am i the only one using a bernz-omatic torch

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ad356

Member
Hearth Supporter
Dec 25, 2009
156
north java, ny
i use a handheld propane torch to light my P61 manual lighting stove. seems to work the best out of all other methods, puts lighter gel crap to shame. i dont like that stuff too much. it takes way to long and its expensive. i have a handheld torch that i have been using for everything from lighting the harman in the house, the woodstove in the barn, and burning trash in the burn barrel out in the yard. i have 2 bottles, one is a blue propane and i have a yellow mapp gas tank for heating up stuck bolts and fasteners. i have had the blue bottle for a couple of years now. yup, it lasts a long, long time when it only takes 10 seconds to light the pellets up. it takes allot longer to use the gel and i think its more expensive. i can go a couple of heating seasons on a propane bottle.
 
That's what I use!

Tom
 
problem i see with that is keeping the door open and lighting the pellets you will get some smoke in the house, is your stove blowers running when you light?
 
I have one. I call it my backup igniter and campfire starter
 
problem i see with that is keeping the door open and lighting the pellets you will get some smoke in the house, is your stove blowers running when you light?
nope....stick it in TEST mode first, smoke gets sucked out exhaust....

My P61 is lit with propylene gas, even have an igniter switch on my nozzle...its like a big, very hot, lighter! Also works pretty good for crème brulee!
 
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When I used my manual lighted Enviro EF-2 I used a propane torch.

When the torch is coupled with a push button starter it is easy and quick.

I use this one and have had great success for years
(broken link removed to http://www.bernzomatic.com/item.html?id=19)

Can be had for about $30.00 and a bottle of propane lasts for years.

Found it much easier than the gel.

---Nailer---
 
When I used my manual lighted Enviro EF-2 I used a propane torch.

When the torch is coupled with a push button starter it is easy and quick.

I use this one and have had great success for years
(broken link removed to http://www.bernzomatic.com/item.html?id=19)

Can be had for about $30.00 and a bottle of propane lasts for years.

Found it much easier than the gel.

---Nailer---
I have something like that at work since the '80's works great my stove does not have "test" mode, just on/off and my convection blower comes on once you start stove not after heating up
 
Bernzomatic/propane here.
 
yep, same here. After my ignitor crapped to bed 4 years .
 
I have a P61 also and I did the torch routine, but found a much better way. Try taking a handful of pellets and put them in a small container (I use an old plastic pint deli container) and use Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to soak the pellets for about 5- 10 minutes. Load the burn pot as usual but leave enough room for the alcohol soaked pellets. Light it close the door and walk away. Much better than using a torch.
Buy the 90% alcohol don't be cheap.;)
 
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Use cheap dollar store hand sanitizer. Mix with a handful of pellets

I tried the sanitizer I found the rubbing alcohol much better. Rubbing alcohol gets soaked into the pellets and burns longer.
 
Denatured alcohol is excellent as well-it's also a great window glass cleaner! I use the propane/mapp gas set up s well when I'm not burning wood 24/7, will try it with the pellets soon. Mother nature is not cooperating! Beautiful weather in the Northeast.
 
Use cheap dollar store hand sanitizer. Mix with a handful of pellets

That's what I prefer to start my manual start stove in my shop... two bottles per year.
 
problem i see with that is keeping the door open and lighting the pellets you will get some smoke in the house, is your stove blowers running when you light?
I use the propane torch method too. I installed a switch on the auger so I shut that off and run the exhaust blower than after the pellets are burning ,close the door and turn the auger back on.
 
Pics or it never happened.

you know, I've never taken pics of mine.....I will, but prefer to make it when the weather is cooler......I make a Mango paste (cook some mango down until its thick), and put it on the bottom of my ramekin (thin layer, maybe 1/4" or less), let it cool, and then ladle in the custard mixture that is actually most of the crème of the Crème Brule. The trick here is to cook it slowly, with the ramekins immersed in a hot water bath.....after a bit you get pretty good at deciding when its done. Then remove it, stick it in the fridge, letting it set up even more. Take it out, grate a bit of vanilla pod on top, sprinkle sugar on, and caramelize the sugar with the ole Bernzomatic! stick it back in the fridge for a bit, and you'll have a great mango Crème Brule! The mango stays on the bottom if you do it right........amazing! I had Wolfgang Puck's Brule in Vegas, went away disappointed.
 
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you know, I've never taken pics of mine.....I will, but prefer to make it when the weather is cooler......I make a Mango paste (cook some mango down until its thick), and put it on the bottom of my ramekin (thin layer, maybe 1/4" or less), let it cool, and then ladle in the custard mixture that is actually most of the crème of the Crème Brule. The trick here is to cook it slowly, with the ramekins immersed in a hot water bath.....after a bit you get pretty good at deciding when its done. Then remove it, stick it in the fridge, letting it set up even more. Take it out, grate a bit of vanilla pod on top, sprinkle sugar on, and caramelize the sugar with the ole Bernzomatic! stick it back in the fridge for a bit, and you'll have a great mango Crème Brule! The mango stays on the bottom if you do it right........amazing! I had Wolfgang Puck's Brule in Vegas, went away disappointed.

In light of the recent evidence I'm exercising a little known rule. Pics may be waived if substituted for an invitation for dessert and beverages. I like beer with my Mango Crème brûlée. ::-)
 
propane torch, in a pinch cutting torch but very carefull there. jelled alcohol. depends on whats handy
 
OK, back a few threads ago we discussed lighting with a bernz-o-matic torch and this was the reply from P38X2 to me when I stated a torch didn`t work well for me on my hard starting P 38stove.
"MCPO, if you're lighting with a torch, don't look for the pellets to stay aflame. I FINALLY figured this out a couple weeks ago. Stick the torch end in the pile and give it 20 or so seconds. Enough to get a ball of pellets glowing. Shut the door. 2 min later POOF, off and running. No different than ignition by an auto igniter. Works the same on both my 38's."

Well, I tried it last night and discovered he`s absolutely right! The trick is to stick the torch end into the pellets for about 20 sec`s , pull it out and shut the door. It smolders for about 20 -30 sec`s and then breaks into a strong flame exactly like an auto igniter works. The exhaust blower sucked up most of the odor so it wasn`t bad.
I had a strong full flame quicker than when using alcohol or gel.
This might become my preferred method after all.
 
I have done them all. THough I mostly used hand sanitizer..... when it ran out I switched to alcohol, next was my propane and MAPP Gas torch and for fun I would actually light a single pellet with a Bic lighter and that would light another etc until I had 6 or so going then I'd hit the on button and shut the door. Something to do all by myself with no one nagging me or bugging me or anything.
 
In light of the recent evidence I'm exercising a little known rule. Pics may be waived if substituted for an invitation for dessert and beverages. I like beer with my Mango Crème brûlée. ::-)
trust me brother, that's a LONG commute for you.......
 
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