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Firestarter Thread #999999991

DieselkW
DieselkW Posts: 915
edited July 2017 in EggHead Forum
"One thing I never run out of is fire starters", said no one ever. Halfway through the season here in July, and I'm getting low enough to start wondering if this is the year for me to get a MAPtorch, or a weed killer, or place an order for some waxy sawdust at Amazon. 

Yes, when I've run out in the past, I pour some olive oil on a paper towel and light it amongst the lump and it works fine. I'm pretty sure I can pour an equal amount of olive oil directly on the lump and light it with a match.

It's just not satisfying my need for creativity and fire. 

I buy eggs at Costco, 5 dozen at a time. They come in those pressed fiber egg shaped things that really burn just fine, given the right amount of accelerant. Not to mention, they're conveniently shaped to hold an egg, or lint, or an oil soaked length of paper towel. Or a piece of waxy coated cardboard milk carton. All of which is available to me.

As is the bottom of my bag of Rockwood. It's a little messy, but small pieces of lump and dust to fill that egg shaped hollow mixed with enough hot wax to hold it together make one easy and cheap firestarter. 

I took some small pieces out of my nearly empty bag of Rockwood, and with an iron frying pan and hammer, made very small pieces and dust. Then, just pour that stuff into the egg crate and top with melted wax.

When lit, the wax melts into the lump pieces and it stays lit for about ten minutes, more than long enough to light the lump in the Egg.






Indianapolis, IN

BBQ is a celebration of culture in America. It is the closest thing we have to the wines and cheeses of Europe. 

Drive a few hundred miles in any direction, and the experience changes dramatically. 



Comments

  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,763
    Way to satisfy your creativity, fire and messing around with crushed lump.  
    BTW-that's definitely a different cast iron seasoning approach as well.  ;)
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    That sounds like fun. Now go buy a Map-Pro torch and thank me later. 

    I used to love my weedburner, but it was overkill for the mini, and a PITA to lug around the yard for other cookers. The Map-Pro is very portable and easy to pack with my eggfest gear.  Beats lighting with a chimney, oil and paper towel, rubbing alcohol, BGE starter, Weber starter, looftlighter, heat gun,  or electric starter.

    Work smarter... not harder.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 17,367
    I've no problem with lighting the Egg many different ways, but you gave me a way to get rid of the damn lump dust without wasting it, or sprinkling it very carefully over full lump.  Thanks!  

    “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.”

                  - Mark Twain 

    Ogden, UT, USA


  • DieselkW
    DieselkW Posts: 915

    Indianapolis, IN

    BBQ is a celebration of culture in America. It is the closest thing we have to the wines and cheeses of Europe. 

    Drive a few hundred miles in any direction, and the experience changes dramatically. 



  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    Cool way to utilize the minimal "dust" at the bottom of the bag. I use a MAPP torch or I'd try this myself. I use the dust and the ash along with egg shells that I've ground down to sprinkle over my trees and flowers. Works quite well from what I've seen. 
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
  • johnmitchell
    johnmitchell Posts: 7,362

    Never waste cowboy lump dust...
    Greensboro North Carolina
    When in doubt Accelerate....
  • sumoconnell
    sumoconnell Posts: 1,932
    I've been lighting  with a mapp torch from the bottom vent, just jam it in and keep going around in circles until it looks like a blast furnace.  Saved my clothes from the snapping and popping when lighting from the top.  This is like the 45th method I've used, I'm sure 46 is around the corner. 
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Austin, Texas.  I'm the guy holding a beer.
  • JNDATHP
    JNDATHP Posts: 461
    I use the gasser...


    Michael
    Large BGE
    Reno, NV
  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
  • sumoconnell
    sumoconnell Posts: 1,932
    JNDATHP said:
    I use the gasser...


    Great use!. I did that until swmbo figured out the gasser was only for storage and lighting lump... It was gone after that
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Austin, Texas.  I'm the guy holding a beer.