Lighting your coals

I've tried fire starting cubes, electric starters, oil/napkin, mapp gas, and weed torch for starting my BGE. 

The Harbor Freight Weed Torch is by far my favorite way to light the egg. I can get the BGE up to temp in only a few minutes if need be. I'd put it right behind my Thermapen for favorite BGE accessory.

My first torch lasted 9 years and cost me $20. (Hose started to crack. Torch was still good) I upgraded to the push button start torch last year. Happy with the upgrade. 

Same here: Rutland 50B Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00138MO16

I cut them in half and use half per cook.  Slow and Low, I'll use both pieces, but spread out.  I agree with @Matt86m let them burn for a bit before putting charcoal on top of them -- then allow 10 minutes for the bad smoke to clear.

Propane torch. Quick, easy, and effective. If I've just put fresh charcoal on top, I put on a pair of safety glasses I keep in the drawer so I don't get a spark in my eye. Interestingly, every one of my friends who has seen me start the lump this way has said "Hey, that's so much better than the way I do it."

Rogue here......  Bison Airlighter

Matt86m said:

If you are using the squares I found they work better if you let them burn for a bit before loading charcoal on top of them. You can snuff them out if you do it too soon. leave air gaps when I stack pieces on top of them too.

What is the purpose or supposed benefit of piling charcoal on top of the squares or paper towel with oil vs. simply placing it on top or in seam at the top of the lump?

I am still using the BGE squares and like them very well. Interestingly, in my most recent box, I notice they seem to be a darker brown and, more importantly, I think they catch fire more easily.

I tried the looflighter, but the noise and sparks kind of ruined the zen-like egg-lighting experience of the quiet, peaceful squares. You may have guessed, I don't get in a hurry when lighting my egg. 

Whatever size this works so much faster. A dozen years and hosting 5 EggFests here its all i use to light. I can be cooking very few minutes. 

I use a Chimney starter on the side burner of my gas grill.  The longer I leave it sit on that fire depends on how hot i want the fire.  Good burn there and I can have 400 degrees in egg really quick.

Downside of this method is how little charcoal to light for low and slow.  Always harder to keep fire smaller and catch it on way up.  I panicked Friday while lighting in the dark- looked like I put in way too much fire and I choked it down too much, took forever to get 225.

I am getting my BGE next week.  I have often lit my coals in other grills by crinkling up newspaper into a long snake looking thing and then tying them into a knot that looks like a doughnut.  It has always worked fine.  I use it in my fire place too.  Is there any reason not to do this in the egg?  It is fast and cheap and I always have newspapers lying around, except for recycling day.  even then I put out the recycle bin before I finish that day's paper.

Torch for the win. The smaller one though. The weed burner hooked up to a 20lb tank was cumbersome. 

Agreed, but I bought a looflighter back in the day for ~100. Served me well for 5+ years now, for my BGE as well as 1,000 degree temps in the WFO when I’m in a hurry!

theyolksonyou said:

On top?  I guess it would work fine, but I don’t want those paper ashes flying around in my egg.  The other concern I would have is the fire size.  If it gets too big you’ll be waiting a loooonng time for the egg to cook back down if doing a low and slow.  

I tried to go back and edit my post, but I couldn't figure out how to do that.
No, not on top.  I put the newspaper doughnut down and pile coals around it, with a little bit of the newspaper showing.  I light the news paper with a bic lighter and in a few minutes I have the beginnings of a smolderng fire.  With briquettes it take longer and needs more coals but with lump charcoal, it seems to work great.  I was just wondering if there are any objections to using it in the egg, outside of floating ashes.  They aren't a problem the way I do it.
It is a really cheap and convenient method.

jorlnixon said:

theyolksonyou said:

On top?  I guess it would work fine, but I don’t want those paper ashes flying around in my egg.  The other concern I would have is the fire size.  If it gets too big you’ll be waiting a loooonng time for the egg to cook back down if doing a low and slow.  

I tried to go back and edit my post, but I couldn't figure out how to do that.
No, not on top.  I put the newspaper doughnut down and pile coals around it, with a little bit of the newspaper showing.  I light the news paper with a bic lighter and in a few minutes I have the beginnings of a smolderng fire.  With briquettes it take longer and needs more coals but with lump charcoal, it seems to work great.  I was just wondering if there are any objections to using it in the egg, outside of floating ashes.  They aren't a problem the way I do it.
It is a really cheap and convenient method.

Most folks light the egg from the top.  I would still be concerned with fire size. The egg burns a very small fire especially for low and slow cooks.  You’re not looking to have all the lump burning.  Just enough for your target temp.  

But, give it a try and report back.   Maybe we’ll learn something. 

I bought my first looftlighter about 8 years ago. Two years agoI got another looftlighter on an incredible sale at ACE for when the first died. It’s still in the box.

Kent8621 said:

i used the JJ George Grill torch, i have never had an issue getting it down to my large.  it has about a 7" flame on it so it shoots the fire down in the fire box, i hit 3 spots around the egg for 30-60 seconds then walk away and its ready to go in 10-15 minutes.  

@Kent8621, how long have you had your JJGeorge?  I saw it on sale (last black friday?) for $25, and figured I'd give it a try.
 

 
It worked great, and didn't spray sparks all over the place like the videos of the Looflighter showed (I'm on a combustible deck).  However, after using it less than a dozen times, it will no longer stay lit.  My bottle isn't empty yet, it still whooshes when I open it up, and the piezo pushbutton starter still works (these things don't last long, as I learned on a couple gas Webers) and it will light, but won't stay lit.  The thing is welded together, so can't be disassembled for cleaning, and I can blow into the air holes up by the valve and it appears clear; it just won't stay lit.  I'm stumped.