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Home made starters

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Griff2w2
Griff2w2 Posts: 53
edited May 2014 in EggHead Forum
So I learned this trick for camping a while ago. If you stick a handful of cottonballs in a tub of petroleum jelly and let it soak in, you have great home made fire starters. (In a sealed container no less!) My question is, is this a viable substitute for the startercubes or would there be a concern when burning the petroleum in the egg?
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  • Cowdogs
    Cowdogs Posts: 491
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    I would just use crisco and not worry about it.
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  • Focker
    Focker Posts: 8,364
    edited May 2014
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    Buy those individual packs of potato chips for kindling and egg startups.  Fritos and Doritos work great in a pinch.  

    Brandon
    Quad Cities
    "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

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  • Griff2w2
    Griff2w2 Posts: 53
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    I get its unorthodox and I appreciate the input. I meant more along the lines of I have a boatload of these and wanted to make sure they would be egg-safe
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  • tjosborne
    tjosborne Posts: 529
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    Just buy a propane torch and be done.
    middle of nowhere- G.I. NE
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  • lemonade
    lemonade Posts: 93
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    The word "petroleum" just doesn't seem to settle with me when also talking about "egging" and "food" and "natural lump".   I don't deny it's a good fire starter.  So is charcoal lighter fluid.  I'm sure it's egg safe, but is it flavor safe and/or food safe?  I honestly don't know so I will stick with a chimney starter and paper or parrafin starter square.....
    Is it done yet? Is it done yet?
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  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
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    +1 with what @lemonade‌ said. Petroleum seems like such a nasty word when it comes to food. I have have no idea about your question. I just couldn't do it. I can't even put Vaseline on cracked lips.
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
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  • Griff2w2
    Griff2w2 Posts: 53
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    @Lemonade, if you are concerned about petroleum derivatives I would recommend you stop using the paraffin cubes as they are derived from petroleum as well.  Some other names petroleum jelly (a.k.a. Vaseline) is known by are Soft White paraffin, Liquid Paraffin and Petrolatum.   I have looked up the MSDS for any variation of Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly and the only hazard I can find is carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide when burned.  As for taste/scent I guess I will just have to test this out on my old grill I have been meaning to send to the big ol’ grill farm in the sky.
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  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
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    Try this. Take a cardboard egg carton and fill ithe cups with dryer lint. Melt your used candle wax and poor over the dryer lint. When it hardens you have instant fire starters. Tear off what you need from the carton and go. My wife learned this in Girl Scouts when she was a kid.
    Mark Annville, PA
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  • Griff2w2
    Griff2w2 Posts: 53
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    That's a pretty neat trick cortguitarman!  When I first started camping minimalist style lint in a TP roll was my go to in a pinch along with the Dakota Fire Hole. (Same concept as an egg)
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  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
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    Here is another alternative:



    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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