Spaggy 2 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 What do you guys use as a fire starter? I bought some zip cubes but they have kerosene in them. I think I'll keep them for camp fires but not for the keg. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
willys1 42 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Cotton balls soaked in 90% alcohol. Use 1 or 2 per cook. 50 of them cost about $3 with no taste or odor imparted to your fire. pmillen 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spaggy 2 Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 Thanks willys1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lesta80 15 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 I bought a ‘big boy kamado’ electric stick lighter which I use if I am in a hurry, it lights up quick and then the blower helps to really kick the coals into gear - Cost around $80... But more recently I have been using Xtraflame natural firefighters.. 1-2 per cook, never had a failed start, but takes a bit longer to get the coals going. JeffieBoy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pmillen 279 Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 21 hours ago, willys1 said: Cotton balls soaked in 90% alcohol. Use 1 or 2 per cook. 50 of them cost about $3 with no taste or odor imparted to your fire. +1 on cotton balls & alcohol. I store a bunch of them in a small screw-lid jar. Be careful, tho'. Alcohol fire is invisible. A cotton ball may not appear to be burning when it is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Walrus 47 Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Trigger start MAPP torch https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomatic-TS4000KC-Trigger-Start-Torch-Kit-TS4000KC/203368730 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike echo 258 Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 -got this from a Guru a few years ago. Still viable. I use Rutland fire starter squares cut in half. They looked like the KJ fire starter squares. Got a huge box on sale somewhere for $8 or so. Probably will last quite awhile. M. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ogopogo 75 Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 On 2/29/2020 at 9:48 PM, willys1 said: Cotton balls soaked in 90% alcohol. Use 1 or 2 per cook. 50 of them cost about $3 with no taste or odor imparted to your fire. +1. Cheap, reliable, and double as quick hand//tool/moving grill part cleaners. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JeffieBoy 870 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 I second the Xtraflame product. Quick, easy, no late night drugstore runs for cotton balls, fussing with jars of flammable fluids, invisible skin burning flames, or my wife changing the bandages twice daily... and they are about $4 for 48 pieces at your local BBQ-Mart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SmallBBQr 760 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 +1 on the MAPP / Propane torch.... 1001 uses around the home. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
prowe 1,805 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 On 2/29/2020 at 10:48 PM, willys1 said: Cotton balls soaked in 90% alcohol. Use 1 or 2 per cook. 50 of them cost about $3 with no taste or odor imparted to your fire. ditto Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wallawu 214 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 https://www.harborfreight.com/propane-torch-91033.html?_br_psugg_q=torch Had this for over a year. Slightly overkill, but gets the job done in a hurry and I've had more consistent burns than I did with cotton balls on the Big Joe, never having a fire go out. If you get their mailers you can use the "20% off one item" and get it for $20. Starts wood fires and burns weeds, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Polar Bear 336 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Depends on how much of a rush you are in vs how much spare money you have Cheapest (but also slowest) is cotten balls and alcohol Fastest (that i've found) but also most expensive is a starter wand (gas or hot air) An option that is somewhere in the middle is a Heat Gun from your local hardware store Theyre not as fast as a proper starter wand but can be had for around $15 and do the job well Spaggy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ron K 0 Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 I use a charcoal chimney, a couple of paper towels drizzled with cheap olive oil, and a Harbor Freight triggered hand-held propane torch (https://www.harborfreight.com/electric-start-propane-torch-91061.html?_br_psugg_q=propane+torch). Has served me well for years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ld7009 0 Posted August 16, 2020 Share Posted August 16, 2020 propane torch works well. Will last a long time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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