Fire Starting: Paper Towel + Vegetable Oil Review

wpendlegg

I ran out of my little Weber Paraffin cubes so it was time to whip up a roll of oily rags.

Put some paper towels rolled up to fit in a coffee can + 1 cup of vegetable oil.

The results? WAY better than lighter cubes. Laid a sheet out flat with some lump on top and I had a much better starting fire, much quicker. Sure, a torch is cool, but this was super cheap and super easy.

I'll tell you all one thing: I'm not paying $4 for a pack of lighter cubes again.

wpendlegg

Oh yeah -- Making some chicken Fajitas tonight. I'll put a post up later. Tomorrow is pork tenderloin with Mickey's Coffee Rub and garden grown veggies.

BYS1981

I save bacon fat, used oil, etc, and all work great for starting a fire.

dweebs0r

If you leave the paper towels in the can for a couple of days, the oil "dries" into the towels and its much less messy.

caliking

I made up a can of these once and was not too impressed. I prefer the weedburner. Gets the job done in barely a minute.

Tjcoley

If you run out of paper towels and oil, some crumbled up potato chips also work.

marysvilleegger

Just made up a batch yesterday. Added bonus... 5 year old daughter had a blast helping daddy rip and roll the paper towel She mentioned she needed an egg for herself so I could make dinner on my XL and she could make dessert on hers (proud daddy here!).

chashans

wpendlegg said:

I ran out of my little Weber Paraffin cubes so it was time to whip up a roll of oily rags.

Put some paper towels rolled up to fit in a coffee can + 1 cup of vegetable oil.

The results? WAY better than lighter cubes. Laid a sheet out flat with some lump on top and I had a much better starting fire, much quicker. Sure, a torch is cool, but this was super cheap and super easy.

I'll tell you all one thing: I'm not paying $4 for a pack of lighter cubes again.

How many to fit in a coffee can? Loosely or tightly rolled? Leave them stored in the can with a lid on or off?  Pictures?  Great idea...thanks!

marysvilleegger

I roll mine tight. I use a small Tupperware container with lid. Probably fit 30 in there. I use 3 at a time to light for direct.

anzyegg

I wouldn't worry about the $4.00 for starter cubes. Have you seen the meat prices or bacon prices lately???? Although it is a good idea to save where you can.

chashans

marysvilleegger said:

I roll mine tight. I use a small Tupperware container with lid. Probably fit 30 in there. I use 3 at a time to light for direct.

Got it...thank you!

wpendlegg

What @marysvillegger said is pretty much it. I got 2-3 dozen in there. I folded them in half length wise because I was using a small can.

2-3 dozen dowels, rolled up

1 cup vegetable oil

Coffee can.

Good to go.

If you don't like the way it works you are officially out 87 cents and 4 minutes of your time :-)

wpendlegg

Here is a pic

chashans

wpendlegg said:

What @marysvillegger said is pretty much it. I got 2-3 dozen in there. I folded them in half length wise because I was using a small can.

2-3 dozen dowels, rolled up

1 cup vegetable oil

Coffee can.

Good to go.

If you don't like the way it works you are officially out 87 cents and 4 minutes of your time :-)

Aye...now I see it. Great idea thanks!

HogHeaven

I've always used an electric fire starter. You can buy them for $19 and they last for years. I stack some lump over the top of the metal loop and it takes about 10 minutes to get the fire going in the middle of the firebox. I think it is easiest and cheapest way to go. http://www.amazon.com/Charcoal-Companion-Electric-Starter/dp/B000GFP1TO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1404018418&sr=8-3&keywords=electric+fire+starter

stemc33

.

stemc33

HogHeaven said:

I've always used an electric fire starter. You can buy them for $19 and they last for years. I stack some lump over the top of the metal loop and it takes about 10 minutes to get the fire going in the middle of the firebox. I think it is easiest and cheapest way to go.

http://www.amazon.com/Charcoal-Companion-Electric-Starter/dp/B000GFP1TO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1404018418&sr=8-3&keywords=electric+fire+starter

Might be the easiest for you, but tripping over an extension cord sucks. Unfortunately, I seem to trip over every cord and hose in my path. It's just best if I avoid as many obstacles as possible.

Desertegghead

If you could find a canister to hold it could you just use a whole roll of paper towels and pour the oil over it?

caliking

I've tried this in the past and was underwhelmed. Weedburner wins.

qprhooligan

Rutland fire cubes are my favorite fire starters.

RRP

qprhooligan said:

Rutland fire cubes are my favorite fire starters.

mine too...I bought a case of 24 in a carton with 24 in a box for $.50 per box at the end of one "grilling season" - yup that was 576 fires for $12. LOL

fishlessman

papertowel fan here as well, have burnt out a propane torch, 2 mapp torches, still use my weedburner but its a hassle to bring the weedburner and forty pound pig back and forth to camp every weekend.
) its the way to go with a mini, roll then fold the towel, light the end, and push it thru the lower vent fire first, seems to light better that way than putting the towel thru the lower vent and then lighting. i dont find the weedburner to be that much faster than the towell method

SmokeyPitt

I've been using coconut oil.  It is probably not the cheapest oil, but it burns really hot.  It isn't too messy and the other nice thing is it is not a bad smell so it's no biggie if it gets on you.  I don't do it ahead of time I just spear a glob on a 1/2 paper towel, roll loosely, and light. 

sumoconnell

I found a use for my side burner...fits a chimney perfectly. it's natural gas, never runs out.

Skiddymarker

The thing I liked about paper towels and oil was that it was free. Always have some used oil around the house and paper towels are ideal to wipe out a skillet before washing. Store the "oil and paper towel garbage" in a mason jar or coffee can until needed. 

Have used electric for last 10 years or so. I have an outlet within a foot of the egg, no extension cord is needed. For those that use electrics (assuming 500-600 watt), strongly suggest no more than 8 minutes for first burn lump, no more than 6 minutes for second burn lump. Once the lump gets going, it burns so hot it will burn out the starter in no time. 

GQuiz

But the electric starter bends so pretty when you leave it in too long

Skiddymarker

GQuiz said:

But the electric starter bends so pretty when you leave it in too long

Not going to ask how you know this having been there done that. 

jaydub58

I originally staarted with an electric starter, ala Big Green recommendations, but, along with the extension cord issue, I didn't always have a handy place to set it down while it was still hot!

TexanOfTheNorth

SmokeyPitt said:

I've been using coconut oil.  It is probably not the cheapest oil, but it burns really hot.  It isn't too messy and the other nice thing is it is not a bad smell so it's no biggie if it gets on you.  I don't do it ahead of time I just spear a glob on a 1/2 paper towel, roll loosely, and light. 

Works great for massages too.

stemc33

Skiddymarker said:

The thing I liked about paper towels and oil was that it was free. Always have some used oil around the house and paper towels are ideal to wipe out a skillet before washing. Store the "oil and paper towel garbage" in a mason jar or coffee can until needed. 

Have used electric for last 10 years or so. I have an outlet within a foot of the egg, no extension cord is needed. For those that use electrics (assuming 500-600 watt), strongly suggest no more than 8 minutes for first burn lump, no more than 6 minutes for second burn lump. Once the lump gets going, it burns so hot it will burn out the starter in no time. 

I want free oil and paper towels. Definitely could go for the free paper towels. Are you talking free as you recycle them and use the old ones for the fire?

Wldrup

I reuse the paper towels I use to clean the coffee pot, wipe the counters etc.  They go in an old plastic Costco peanut jar with some cheap cooking oil.  Works great, gives the paper towels a second use and since I only use reasonably clean towels I can also use them to pre-oil the cast iron grate before I light em up.