mapp gas problems?

mike

has anyone ever experienced a problem using a mapp torch with the egg? I've got a large... My father in law purchased me a push button start mapp torch and I used it last night for the first time and it sure seemed to take a lot of hassle out of staring the egg (I was using a chimney) and speed things up.... just dump some lump in and fire it up... any negative aspects of using this thing?

mad max beyond eggdome

mike,
i use mapp exclusively to light my large and small eggs. . .i don't use a chimney, just put the lump in the firebox and hold the mapp on there for about 30 seconds, and presto. .. [p]nice thing about using mapp is that you can light specific spots in your lump if you want to (i guess you can do the same thing with 'cubes' by placing them in certain spots as well). . but when i want to do a low and slo, i light one spot near the back of the egg, stabilize at, say, 250, and then the fire will work its way around the firebox over the duration of your cook. .. [p]if you want a hot fire, simply light 2 or 3 different spots around your load. .. . [p]one thing, with certain lump, watch out for the sparks flying. .. .

Fairalbion

mike,
I would just second the caution about sparks - these are especially prevalent if you are lighting fresh lump. Otherwise, no downsides that I can think of.

Smokin Joe

mad max beyond eggdome, Question - when you load you lump for a lo-n-slo and use the mapp gas do you load a little into the fire box first, light it and then load up the rest (so the fire burns from the bottom up)? - OR - do you load the fire box up completely and light the top (back in your description) and let in burn top down? Is there a better/best way?
I'm all for a simpler way to do things and right now I'm using the BGE fire starter squares and in most cases loading the firebox and lighting 2 squares (one back & one front) to get the coals lit. The coals burn from bottom to top. Your guidance is welcome! Thanks!!! Joe

tach18k

Smokin Joe,
I light mine in a triangluar fashion. Three spots for about 45 seonds, thats all. Either lo and slo or full tilt I light the same way.

mad max beyond eggdome

Smokin Joe,
i don't know if my way is best, maybe just the laziest. .. .whether i'm going lo and slo or trex searing, i always start with a full load of lump (about halfway up the fire ring, unless i'm aiming for a really long cook, like 20 hours +, then i go about 3/4 up the fire ring). . .then i simply find a spot between a couple of pieces of lump and hit with the torch. .. usually the torch flame will work its way down through a couple of layers, but i'm still lighting from the top. . .[p]again, my only difference between going lo and high is how many spots i light initially. . .if i light 3 spots and open the vents, i'll still be at over 750 degrees in about 15 minutes. . .[p]also, when setting up for a lo and slo, and i want wood in the fire, i'll take 2 or 3 big chunks of wood (say, hickory) and place them in the 3 different spots around the fire box so that they light and burn at different times during the cook. . ..seems to work pretty well . . .[p]i'm sure, as always, that others will chime in with different techniques that work for them. . .

Love Handles

mike,
I used to just kinda laugh off all the concern with the sparks, till one day I was standing there enjoying all the sparks and suddenly felt a burning sensation around my left ankle. Well, one of the sparks had set my levis on fire. Burnt a hole completely through them. It only hurt for a little while, but sure made for some laughing from my friends. So be careful. See-Yaa

Nature Boy

Smokin Joe,
I usually like to start with a small pile of firey coals that I spread out, then dump new lump on top. However, when I get lazy and light the fire in top, it always seems to burn straight down anyways. [p]I guess what I am saying is that I could be wasting my time. Fires seem to do just as well when lit on top....though I have no scientific data to back this obeservation! [p]Beeers!
Chris

Gene

mike,Mine came with one mapp and one regular canister of Gas. Someone said the regular gas does just fine and is a lot cheaper. I still use the Webber cubes because of the sparks with mapp Gas.

Bordello

Gene,
I'm used to sparks, I used to steam clean shopping carts and repair the store equipment using an ark welder. I've had burns on most parts of my body and lots of holes in my clothes. So for me, it's business as usual, only later in life and I'm not getting paid for it. (but it's a lot more fun)[p]LOL
I used to have to spray muriatic acid and walk through the cloud holding my breath and the sting of the acid on the face was something to experience. Then there is the asbestos I had to remove in the plant to replace the ammonia pipes.[p]I'm probably a walking dead man but will egg to the end. ÜÜÜ[p]Now,
Let the sparks fly.[p]Cheers,
New Bob
HeeHeee
I didn't mention all the oil and gas on my hands working at the gas station or all the pesticides that I have poured on my skin while trying to mix em. Hmmmm, think I need a drink, oppppssss that's one I won't talk about. ÜÜÜ