What are you using to start the fire?

Sorry I brought it up, BB will ash can this line where its going.

My old Whitfield does not have auto start. In the fall I make a bunch my own fire starters by filling egg carton cups with sawdust and paraffin wax. They light easily and burn for a long time. I use them to start the fireplace too.

Dave

I guess they should have used some of the nsa techy stuff at the time of his arrest. They might have prevented a disaster.

Having been in the pyrotechnic industry and related fields for forty years the last thing I need to collect is something else that burns.

We have two (2) older Whitfields (early 90's vintage) and I open the door, flip on the exhaust fan, add some pellets, then stuff my auto light propane torch into the fire pot until the pellets are burning.

Close the door and flip on the fuel feed switch, ahhhh, good to go.

I don't like waiting for the fire.

I can have the big Whit up to the point that I can walk away and forget it in about 2-3 minutes from a stone cold start.

one bottle of propane lasts me all season and beyond


Snowy

Snowy Rivers said:

We have two (2) older Whitfields (early 90's vintage) and I open the door, flip on the exhaust fan, add some pellets, then stuff my auto light propane torch into the fire pot until the pellets are burning.

Close the door and flip on the fuel feed switch, ahhhh, good to go.

I don't like waiting for the fire.

I can have the big Whit up to the point that I can walk away and forget it in about 2-3 minutes from a stone cold start.

one bottle of propane lasts me all season and beyond


Snowy

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Exactly my start procedure except I use 20ish seconds with a mapp torch.

Bioburner said:

Shove the torch into a pile of pellets and let burn till a ball of pellets are glowing good(about 40 sec)and shut the door and let the exaust fan erupt the pile just like a igniter.

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This. Works every time.

I enjoy lighting the fire and like a quick and clean start with the added benefit that the smoke doesn't compel a passer-by to think I have house fire.

Normal pellets soaked in some denatured alcohol provides an instant, 100% light with a clean burn that gets me heat 10+ minutes faster than the electric igniter.

A while back, I bought some "Multifuel Firelighting Pellets" to try which work mostly because of the denatured alcohol (though their special pellets stay intact). This led me to try re-using the 1.5 quart container by filling it 2/3 with pellets and then pouring denatured alcohol in it and letting it soak (resealing the lid, of course). The pellets expand, so don't fill it all the way. The pellets will crumble a bit, but it doesn't matter. You may have to turn it over for a bit to get the alcohol in the top ones.

Lights 8-12 fires per batch depending on how much a pyromaniac you are. ymmv.

Dump a half cup or so in the burn pot and light it. You don't even have to have a lighter with fluid in the lighter, just the flint action is usually enough to light it. I usually light it and immediately turn on the stove and shut the door. Flames up right away.

Part of my motivation is to not use the electricity. I think the igniter uses 600 watts for 20 minutes. The electricity is probably cheaper than the alcohol, but not as fun.

minch said:

The electricity is probably cheaper than the alcohol, but not as fun.

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What more reason could one want?

Never heard of paper cat litter. My mother used to buy clay litter by the ton. There's corn and wheat based litters out now too.

slvrblkk said:

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That thing looks pretty bad@ss. Now I want one.