what's best to start lump charcoal

Ladeback69

I tried to respond, but it is under review.  Guess it won't happen.  Will see.

tarheelmatt

Ladeback69 said:

I tried to respond, but it is under review.  Guess it won't happen.  Will see.

It will never post if you're waiting.  

Type it, save a draft, go to draft and post.  

steventconners20

I use a heat gun that i purchased at HD.  It was a lot chaper then the looftlighter.  I have used electric, propane torch, starters and I find this to be the easiest way.  If you have power that is. 

THEBuckeye

gamason said:

BGE starter blocks. No fuss,cheap and easy!

==========

Do a price comparison with these. You are paying out the wazoo for BGE packaging. 

These look, feel and perform exactly the same. 

http://www.amazon.com/Rutland-Safe-Starter-Squares-144-Square/dp/B00138MO16/ref=sr_1_1/180-6199446-2085634?ie=UTF8&qid=1429810266&sr=8-1&keywords=rutland+fire

THEBuckeye

tarheelmatt said:

I will echo what @BigWader indicated.  I had inconsistent results with those cubes.  

Now, a weeknight cook goes like this: 

1 - Enter garage
2 - Light Egg
3 - Go back in 
4 - Change clothes
5 - Go back to check EGG
6 - Adjust

At point 5 it is usually at or nearing grilling temp.  

Where does cold beer or an iced cocktail fit in??????

tarheelmatt

THEBuckeye said:

tarheelmatt said:

I will echo what @BigWader indicated.  I had inconsistent results with those cubes.  

Now, a weeknight cook goes like this: 

1 - Enter garage
2 - Light Egg
3 - Go back in 
4 - Change clothes
5 - Go back to check EGG
6 - Adjust

At point 5 it is usually at or nearing grilling temp.  

Where does cold beer or an iced cocktail fit in??????

That's where I don't fit in so much here... I am not a drinker of beer nor cocktails.  

I like sweet tea, diet Cheerwine, and diet Sunkist....

jonnymack

I use the electric starter. Thinking about using torch but it works just fine.

TylerA

I use the electric starter as well.  Works great

mahenryak

tarheelmatt said:

THEBuckeye said:

tarheelmatt said:

I will echo what @BigWader indicated.  I had inconsistent results with those cubes.  

Now, a weeknight cook goes like this: 

1 - Enter garage
2 - Light Egg
3 - Go back in 
4 - Change clothes
5 - Go back to check EGG
6 - Adjust

At point 5 it is usually at or nearing grilling temp.  

Where does cold beer or an iced cocktail fit in??????

That's where I don't fit in so much here... I am not a drinker of beer nor cocktails.  

I like sweet tea, diet Cheerwine, and diet Sunkist....

Don't feel  alone Tarheelmatt.  I'm not one to partake in the spirits, either, but  I still really enjoy the whole 'Eggsperience'.  I have a feeling there are probably quite a few folks that post or lurk here that are non-drinkers.  We just don't advertise the fact. 

OP I use the Harbor Freight weed eater and really like it.  You just have to treat it with due respect.  The tip that I received from a forum member that I follow is to not even use the trigger when lighting--think flame thrower.  Protective clothing, including proper eyewear, also recommended.

Ladeback69

steventconners20 said:

I use a heat gun that i purchased at HD.  It was a lot chaper then the looftlighter.  I have used electric, propane torch, starters and I find this to be the easiest way.  If you have power that is. 

@tarheelmatt, this is what I was trying to ask if anyone had used a heat gun instead of the looftlighter.   There is nothing wrong with being a drinker at all.  I don't always partake when I am cooking, but I do have cigar once in a while then a drink with dinner.

@steventconners, how long does it take to get your egg to 400 and on what size egg?  For $20 a heat gun may be worth it.

tfhanson

I use a used loftlighter that my Egg Dealer gave me when I bought the egg.  When that goes, I will switch to the $11 Harbor Freight heatgun.

nysportsfan

Benzomatic weed burner.

THEBuckeye

@tarheelm You're still a good Egg in my book! 

theyolksonyou

Up or down?  

tarheelmatt

THEBuckeye said:

@tarheelm You're still a good Egg in my book! 

Hahah.. thanks man. 

Chubbs

I use fire 

msloan

looftlighter for me.

blukat

I also use the BGE wax starter cubes.  I may need to check the Looflighter again.

Focker

Keep Rutland starters next to the door. 

bgebrent

Boring but i use electric starter and it works very well.  

AuditDawg

Long-time lurker, first-time commenter. It may be lame, but I typically stuff two or three Diamond Strike-a-Fire matches that I get from my local Publix in the lump and light like the BGE wax starters. Seems to work well for me.

sctdg

I like the Veggie oil soaked paper towel .I use it a lot especially when it is real cold out .Don't like using torch around ice cold egg ,afraid of too much temperature difference at once and what it might do to egg.

anton

Mapp torch for me, durable as hell, long lasting tank.

moo4me

Either use the fire starter blocks which I usually cut into 4ths and and start at two different spots, or otherwise I just grab 2-3 Doritos (or any other chip with a little grease on them). Make a little Teepee with the Doritos and once you have some flame from the chips stack a few pieces of lump on the flame. Once lit, have a few more chips while enjoying a cold IPA, and in no time you're in business.

I actually find this method faster than the electric starter method. 

Jstroke

I use the 20 dollar weed burner in two steps i hit once with old lump or a little new lump and then add more lump and give it another quick blast. This way i get top and bottom of the pile. Five minutes im at 350 400. Now low and slow i just give it a quick blast and let it come up slow. Im impatient by nature. And i like effeciency. It was an was an easy decision. 

Mattman3969

I just roll up a couple of Benjamins and light em up....

MrWilliams

I use BGE starter cubes or paper towel with some oil.  I also set my phone timer for 7 minutes so i don't forget to close down the draft door and come back to a 700 degree egg.
Planning on getting a weed burner so i can light the egg and go burn some weeds.  That seems like fun to me!!

Backyard Mike

Mattman3969 said:

I just roll up a couple of Benjamins and light em up....

I like to soak the Benjamins in some Hennessy VSOP before lighting them. 5 or 6 gets the fire going. 

Jstroke

I tried Benjamin's but they left a funny taste.

ceramic_cooker

Ladeback69 said:

I tried to respond, but it is under review.  Guess it won't happen.  Will see.

I agree that the easiest and cheapest way is to use a heat gun.