    @MacKay52 - I thought I read that the MAPP gas is no longer available.  People claim hotter than propane, but if they saw the force of the torch I have when the trigger is pressed it does not matter! 

    @RV10Flyer - Thanks.  I did some grilled chicken and wanted to cook around 400° - 450° direct.  I held the torch to the lump for a while to get a larger area of burning lump.  It did very well. 
    ------------------------------
    Thomasville, NC
    My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
    Instagram
    Facebook
    My Photography Site
  • 500
    500 Posts: 3,180
    I use the Harbor Freight weed burner, on a standard 20lb. tank.  I store the tank, burner, and other Eggcessories in an aluminum pickup truck bed box on the deck next to the Egg.  I don't use the turbo mode on it for lighting.  I regulate the gas flow depending on whether I'm doing low and slow, mid heat for normal cooks, and crank it for steaks.  After I run it for about 90 seconds or so, I hit the lump with the Air Grill inflator;  http://www.air-grill.com/index.html.  Together, its short work getting the fire going.  I generally close it up soon after and its up to temp in no time.
    I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled.
    Member since 2009