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Best firestarter?

How do you fire up your BGE?  What have you learned and what is your process?  Thanks!!
Got a GoFundMe acct my 1st BGE Large
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Comments

  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,326
    Looftlighter myself, others have differing opinions.
  • td66snrf
    td66snrf Posts: 1,838
    Mapp or propane.  Quick,  no cord and consistent. 
    XLBGE, LBGE, MBGE, SMALL, MINI, 2 Kubs, Fire Magic Gasser
  • td66snrf
    td66snrf Posts: 1,838
    I set my deck on fire and open the bottom vent.  Inevitably the inferno lights the BGE.  Make sure you get good smoke.
    @nolaegghead      I'd like to try that method but my deck is concrete. SOB won't ignite. Been trying for the last hour. 
    XLBGE, LBGE, MBGE, SMALL, MINI, 2 Kubs, Fire Magic Gasser
  • tybenj
    tybenj Posts: 58
    edited January 2019
    td66snrf said:
    I set my deck on fire and open the bottom vent.  Inevitably the inferno lights the BGE.  Make sure you get good smoke.
    @nolaegghead      I'd like to try that method but my deck is concrete. SOB won't ignite. Been trying for the last hour. 
    Gas is cheap again, throw some of that at it. 

    Or let your homeowners lapse, sucker will go up if you sneeze .
  • etherdome
    etherdome Posts: 471
    rutland starter squares or weber starter cubes. 
    Upstate SC
    Large BGE,  Blackstone, Weber genesis , Weber charcoal classic
  • Jstroke
    Jstroke Posts: 2,605
    It’s interesting. This topic comes up pretty often. Most of the forum members from what I recall end up in one of two camps. Either a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil, or some kind of gas fired torch. There are a few who use an electric starter like the looflighter or the coil but it seems less. And then a sprinkle of people who use the fire starter cubes. Me personally—1,600 degree weedburner on a 20 lb propane tank that I keep next to the egg. 
    Columbus, Ohio--A Gasser filled with Matchlight and an Ugly Drum.
  • Fire starter cubes.

    Weber Genesis CP310; Weber Q1200 (camping); LBGE.

    "If you haven't heard a rumour by 8:30 am - start one"

  • epcotisbest
    epcotisbest Posts: 2,176
    Weber cubes. Simple, inexpensive and they just work. Oil and paper towels as a backup if I run out of cubes.
  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
    I have the looft, electric heating element, torch, and fire starter squares at my disposal at all times. I use them all periodically but use the fire starter squares 80% of the time. Do my routine and have predictable and repeatable results. Use the others when in a hurry on a hot and fast cook. 
  • lwrehm
    lwrehm Posts: 381
    Electric coil starter all the time, stick it in, plug it in, drink a beer, cook.  I have a Looft lighter, hate the damn thing, one of these days I will crack it open and hard wire that stupid switch maybe then I will use it more.

  • Jupiter Jim
    Jupiter Jim Posts: 3,351
    Weed burner at the house and Mapp torch with propane tank when at Motor Home.

    I'm only hungry when I'm awake!

    Okeechobee FL. Winter

    West Jefferson NC Summer

  • Best is hard to define for this. I use the electric coil starter 90% of the time. I’ve used a charcoal chimney and handheld torch with great results too. Pick a process and learn and you’ll be fine. 
    Pittsburgh, PA. LBGE
  • Rutland fire starters...
    Charlotte, NC - Large BGE 2014, Maverick ET 733, Thermopen, Nest, Platesetter, Woo2 and Extender w/Grid, Kick Ash Basket, Pizza Stone, SS Smokeware Cap, Blackstone 36"
  • JRWhitee
    JRWhitee Posts: 5,678
    I have a looftlighter and a Mapp torch. 
                                                                
    _________________________________________________
    Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story!
    Large BGE 2006, Mini Max 2014, 36" Blackstone, Anova Sous Vide
    Green Man Group 
    Johns Creek, Georgia
  • Weedburner about 95% of the time. Starter cubes the remaining cooks. 
  • WesJohnson
    WesJohnson Posts: 130
    edited January 2019
    I use tiny little bits of my Rutland gasket as far starters. Lights right up.
    I used to be able to name every nut that there was. 
  • FanOfFanboys
    FanOfFanboys Posts: 2,620
    Benzo TS8000 or weber fire starter cubes

    both work exceptionally well, work quickly, and are very cheap
    Boom
  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 19,155
    Public Service Announcement......

    MAPP has not been manufactured since 2008.  MAPP was acronym of the chemical compound.

    MAP-Pro is what comes is the yellow bottles now and it's just propane with less impurities.  It stands for "MAx Power-Propane".  So, at most, it only burns 130F hotter than blue bottle Propane.

    Don't spend $12/bottle vs. $3-4 for propane for 130F (4%).

    But buy a Map Pro head. 
  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,524
    Weed torch from Harbor Freight. With good lump you can get to 350 degrees in a couple minutes
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,759
    Public Service Announcement......

    MAPP has not been manufactured since 2008.  MAPP was acronym of the chemical compound.

    MAP-Pro is what comes is the yellow bottles now and it's just propane with less impurities.  It stands for "MAx Power-Propane".  So, at most, it only burns 130F hotter than blue bottle Propane.

    Don't spend $12/bottle vs. $3-4 for propane for 130F (4%).

    But buy a Map Pro head. 
    I've never seen a "Map Pro head". 

    Benzomatic makes two heads with the starter, the TS4000 and TS8000.  Both are rated for Propane or Map-Pro (aka fancy propane).  The 8000 has a different nozzle on it for "ulta high heat" for bigger pipes, plus a thumb screw on the side to adjust the flame.  I have the 8000, since that's the one you need for the SearzAll head.   
  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Public Service Announcement......

    MAPP has not been manufactured since 2008.  MAPP was acronym of the chemical compound.

    MAP-Pro is what comes is the yellow bottles now and it's just propane with less impurities.  It stands for "MAx Power-Propane".  So, at most, it only burns 130F hotter than blue bottle Propane.

    Don't spend $12/bottle vs. $3-4 for propane for 130F (4%).

    But buy a Map Pro head. 
    I've never seen a "Map Pro head". 

    Benzomatic makes two heads with the starter, the TS4000 and TS8000.  Both are rated for Propane or Map-Pro (aka fancy propane).  The 8000 has a different nozzle on it for "ulta high heat" for bigger pipes, plus a thumb screw on the side to adjust the flame.  I have the 8000, since that's the one you need for the SearzAll head.   
    The 8000 (sold with the Map-Pro cylinder) is designed to work when inverted. Not sure about the 4000. That's what the Bernzomatic guy told me anyway. And mine always does.

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

  • I use tiny little bits of my Rutland gasket as far starters. Lights right up.
    Ruthless - All I can say is when you hear the helicopter, it will be too late.
    LBGE, 36" Blackstone, Anova Pro
    Charleston, SC
  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,759
    Public Service Announcement......

    MAPP has not been manufactured since 2008.  MAPP was acronym of the chemical compound.

    MAP-Pro is what comes is the yellow bottles now and it's just propane with less impurities.  It stands for "MAx Power-Propane".  So, at most, it only burns 130F hotter than blue bottle Propane.

    Don't spend $12/bottle vs. $3-4 for propane for 130F (4%).

    But buy a Map Pro head. 
    I've never seen a "Map Pro head". 

    Benzomatic makes two heads with the starter, the TS4000 and TS8000.  Both are rated for Propane or Map-Pro (aka fancy propane).  The 8000 has a different nozzle on it for "ulta high heat" for bigger pipes, plus a thumb screw on the side to adjust the flame.  I have the 8000, since that's the one you need for the SearzAll head.   
    The 8000 (sold with the Map-Pro cylinder) is designed to work when inverted. Not sure about the 4000. That's what the Bernzomatic guy told me anyway. And mine always does.

    They also have the TS4000 in a kit with a Map-Pro bottle.  They try to get people hooked on that stuff because they charge 3x more for it.

    The 4000 & 8000 both say the exact same thing on the packaging: "Pressure regulated for consistent performance when tilted or momentarily inverted"

    The only differences on the 8000 is the different nozzle and the flame adjustment thumb screw.
  • thetrim
    thetrim Posts: 11,387
    Put me in the toilet paper soaked in oil camp!
    =======================================
    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
  • Paper towel and a little vegetable oil
  • SonVolt
    SonVolt Posts: 3,316
    I use tiny little bits of my Rutland gasket as far starters. Lights right up.


    South of Nashville  -  BGE XL  -  Alfresco 42" ALXE  -  Alfresco Versa Burner  - Sunbeam Microwave 
  • saluki2007
    saluki2007 Posts: 6,354
    SonVolt said:
    I use tiny little bits of my Rutland gasket as far starters. Lights right up.


    I can't stop watching this.
    Large and Small BGE
    Central, IL

  • whta
    whta Posts: 62
    91% rubbing alcohol!

    Cheap and easy to use!