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One downside to the electric charcoal starter (hint: thermonuclear)

JethroVA
JethroVA Posts: 1,251
in EggHead Forum
So, I was planning to cook turbo ribs today, rubbed last night and egg pre-staged and fully loaded with charcoal, some chunks of hickory and my electric charcoal starter.  Went out to the egg at 1pm and plugged in the electric charcoal heating element.  Went back in to grab a quick bite. Work called.  2.5 hours later I said, oh sh#t, and ran outside.  Egg had completely burned out the charcoal and hickory and totally melted my electric starter.  Guess I had an unintentional clean burn. So glad I'd left the lid open otherwise we'd be looking at a chernobyl situation.  Only casualty was 1/3 bag of charcoal, weber electric starter and my ego.  Will post pics of the melted unit tomorrow.  
Richmond and Mathews County, VA. Large BGE, Weber gas, little Weber charcoal. Vintage ManGrates. Little reddish portable kamado that shall remain nameless here.  Very Extremely Stable Genius. 
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Comments

  • Killit_and_Grillit
    Killit_and_Grillit Posts: 4,326
    That was the day I got a MAPP torch. 

    "Brought to you by bourbon, bacon, and a series of questionable life decisions."

    South of Nashville, TN

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  • epcotisbest
    epcotisbest Posts: 2,176
    That could have been a disaster. Thank goodness it was contained with minimal damage.
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  • JethroVA
    JethroVA Posts: 1,251
    sadly, I can't blame it on ethanol consumption.  This was purely old age forgetting what i'm doing.  will try again tomorrow.  need to set a timer or something.  "Siri, remind me to turn off the Egg starter at 1:15pm..."  Siri in female French accent: "Yes Master."  
    Richmond and Mathews County, VA. Large BGE, Weber gas, little Weber charcoal. Vintage ManGrates. Little reddish portable kamado that shall remain nameless here.  Very Extremely Stable Genius. 
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  • td66snrf
    td66snrf Posts: 1,838
    Like @Killit_and_Grillit said Mapp. Nothing to plug in. You stand there for the whole 30 seconds while it starts and you don't have something that's glowing red hot to set down somewhere. 
    XLBGE, LBGE, MBGE, SMALL, MINI, 2 Kubs, Fire Magic Gasser
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  • Theophan
    Theophan Posts: 2,656
    td66snrf said:
    Like @Killit_and_Grillit said Mapp. Nothing to plug in. You stand there for the whole 30 seconds while it starts and you don't have something that's glowing red hot to set down somewhere. 
    I agree.  Only down side so far, though, is the flying sparks burned a hole in one of my favorite shirts, once.  Kinda scary, once in a while.  I sure wear safety glasses, I'll tell you what!
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  • Killit_and_Grillit
    Killit_and_Grillit Posts: 4,326
    @Theophan the key is a steady, unwavering hand while swearing and squinting. 

    "Brought to you by bourbon, bacon, and a series of questionable life decisions."

    South of Nashville, TN

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  • Biggreenpharmacist
    Biggreenpharmacist Posts: 4,343
    Killit_and_Grillit said:
    That was the day I got a MAPP torch. 
    Damn!  We must have been separated at birth or something. 

    Little Rock, AR

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  • thetrim
    thetrim Posts: 11,387
    Hate to admit it, but that made me LMFAO! I would totally do that.  Very, very happy it ended w minimal damage.  
    =======================================
    XL 6/06, Mini 6/12, L 10/12, Mini #2 12/14 MiniMax 3/16 Large #2 11/20 Legacy from my FIL - RIP PitBoss Navigator 850G 11/25
    Tampa Bay, FL
    EIB 6 Oct 95
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  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 21,675
    Pics!  Please say there are pics.

    I would rather light a candle than curse your darkness.

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  • Theophan
    Theophan Posts: 2,656
    Killit_and_Grillit said:
    @Theophan the key is a steady, unwavering hand while swearing and squinting. 
    <guffawing>  Yeah, that was about right!  :)
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  • OhioEgger
    OhioEgger Posts: 994
    JethroVA said:
     need to set a timer or something.  "Siri, remind me to turn off the Egg starter at 1:15pm..."  Siri in female French accent: "Yes Master."  
    If that were me, Siri's response would probably be "What, again?"
    Cincinnati, Ohio. Large BGE since 2011. Still learning.
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  • Jupiter Jim
    Jupiter Jim Posts: 3,351
    JethroVA said:
    So, I was planning to cook turbo ribs today, rubbed last night and egg pre-staged and fully loaded with charcoal, some chunks of hickory and my electric charcoal starter.  Went out to the egg at 1pm and plugged in the electric charcoal heating element.  Went back in to grab a quick bite. Work called.  2.5 hours later I said, oh sh#t, and ran outside.  Egg had completely burned out the charcoal and hickory and totally melted my electric starter.  Guess I had an unintentional clean burn. So glad I'd left the lid open otherwise we'd be looking at a chernobyl situation.  Only casualty was 1/3 bag of charcoal, weber electric starter and my ego.  Will post pics of the melted unit tomorrow.  
    Glad the only loss was lump and the electric starter! Missed ya at the Butt Blast back in April. Jim

    I'm only hungry when I'm awake!

    Okeechobee FL. Winter

    West Jefferson NC Summer

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  • Kayak
    Kayak Posts: 700
    What's the magical thing with torches???

    I hold that MF'r on one spot for more than a minute, and it still fades. Multiple spots. It takes forever to come up to temp. I do use propane, but still...

    I guess a weed burner is next. Right now I'm back to starters.

    Bob

    New Cumberland, PA
    XL with the usual accessories

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  • JethroVA
    JethroVA Posts: 1,251
    Pics here.  Keep in mind this was fully loaded with charcoal and hickory chunks. This is what I returned to find.  
    Richmond and Mathews County, VA. Large BGE, Weber gas, little Weber charcoal. Vintage ManGrates. Little reddish portable kamado that shall remain nameless here.  Very Extremely Stable Genius. 
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  • JethroVA
    JethroVA Posts: 1,251
    @Ozzie_Isaac. Pics per your request.
    Richmond and Mathews County, VA. Large BGE, Weber gas, little Weber charcoal. Vintage ManGrates. Little reddish portable kamado that shall remain nameless here.  Very Extremely Stable Genius. 
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  • td66snrf
    td66snrf Posts: 1,838
    Theophan said:
    td66snrf said:
    Like @Killit_and_Grillit said Mapp. Nothing to plug in. You stand there for the whole 30 seconds while it starts and you don't have something that's glowing red hot to set down somewhere. 
    I agree.  Only down side so far, though, is the flying sparks burned a hole in one of my favorite shirts, once.  Kinda scary, once in a while.  I sure wear safety glasses, I'll tell you what!
    @Theophan Try burying the nozzle into the lump. That cuts way down on the sparks. 
    XLBGE, LBGE, MBGE, SMALL, MINI, 2 Kubs, Fire Magic Gasser
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  • Theophan
    Theophan Posts: 2,656
    td66snrf said:
    @Theophan Try burying the nozzle into the lump. That cuts way down on the sparks. 
    I'll give that a try -- thanks!
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  • johnmitchell
    johnmitchell Posts: 7,364
    Any chance on a warranty claim !!!
    Greensboro North Carolina
    When in doubt Accelerate....
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  • milesvdustin
    milesvdustin Posts: 2,882
    edited July 2017
    I went through starters, weber starter cubes, mapp torch, electric coil lighter like OP, a weed burner, and now i am using paper towels with a drizzle of vegetable oil. I like the towels, cheap and easy

    i also burned up a wagner heat gun, left it in too long and the plastic caught fire

    2 LBGE, Blackstone 36, Jumbo Joe

    Egging in Southern Illinois (Marion)

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  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    Kayak said:
    What's the magical thing with torches???

    I hold that MF'r on one spot for more than a minute, and it still fades. Multiple spots. It takes forever to come up to temp. I do use propane, but still...

    I guess a weed burner is next. Right now I'm back to starters.
    Takes about 60 seconds to get the lump lit with a weed torch (propane with a small head like your propane torch). Let it burn with the top open for a couple of minutes more to get the fire lots of air.  One spot should be enough.
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
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  • Teefus
    Teefus Posts: 1,259
    I use a propane torch if I'm in no hurry (most of the time) and a chimney starter if I need to get going quick. I hate the wax and sawdust starters as they add an off flavor in my view. The torch works great if I'm doing a low and slow as I get one concentrated area lit and the pile of lump burns like a candle for hours. 
    Michiana, South of the border.
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  • JustOneOfTheGuys
    JustOneOfTheGuys Posts: 142
    Personally, I love my looftlighter.  You just touch it to the lump in the center of the basket until you see a glow or a few sparks, then pull back and let the blower help fan the flames a bit and there you have it.  
    Southwestern CT
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