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Best way to start a fire!
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Comments
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Consider the heat gun. It works extremely well and is about $60 less.
Good to hear. The majority of reviews have been great as well. I'm going to pick one up. Thanks.
XL,L,SWinston-Salem, NC -
Just out of curiosity, for those who use a torch, how long do you hold it at one spot? Do you hold it there for less than a minute until the charcoal is red and crackling or longer (2-3 minutes) until a brisk flame is going by itself?
about 15-20 seconds per spot...
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I use an electric starter. Maybe because it is how I remember my dad starting his weber. It might not be as fancy as some of the other stuff, but it gets the job done just fine. It also only cost me $10.
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Just out of curiosity, for those who use a torch, how long do you hold it at one spot? Do you hold it there for less than a minute until the charcoal is red and crackling or longer (2-3 minutes) until a brisk flame is going by itself?
1-1½ minutes when i need more than one spot, and round 2-3 minutes in the middel for low and slow. -
Wow mowgli...that's a long time to stand there holding the torch. I go for 20 seconds or less per spot, leave lid open for a few minutes it's good to go.
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I am new at this (as you may be able to tell from my post count) but I use the same method I used in my offset smoker for a couple years. A cheap propane torch on a single, albeit larger, piece of lump in the center/top of the pile. Takes about 30 seconds tops. The fire spreads nice and slow from there.
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I spray down the inside with lighter fluid and then use a bic lighter. It gives off that great taste and removes all the hair from my knuckles!
Normally an electric starter. When the wife steals my extension cord I go for the easy paper towel and veg oil.
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I am a fan of the paper towel with a little bit of vegetable oil on it. Depending on my target temp, I will leave the dome open longer for higher temp, and close it after the smoke from the towel disappears for lower temps.
I always just like a small spot in the center, it seems to spread fast enough for high heat sears. By the time I get done prepping the food, getting all the utensils gathered up, and explaining to the neighbors what this big green thing is ;-), it is ready to go.
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Wow mowgli...that's a long time to stand there holding the torch. I go for 20 seconds or less per spot, leave lid open for a few minutes it's good to go.
I asked the question because I was wondering if I could get away with a shorter duration. Like Mowgli, I've been holding at each spot for at least 1 - 1.5 minutes until a good flame was going. Shorter duration would mean less sparks burning my skin and shirts.
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I use the BGE cubes or a Mapp torch.
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Wow mowgli...that's a long time to stand there holding the torch. I go for 20 seconds or less per spot, leave lid open for a few minutes it's good to go.
Hmmm well - it worksBut I am always open for new ideas, so I will give it a go with 20 sec. next time.(I am rather new at this, so I am still learning ) -
BGE starter cubes. I cut each cube in 4 parts. 1 pack gives me 96 pieces for 8$cdn.____________________Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage. •Niccolo Machiavelli
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Thanks all I think I'm going to try the cubes first and then maybe my Matco heat gun!
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I have used nearly all of the above. Started with wax cubes, tried paper towel with oil, keep 91% alcohol on the table, have a mapp torch and use them all. They are all easy and effective. Oh yeah forgot I also use a chimney occasionally since I still have an old gasser with side burner, just light the chimney on side burner. I really don't have a favorite.
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The egg dealership by my house is owned by two brothers one uses cubes the other uses an electric starter.
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Light saber, but if the batteries are dead, then I use the VT-1-32 C Mini Dragon by Flame Engineering......
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I use my heat gun if I'm out of starter cubes. I've used both weber cubes and rutland fire starters. I like the webers because they light super fast and they are cheap. However, I like the rutlands better because they burn longer and get my fire going better.Mark Annville, PA
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For those of you who use the paper towells soaked in veg oil then twisted, ever try making a bunch and keeping them in a plastic bag or other storage container? When I use them I make just two or three for the fire I"m starting, but it would be just as easy to make a bunch at once. The only downside to them is the mess of making them in my opinion.
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For those of you who use the paper towells soaked in veg oil then twisted, ever try making a bunch and keeping them in a plastic bag or other storage container? When I use them I make just two or three for the fire I"m starting, but it would be just as easy to make a bunch at once. The only downside to them is the mess of making them in my opinion.
Sounds the same for me, but my hands are already messy setting up the charcoal. I just wash them after I get it lit. I have medical nitrile gloves. I should start using them for set up. That being said starter cubes are on my list to get. -
shouldn't be any mess with the paper napkins/oil.
'soaking' in oil is overkill. shouldn't be soaking. just a light drizzle.
i twist them tight, and there is little or no dripping. should be translucent. it isn't the oil that burns. and it ain't the paper. it's the oil-n-paper
ed egli avea del cul fatto trombetta -Dante -
shouldn't be any mess with the paper napkins/oil.
'soaking' in oil is overkill. shouldn't be soaking. just a light drizzle.
i twist them tight, and there is little or no dripping. should be translucent. it isn't the oil that burns. and it ain't the paper. it's the oil-n-paper
I will try it with less, sounds like I will still get adequate burn time. Thanks for the tip. -
Heat gun is the way to go I bought mine from harbor frieght for $14.00
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I have used the BGE starter cubes, electric starters and the chimney starter but I prefer my MAPP torch. Just don't wear your Sunday best while lighting as they can shoot out some pretty good sparks!
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MAPP gas torch. I can light my large egg in about a minute and a half. A bottle will last a long time....at least for me....and it is inexpensive.My body is in Atlanta but my mind is on a sunny, warm beach..........
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@newportlocal: this is all i use
in fact, this is maybe more than i use. you just want the paper to be translucent, nut not dripping
when twisted, the ends are actually still dry. no drips, no mess
in terms of time (mine, not the egg's), i haven't found a truly faster/cheaper way to light the egg. and wire to wire (getting from 0 to desired temp), only the weedburner is faster. but the weedburner needs storage, and often showers sparks like a muther.
i haven't tried the alcohol trick. but in my perverted thinking, i'm probably likely to have paper napkins or towels on hand, plus cooking oil (any oil). in fact, i resorted to this after forgetting the starter cubes while camping.
discovered too that these burn faster and cleaner than the cubes, and do not throw horrible tasting smoke 9like the starters do if they don't fully burn)
ed egli avea del cul fatto trombetta -Dante -
@$$%^(& hurricane backup plan.
XXL #82 out of the first 100, XLGE X 2, LBGE (gave this one to daughter 1.0) , MBGE (now in the hands of iloveagoodyoke daughter 2.0) and lots of toys -
I use a Looftlighter. Not only does it get a nice coalbed quickly, but you can use it to fan the flames for multiple cooks at different temps.
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@newportlocal: this is all i use
in fact, this is maybe more than i use. you just want the paper to be translucent, nut not dripping
when twisted, the ends are actually still dry. no drips, no mess
in terms of time (mine, not the egg's), i haven't found a truly faster/cheaper way to light the egg. and wire to wire (getting from 0 to desired temp), only the weedburner is faster. but the weedburner needs storage, and often showers sparks like a muther.
i haven't tried the alcohol trick. but in my perverted thinking, i'm probably likely to have paper napkins or towels on hand, plus cooking oil (any oil). in fact, i resorted to this after forgetting the starter cubes while camping.
discovered too that these burn faster and cleaner than the cubes, and do not throw horrible tasting smoke 9like the starters do if they don't fully burn)
Thanks for the great response. You actually helped with with the olive oil dispenser in the photo too. That's a better method. You have convinced me to stay with the paper towel vegetable oil method I have been using and helped me perfect it. -
I use the exact same method above. Light the ends and make an X in the charcoal with the rolled paper towels and then stack some lump around the lit ends. Works fastest way I have found yet and it is cheap.Columbia, SC --- LBGE 2011 -- MINI BGE 2013
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Its amazing how many ways there are to light an eggXL BGE - Small BGE - A few Komodo Kamado Serious Big Bad 42sFollow me on Instagram: @SSgt93
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