Yes sir: Looflighter, lasted 7 years for me.

One of these electric starters:
Electric Ring
I set a timer for 6 min. after I plug it in or they can warp out of shape. The timer lets me keep prepping food and not worrying about wrecking it.
This is my second one and it's lasted about 10yrs+.

I use a weed burner like the one Rogue posted.

Typically I use one of two methods depending on what I'm going to do.

For smoking where I don't want a rip roaring fire, I'll fold up a paper towel, pour a little vegetable oil on it.

If I'm going to grill at high heat and want to get a jump start I'll use a charcoal chimney. But most of the time I'll use a paper towel with veg oil.

This is what I use if I'm just torching the coals and to light the starters. A long lighter works great to light the cubes but isn't as much fun and doesn't work if it's windy.

In my medium egg I use 3 of the little squares and come back in 10 mins. Works every time.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:



I bought a chimney starter which has been satisfactory, except that it rusted away to nothing, and I don't feel like buying another one and treating it as a consumable.

Any suggestions?

you burnt up a chimney?

I'm on my second, in 10+ yrs,
I have a 3rd in the shed ,but it will probably be 5+ yrs before I need it, and it stays outside all year long

Simple propane torch
Your gtg

Simple Propane torch but with a MAPP gas. Burns hotter...I have the kind of torch that starts with a trigger pull.

Get a Weber chimney, they’re built like a Soviet tank, and a propane torch to hold under the chimney to start.

That’s all I ever used to light charcoal and it works better than paper or starter cubes etc.

I now have a Weber Performer which has a built in propane lighter assist which does the exact same thing.

Weber chimney... A sheet of newspaper and its ready to go. I can't imagine burning one up. I dump it once lit and mines still looking great after 2 years

Can these chimney contraptions handle lump charcoal?

The Weber chimney works well, after my second fell apart, I went to a local community college trade school and had a welding student construct something similar from stainless. It has held up well but is a bit heavier due to metal gauge. It will be lighting fires long after I am gone.

I cook on my BGE about 3 times a week. I have a large and an extra large BGE, and have been using BGE for 10 years. Through trial and error with various fire starter methods, I discovered the Mapp gas torch is the quickest and most reliable way to get a fire started, especially if you are in a hurry. 30 seconds of that flame to the center of the coals and Bam! We got a fire. A tank of Mapp gas lasts me about a year. I use exclusively BGE lump charcoal and pecan wood scraps from my wood shop, both of which are easy to start.

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
Can these chimney contraptions handle lump charcoal?

Yes, lump coal is all I use.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:

you burnt up a chimney?

Yes, but it was the shitty Walmart one, not a Weber.

Lots of good suggestions here. Thanks.

I use MAPP as well. I get 2-3 years out of a tank so it’s pretty economical.

I have several friends who like the looftlighter but I don’t have an outlet close to my grill and can’t be bothered to fuss with an extension cord every time I want to cook, so I haven’t tried it.

Depends on what I'm doing with my BGE.

If I'm looking to cook/sear some steaks, I use a propane tank with the Harbor Freight weed attachment. That set up really gets the fire going HOT HOT HOT, FAST FAST FAST!!

If I'm looking to do a slow and low, usually bury 3 of those wax cubes as I'm loading the lump.

I've used the Kamado Joe and another brand of the cardboard type lighting things, they took forever.

I tried the weber wax cubes and they actually do ok and are faster than the cardboard ones.

I've tried the chimney (weber one is the best) but it makes sparks fly out of the grill and also a pain to get out of the grill and then tip upside down to get the charcoal out (I like the weber for briquettes).

But then I went to a hand held torch with Mapp or propane gas (they both work) and do about 30-60 seconds in 3 different areas and this works the best and is the fastest....

Also in South Florida if that makes any difference.

quote:

Originally posted by kimber1911:
No gas, no chemicals!

Lump coal and a few pages from newspapers.

The Weber Chimney works great.

The only way to go for charcoal starting.