Lighting of charcoal

[Oldsman]

Do you find you get better results by starting a small amount of charcoal and spreading it out and putting unlit charcoal on it?

Or do you find you get better result loading the basket with charcoal and then place a small amount of lit coals on the top

Thanks

[ckreef]

Most people fill the fire basket full of lump then start one (or sometimes) multiple areas of the lump in the fire basket. How you light the lump is personal preference. I use a MAPP torch but a starter cube or alcohol soaked cotton ball will also work. 

Low-n-slow you only want one very small area of lump lit to start with. For high heat grilling or baking some people would use a chimney starter but I never do. 

 

[tony b]

I use a MAPP torch to light a spot on the top of the charcoal, then use an air blower to stoke it to make sure its going well. 

[MacKenzie]

I do same the same:

1. Fill the basket, no matter how small the cook.

2. Use a MAPP torch to light usually one spot on top of the lump.

3. Use a blower to get the fire going nicely.

Doesn't take very long at all and the fire always starts.

 

 

 

[Syzygies]

Here is a blower that several of us use (I already have their battery system for other tools):

Milwaukee M18 Blower Kit

I'm not that far off on most physical intuitions, but I was surprised by this: Once a fire is started, a minute with a blower is far more effective than another minute with a MAPP torch.

[MacKenzie]

I bought this one just after Syzygies mentioned he bought it. I, also had the battery for other tools.   It is wonderful, and there are so many other uses for it too, blowing dust off the bbq tables, deck, cleaning out a platform bird feeder, etc.

[RandyS]

For low temp cooks, I use a starter cube. I place it on top of the full basket and put some smaller pieces of charcoal around it. The chips from last cook's smoke pot work great.

For higher temp cooks, or if I need the cooker up to temp faster, I use a chimney with just a few pieces of charcoal and pour the lit charcoal on top of the full basket. I use empty charcoal bags as the tinder under the chimney.

I have never had the charcoal not start. I think it works best to close the lid and allow the top and bottom dampers to draw air through the charcoal.

[Geo]

3 hours ago, Syzygies said:

Here is a blower that several of us use (I already have their battery system for other tools):

Milwaukee M18 Blower Kit

I'm not that far off on most physical intuitions, but I was surprised by this: Once a fire is started, a minute with a blower is far more effective than another minute with a MAPP torch.

Thanks for posting. I’ve never been able to confidently light a fire with my torch, and walk away while it heats-up... Most of the time it goes out completely!

I showed Mrs. Geo the link to the blower. If I had just tried it, she would have said that I was being a ”Tim Allen” about the blower. A cool hair dryer would have been my best-guess.

 

[Tucker]

I guess I am just old school. I use a weed burning cane w/propane.

just get the tops of the coals going, turn the top out 1 turn for low cooks, two-three for high cooks; leave the front vent all the way open; walk away, come back in 15-30 minutes and do final temp adjustments for my desired cook.

simple, and maximizes my drinking time, er, I mean, thinking time

[MacKenzie]

Geo, a hair dryer works but you don't have same control over the air flow that you have with the Milwaukee blower, not even close, plus you don't need electricity.

[tony b]

I use a small battery powered blower (FiAir). Similar to a hair dryer, without the heat, and uses regular batteries. 

[tekobo]

I pooh poohed the idea of a MAPP torch when @tony b first mentioned it.  I also resisted the Milwaukee blowy thing and even supported @Bruce Pearson in his decision to step away from the till and leave the leaf blower in the shop.  However, I have since succumbed myself and am so pleased that I did.  I use dense coco char in the KKs and it is difficult to light.  To get things going I put a small pile of catering grate charcoal in the middle of the pile of coco char and light the pile with a MAPP torch.  I then blow with a Matki leaf blower (brand available in the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NLXXQXQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  ).  I walk away and come back for a second blow about 10-15 mins in and I now never get that cold coal feeling.  

I have learned some safety lessons too.  The catering charcoal sometimes sparks when you light/blow it and a small ember flew up at my eye once.  No damage done but I now where safety glasses and a long gauntlet when I light the KK.  Looks ridiculous but better safe than sorry.

[MacKenzie]

@tekobo, when you get older you will be wearing eye glasses most likely, that should eliminate the goggles.  

The thing about these blowers is that you can really control the air flow and keep it very low and that will help eliminate the sparks. With the hair dryer you really don't have that much control over the air flow.

[tony b]

Sparks have more to do with the charcoal than the blower. One of the reasons I don't like Fogo - sparks like the 4th of July!

[alimac23]

I use a Looftlighter to light a small amount of charcoal in the middle of the basket, leave the vents open until the temp climbs to about 50c, then close down the vents to whatever temperature i'm trying to achieve.

[Oldsman]

Thanks all ya,ll

Have always started from the bottom never had any issues. Will give top down a shot

[Aussie Ora]

Great suggestions and some great tools .I just use two natural firelighters open all the bottom vents and take out the guru plug wait 10 min throw in grates shut the lid and spin the top about 4 turns if I want 250 I take it to 350 400 rip out grates throw wood on put bottom grate in add foil as deflector add top grate shut lid let go for 5 min the shut vents to where they need to be .the KK has such great airflow .the only time I have needed a hair dryer is adding new lump to old .or using robot turds a bit like the coco char

Outback kamado Bar and Grill

[Surt]

At another home I used the weed burner method, really quick.  Now I don’t have room for the propane tank.  Tried the air blower with heat but too slow, tried map gas, too slow.  Now I just use an electric coil in the bottom.  I can walk away and do something else for about 10 min.  You must pull before the fire is too hot or everything melts.

[Syzygies]

4 hours ago, Surt said:

At another home I used the weed burner method, really quick.  Now I don’t have room for the propane tank.  Tried the air blower with heat but too slow, tried map gas, too slow.  Now I just use an electric coil in the bottom.  I can walk away and do something else for about 10 min.  You must pull before the fire is too hot or everything melts.

I use my weed burner screwed onto a small camping propane tank, like you'd use with a camp stove or lantern. It takes very little space.

I also attached a hose clamp along the tube, to aid in balancing the burner in position. I adjust it every minute or so, rather than standing there holding it.

[Tyrus]

On 9/13/2018 at 2:51 PM, tekobo said:

I pooh poohed the idea of a MAPP torch when @tony b first mentioned it.  I also resisted the Milwaukee blowy thing and even supported @Bruce Pearson in his decision to step away from the till and leave the leaf blower in the shop.  However, I have since succumbed myself and am so pleased that I did.  I use dense coco char in the KKs and it is difficult to light.  To get things going I put a small pile of catering grate charcoal in the middle of the pile of coco char and light the pile with a MAPP torch.  I then blow with a Matki leaf blower (brand available in the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NLXXQXQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  ).  I walk away and come back for a second blow about 10-15 mins in and I now never get that cold coal feeling.  

I have learned some safety lessons too.  The catering charcoal sometimes sparks when you light/blow it and a small ember flew up at my eye once.  No damage done but I now where safety glasses and a long gauntlet when I light the KK.  Looks ridiculous but better safe than sorry.

All you need now is horse and jousting pole but don't drive by any Casinos with that betting habit