How Many Pieces of Charcoal Do You Use to Start Your Handfed

g13nw00d-man · Post by **g13nw00d-man** » Tue. Oct. 25, 2011 9:36 pm

Most of us that use charcoal have mica window's in our stoves. Starting with a wood fire using paper and kinling will cause your mica to soot up, however with a hardwood charcoal you will not have as much soot on your mica.

SteveZee · Post by **SteveZee** » Wed. Oct. 26, 2011 5:01 pm

That's a good point. Plus what I like about the natural charcoal is one its going, nothing's going to put it out. I dump some in, squirt some gell lighter on it then throw a couple scoops of coal around it. 10 min later it's crackling and popping, throw a couple more scoops and wait another 15, then filler up.

bksaun · Post by **bksaun** » Thu. Oct. 27, 2011 8:56 am

I take a 1lb coffee can and remove both ends, set it upright in the middle of the grate, drop in 6-7 pieces of charcoal, fill the grate arpund it with coal, slide the can out and light the charcoal from the bottom with either a torch or crumpled newspaper with a small peice of candle wax in it, close the door, open the draft and off it goes.

Bk

Cyber36 · Post by **Cyber36** » Thu. Oct. 27, 2011 1:23 pm

Candle wax??

bksaun · Post by **bksaun** » Thu. Oct. 27, 2011 5:27 pm

Yes, a little piece wrapped up in news paper under the charcoal gives it a little more time to catch fire.

Bk

jpete · Post by **jpete** » Thu. Oct. 27, 2011 5:57 pm

Cyber36 wrote:Candle wax??

It's more of a controlled burn. A guy that was in my bow hunting license class showed me his "fire starters" that he takes in the woods with him.

He takes a cardboard egg carton, fills the holes with dryer lint and then soaks them with the remnants of his wife's candles.

I made one last night. Haven't lit one yet but I expect it will burn a good long time.

SemperFi · Post by **SemperFi** » Thu. Oct. 27, 2011 10:12 pm

What I have founds works the best for me is lump charcoal and drygas alcohol. The lump charcoal covering the grates and paper towel soaked in alcohol in the ashpan gets things going real fast with no ill smell in the house. Using lighter fluid poops up the door glass in my stove thats what lead me to alcohol in the ashpan as the flame has no choice but go through the charcoal on the grates. I have a 38' red brick chimney that I use 31' of so draft is not an issue on start up. For those that have to start a draft the alcohol is clean and there is zero smell to be had. As far as how much charcoal to use, don't be cheap as most only start a stove once a year.