I Finally Solved the Puzzle on Lighting My Stove

I have tired everything from Cowboy Coal, pellets, match light, mice, flares (the most fun), electric BBQ lighter, etc. Some methods worked but weren't fail proof and most were smelly and messy. Tonight I tried something new and it worked perfectly with zero smell. I made a bed of coal on the grate and then took my hand held map torch and stuck the flame in the bed. In about 3 minutes I had some red coal. I turned on the blower and that was it. Easy with no smell or mess. Mice and flares and still the most fun.

Glad you have things figured out so it works well for you . I use the easy light charcoal with some match light and that has worked well so far but quite smelly for sure . I will give the torch a try next time as that might be a better method for me also.

I use easy-light charcoal also, but I really haven't noticed much of a smell. I stack it up with coal sprinkled over it and pushed right up behind it. I light it and close the door and I have my barometric damper foiled-off till I get a draft established. Usually the flames will dye down after a few minutes (as the fire uses up the oxygen within the stove), so then I turn the comb. blower on and it starts cooking again and usually the draft also increases at that point and once the charcoal has died down, the coal laying next to it has started to glow. So, with everything sealed up while firing up, there isn't too much smell that leaves the stove.