Heat gun failure - need tips

pretzelb

After reading a bit here I decided to try a $35 1500w Porter Cable Heat gun as my main source to light my XL. The first time it seemed to work great. Then I added new lump for a rib cook and it failed miserably. I couldn't get anything to light no matter what I did. After over 15 minutes I soaked some paper towels in oil and lite them and finally got my lump to light. I could hear crackling but no matter what I tried the heat gun never seemed to get the lump going. Can anyone share their methods or tips?

loveTheEgg

Loof Lighter!!

SGH

@pretzelb
Weed burner my friend. You can almost set water on fire with it. There is nothing better and you can also use it to clean your plate setter when all else fails.

SJ21XDC

I'll second the Loof Lighter.  I've only lit my egg three times so far, but took no longer than 2 minutes each time!

td66snrf

Mapp gas

tksmoke

+5 for the Weed burner.  I've used paraffin starter cubes, graduated to the Looftlighter, which is way better, but the weed burner using MAP gas is in a totally different league.  I use a $10 Map gas cylinder which is very portable, and the last one ran for 4 months, lighting 3-4 times a week.  They are for sale at Amazon $38 - here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Bernzomatic-19425-Self-Igniting-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00008ZA0F/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1400473637&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=Weed+torch+bernza  Free shipping with Prime.  There is no question about lighting, ever.  Light as much or as little as you want, depending on the type of cook. 

I put this in the same class as the Thermapen - there are other things that do the same job; this is the one to have.

johnkitchens

I also use a 1,500 watt Porter Cable heat gun. I have had no problems at all lighting my lump with it. 

I am using Rockwood lump, but it shouldn't matter. I know this is a stupid question, but you did have the gun dialed in for the highest temp didn't you? 

If your gun is like mine I can control the heat. On the lowest setting it is almost like a hair dryer. It would never start lump like that. 

When I light my lump I turn the gun to the highest setting and let the end of the gun touch the lump, and I just leave it there for about a minute. 

By then I have a lot red sparks, and then I back it up a few inches and that is it. My fire is burning hot. 

If you had your gun on high then I think your gun has failed you! 

pretzelb

I had it on high heat but I ran the low fan speed. I was holding the gun about an inch away but near the end I was practically touching the lump. I didn't want to block the air flow thinking the gun could overheat. The weed burner just scares me. I might go back to the wax starters.

SmokeyPitt

I suppose you might try the high fan speed as well.  If that doesn't work perhaps the gun simply isn't getting hot enough.  Perhaps you could use a thermometer (like the dome thermo) to see how hot it is?  

Charcoal_Addict

You might just have a lemon. How long ago did you buy your heat gun? A MAPP torch will get the Job done. If you need a cheaper option for a Looftlighter there's a better design Looflighter knock off here.

http://www.thegardengates.com/Kamado-Joe-Blow-Lighter-p31006.aspx

johnkitchens

pretzelb said:

I had it on high heat but I ran the low fan speed. I was holding the gun about an inch away but near the end I was practically touching the lump. I didn't want to block the air flow thinking the gun could overheat. The weed burner just scares me. I might go back to the wax starters.

Turn it on the highest heat it will go to and put the fan on the highest setting. I actually have the end of my gun touch the lump. 

Trust me. If you do it this way it WILL light! As soon as you get one coal red then back it off a couple of inches and you have a nice roaring fire. 

If I ruin my gun so be it. Like Frank Sinatra said I am doing it My Way! 

henapple

I used to turn mine on high and lay it in the lump...best not done unless sober and don't if you're distracted by shiny objects.

fishlessman

henapple said:

I used to turn mine on high and lay it in the lump...best not done unless sober and don't if you're distracted by shiny objects.

thats how i cought 2 mapp torch heads on fire, beer caps should not be so shiny

pretzelb

henapple said:

I used to turn mine on high and lay it in the lump...best not done unless sober and don't if you're distracted by shiny objects.

That's why I'm avoiding the mapp torch or weed burner.

So I tried it twice more and the results were better. Seems like the newer the lump the more difficult it becomes (I use Ozark Oak right now). 

Today I did a brisket and I put a big layer of new lump on top of some left over lump. I put the gun right on a piece of new lump (low fan but high heat) and just held it there for over a minute. Then I would move it to another spot in the same area (about a few inches away) to get a different angle. I did this a few times and just when I thought it wasn't going to work I saw a slight glow. I then just turned the gun on that glow from different angles to make sure it was hot.

The strange thing is that I think it started an older piece of lump that was under the top layer. So it's good that I got it working, I'm not sure if this is something that will work with all new lump. 

xiphoid007

Love my looft lighter. I've had my grill up to 600 in 10 minutes.