Finding the BEST way to light charcoal! Propane Torch vs Looftlighter vs Heat Gun vs Chimney

What's the best way to light charcoal? After a few complaints we finally put the propane torch up against the looftlighter, heat gun, and charcoal chimney to discover the best way to light charcoal.
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[@LupeMelchor]

I was about to buy a looftlighter and thought “let check KZbin for reviews” so happy I did. Picking up a heat gun tomorrow. Thanks!

[@5cent27]

Great video! Exactly what I was looking for. As a grunt working pipeline in Wyoming I had to pack one of those propane torches (we called it a weed burner) and walk up the pipeline to heat up the bare joints of pipe for welding. That thing was my best friend that summer haha!

[@vinstinct]

I've used the propane torch "weed burner" several times. I think it's a lot of fun. I now use a high btu outdoor burner for my wok and put my charcoal chimney on top. It takes about the same amount of time.

[@blueskys6265]

great idea

[@flavorflamebbq287]

This is a nice side by side comparison. I've shared it to my site. I prefer the chimney method myself with a tumble weed style fire starter

[@betogonzalez8582]

I use the chimney and a leaf blower!!! Lol 💥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@christopherdesbaux5950]

Me too 😂

[@robertmorris2564]

All day. Chimney and a hair dryer for me 😂

[@ryaneslava7111]

I use the chimney and small portable handheld electric fan. 10 minutes top. Ready to go.

[@JOE-cv8ky]

I always used my Wagner Heat gun to start my pellet smoking tubes. usually use the chimney for the weber since it gives me time to prep before hand. That Torch would send embers into the air with lump charcoal. ekkk Great review!!

[@frankie1220]

I just started using the same exact heat gun for heat shrinking, didn't think it could be used in this application. Just when I was thinking of getting a BernzOmatic TS8000 and propane (I think I'll skip MapPro because I don't need to spend more just for more heat) I was able to see this video. Thanks. I still might consider the BernzOmatic though.

[@Russellkhan]

I have one of those weedburners and you're right, it's pretty annoying to use. Way too many sparks blown out of the grill when lighting. I switched to a Bernzomatic TS8000 torch. It takes about twice as long, but it's much more manageable and less annoying. I'm currently considering a JJGeorge Grill torch as one that falls in between.

[@TheTruth27536]

Thank you for showing the heat gun method! Never heard of it. I have two of them on hand and never gave it a thought. Also, I see that Wagner has a heat gun that gets up to 1300F, so I may give that one a try.

[@BreakItYourself]

glad i could help!

[@meatssa]

I use my small propane torch to get a couple coals lit, then use the shop vac to blow air on coals. It lights super quick this way and way less propane.

[@tracyparenteintervention]

You're the best! AMEN. YOU JUST SAVED MY KIDS DINNER. SINGLE MOM HERE AND I WAS READY TO GIVE UP! MY CHARCOALS WOULDN'T LIGHT.... THANK YOU SO MUCH. FYI: I LOVE THE TORCH AND THE CHIMNEY STARTER.

[@machaf]

I love the magnet on the fridge about your dog.

[@BreakItYourself]

although technically they're probably socialists since they don't work...

[@CaseyScoffieldWOW]

I'm a charcoal chimney and tumbleweeds guy myself. I've used my propane torch a couple of times to light my lump but I will say, as a blind guy, I find it easier and safer to stick with my chimney. It may take longer but, it's a lot less time-consuming I have found.

[@peterodriguez2364]

There's smaller torch guns available now .. another option I use is a firepit starter.. stainless steel rod with round ring that has small holes.. hooks up to propane.. it's a step down from the large torch and does a good job

[@MitchMb14]

My already paid for general purpose Bernz-O-Matic torch works pretty well. I just hold it between a few briquettes at a few places in the pile. I saw a grill torch that looked pretty cool if I felt like spending money. Never lighter fluid. Makes the food taste bad and gives me a pounding headache.

[@BruceJC75]

I use a chimney with a powerful butane torch. In the summer, my coals are going in 15 minutes tops. I use the propane torch in the wintertime.

[@billpullen9627]

as soon as the slow mo video started i smashed like

[@GreenhornBBQbeer]

Great comparison! I'm not going to get the propane torch but for BBQ caterers that use big wood burning offset smokers, those propane torches are perfect. For use backyard folk, the electric torches are a good "in between" the chimney and something else. Curious, have you ever tried one using battery with inverter power? You know, just in case you need to BBQ during the zombie apocalypse?

[@BreakItYourself]

I haven’t but that’s a good idea. If I didn’t have power I’d go starter cube, news paper in the chimney, or propane torch 😎

[@markmiller3308]

I use one of the old school heat coils my father used. No smell or taste of fuel and you set it and wait about 15mins and you are good to go.

[@user-tz5uq2bt1s]

My preferred method is the chimney because I want no issues using my grill if we lose power for a day out here in remote Alaska.

[@johnknapp6328]

I see some light a lighter cube, that's it. I like the chimney I think it's the pyromaniac in me. I use newspaper and it still amazing with such little effort.

[@BreakItYourself]

Totally agree! Only down side to the chimney is time. If I want to grill on a week night I'm usually in a hurry haha the torch will get me there in a minute so I can pretty much be grilling right away. Although on a Kamado I'll probably still have to wait for the ceramic to warm up as well.

[@ustaarthur]

This video is a great comparison. I have a brand new heat gun that I never used, and never thought of using on a BBQ grill. Thanks for the video.

[@boardinrider]

I use a Chimney over a single propane burner, it lights extremely fast

[@1llest]

I use tumbleweed fire starter under my chimney starter. Although it took you 28 mins for the chimney starter, the charcoal was white when it was done. With the other 3 methods the charcoals were lit. I think thats a big difference. Plus I dont use briquettes anyways. Only lump charcoal.

[@gjaxx]

First bbq in 20 years last weekend, as I didn't have a garden. Went looking for tips on YT, and came across the kitchen towel soaked in olive oil method, tried it, had a g&t and some good conversation while it did it's work. Ready to go in 15 minutes... It's a bbq ffs! A social occasion! What is it with the brute force? Why the rush?

[@scott.hanson]

I had no idea I could use my heat gun for this. Time for some experimenting next weekend...

[@Cimone90]

I have the eggniter. It's the ame price as the looftlighter and basically the same design but it lights my big green egg up in easily under 4 minutes.

[@MrHammGutsnGlory]

Thanks for the video

[@fernze.6478]

You loaded up the chimney..I use half of that with lump mesquite charcoal.. I put a lighter cube and in 5 mins its on a cracking..I will def give that heat gun a try..Since its cheap..Eventually when I have the money I might just get that torch..For parties or gatherings it would be perfect..Time is of an essence then..

[@surfingonmars8979]

I just ask my Chef or Butler to start the grill, so I do not understand why everybody doesn’t use that method. LOLOLOL. Thanks for the analysis. I love my chimney, but have had repeated Loof Lighter failures. Eventually gave up on them. Thinking of blow torch, and actually used a regular torch and it works ok with a smaller/standard head.

[@derek_406]

Suppose you light it in the chimney with a little propane torch? (not as loud or obnoxious) ...I've never tried it, but curious if it'd work.

[@joshhavens3450]

I have a turkey fryer and a chimney. Just set the chimney on the stand where the pot goes and you are grilling in a minute or 2!

[@mauser1551]

Confucius say: “Impatient people don’t use charcoal, and patient people don’t mind the time it takes to light it.”

[@mrzuniga78]

@ ..And vegetables can be grilled.

[@GeneShultz]

Very true mauser

[@nsw30291ify]

My step father likes to grill a lot. He uses a chimney because he feels like the lighter fluid on the coals affect both the smell and taste of the meat. He takes pieces of the charcoal bag, stuffs them under the chimney and uses a lighter to light the paper under the chimney. He has not heard of the other 3 options. If someone were to give you a fathers day gift based off what I said about him. Which option would you like?

[@jesserodriguez236]

I usually lite my chimney, which lets me prep my food and clean the grates. Just enough time....

[@JesusPaidItAll]

Yep. No time wasted. Love the ease of the chimney.

[@hallobre]

The chimney takes me around 10 minutes. I use an old hairdryer (specifically for bbq only) and I put it under the chimney a few minutes in once a bit of the charcoal started.

[@pioneer7777777]

Nice, that's a pretty good tip for if you're in a hurry to get cooking.

[@datdudetrent8938]

Isn’t the Looflighter supposed to be making contact to aim air at the center of the coals as opposed to waving it around six inches above the charcoal?

[@alikhurram]

Thanks really helped

[@schilling3003]

For just a little more money you could get a much better heat gun on amazon that comes with an extension meant to help light coals. There are tons of different models from $20-50.

[@unogazzy84]

You replied to a comment saying that you would try out the heat gun on a chimney. That sounded like a good idea to me. Will you try it out?

[@hugdeath929]

Thanks for the video. I was considering the Looflighter but I already have a heat gun. Sorry Loofy. Not this time.

[@BreakItYourself]

Let me know how it goes

[@alexdelforge6278]

Try al smaller burner.. less noise. Still faster than the other 3 ✌

[@jlastre]

Binchōtan (Japanese charcoal) and Thaan (a Thai charcoal) can be a real pain to light so I use a propane kitchen torch. Some people will put a chimney over a propane stove burner to start them.

[@dylan-nguyen]

jlastre yee I used to use chimney + regular charcoal on bottom to light it. The regular charcoal would catch first. But then thought of using the side burner on my gas grill.. got it going in like 10 min vs 30-45 before LOL

[@tjhaeussler]

My looftlighter is 7 years old, I doubt the heat gun would last that long. I've been known to use the looftlighter to light a few coals in the base of a chimney and then dump more on top. But if I'm hosting our Grillers Anonymous Meating, I get out the torch and light all 4 grills and the fire pit in under 5 minutes.

[@ChocolateTampon]

My 15 year old Black and Decker heat gun has been used exclusively for lighting charcoal. Avoid the cheaper ones and get a decent one. They are still very cheap and is my preferred method of lighting. Also useful for heating up the coals if they cool down too much. Give the coals a blast from a distance to get them ripping hot again without blasting ash all over your food.

[@michaelweston6083]

Could you try a berzomatic torch?

[@djhunt9828]

lol I just use a bottle torch to start the bottom of my chimney, takes about a min or two to get it going. Come back in 20-30 min and dump it in the grill. I used to use paper balls to start the chimney, and I was never really opting towards buying those little tiny starters you get at the store. It was so annoying. It felt like I was starting a mini campfire every time I went to grill.

[@ronbegnaud8520]

The propane torch is effective but it really goes through propane fast adding expense to your cook. I know that my weed burner doesn’t use a regulator other that the control knob on the burner itself so it’s just dumping propane at the full rate out of the tank.

[@binaryglitch64]

You missed the two methods used by common everyday Joe's who are not into grilling... the newspaper method, and the lighter fluid method... I understand these are not ideal methods, but it would be nice to see the time and be able to show it to somebody trying to use one of those methods. Remember there are a lot of people lighting grills that are so clueless they think they're supposed to be a flame the entire time with charcoal.

[@eldetailplug]

When cooking outside it’s for the experience, why rush that?? Chimney all the way.. if I wanna start a fire for fire pit, I still use my chimney lol. I use to use a torch for work, so don’t forget to include the added cost for propane. Good video!

[@johnirby493]

Use a large fresnel lens. It will out perform all of them, plus it will melt the grill, that is as long as the sun is shining.😊

[@BreakItYourself]

Incredible idea. I'm going to do it.

[@ahmetnmn5174]

Dankeschön 👍👍

[@slaisebam]

Fun Fact. The BBQ dragon chimney hole fits the torch head nicely. You just need to support the handle with something sturdy if you don't want to hold it. White coals in a few minutes. Works like a charm. Also very efficient starting and keeping splits going in a stick burner.

[@OKOK-hm2is]

How could it even possible that your chimney took almost 30 MINUTES to start? I think my chimney would literally melt, if I to let it stay untended for such a long time... Usually it's about 10 minutes untill blazing hot white ashes ready to cook

[@mauser1551]

Why light charcoal with that propane torch when you could just cook your meat in a few seconds with it?

[@BreakItYourself]

Good point. Some people do sear food with their torches but then people would cry out “YOUR FOOD WILL TASTE LIKE PROPANE!!!!”

[@LBCAndrew]

Because propane cooked food tastes like crap compared to charcoal. Or even better, add some wood chips to the charcoal

[@webmoss]

LBCAndrew Hank Hill does not approve of your comment

[@knifeyonline]

@@LBCAndrew propane bbq's doesn't make the foot taste like propane. charcoal is literally better because it adds flavour to meat and propane doesn't... pretty sure there was an episode of king of the hill where he found that out, and worked out charcoal is way better lol. I mean BBQ bricketts are not pure charcoal of course, they are different wood with charcoal for a flavour profile...

[@jamesstanley5503]

Nice comparison . but just a note for those Harbor Freight heat guns is they only last for a few hours of total life run time before the element craps out. Propane torch is the only way to go unless maybe you are on an apartment building balcony!! lol

[@BreakItYourself]

Really? I’ve had my harbor freight heat gun for years. Should easily have a few hours of run time on it. Maybe mine was an outlier

[@jamesstanley5503]

I have been through a few of them to heat up cold woodstove downdraft chimneys before lighting the stove. The guns work great for this on high for 10 minutes, maybe 20 times a season, but usually they burn out after the second season.. With all that said and pre reading the HF longevity reviews for $15 its ok.

[@BreakItYourself]

Fair enough. Appreciate the insight!

[@isackhernandez3691]

You can use a fan or leaf blower on the chimney for quicker results

[@Magesandrogue]

Seems like chimney creates the most amount smoke compared to the other method. Which is always nice

[@queenmonkeyhead]

but you need to stand there inhaling the smoke and fume.. not good for your health. With Chimney you walk away and done .

[@tomasmartinez8734]

Bro I use 2 chimneys filled halfway with newspaper, good to go in 12 mins, temp up to 500+ on a webber 22 inch grill...

[@sebasstuff8847]

Tried my Ryobi heat gun with lump charcoal and it took about 18 minutes without any accelerants. Will try with my loof lighter next.

[@elrob20]

Any difference?

[@sebasstuff8847]

@@elrob20, no real difference. I use wax fire starters now. I’ve also moved away from charcoal all together and use wood.

[@elrob20]

@sebasstuff8847 I just got a looft 2 and I'm very pleased with it. 😀

[@bolamex]

Why did you keep changing spots with the loof?

[@TheClearT.O-911]

add the chimney over a propane stand burner, like the one you use for fryin a turkey, whats that time?

[@BreakItYourself]

probably the fastest way ever haha

[@brudel001]

Propane torch works excellent, you just have to use it reasonably by not going full blast - then its way more quiet. Some people need to remember that sometimes theres some leftover coal from last time and everyone doesn't live in a hot dry climate so theres more humidity and moister and propane torch evaporates that moisture fast. Also propane torch covers a lot more area so no one side is working but lump in the other side is stubborn and won't lit.

[@kangzau1006]

How much propane can you fire if you have a dedicated tank for charcoal starts? Just too much stuff to have around the house. Propane and gun hose and charcoal

[@iancunicolae2626]

How about use the 8000 TORCH which is a lot smaller and you can focus high heat and light up a small batch like 10 coals in 1-2 min , then spread them once they are lit, and then dump 3lb of additional coals on top, the lit coals that are spread will light all the coals evenly, across the entire surface area, in about 10 min maybe less, the heat will be even and progressive, even for the winter, The only negative you probably have to watch how fast the temp comes up, so you turn down the vents so you don't overshoot.

[@smittyboy]

I modified my Looftlighter with a toggle switch

[@adrianr8486]

I need one of those hear guns from harbor freight, which one is it?

[@MrTsukurou]

Here is the only way to look at this. What works for me works for me. I like the chimney method simply because it is a process. I go out, get the chimney setup and started, go back in and prepare the meal to be cooked over said charcoal. It works because it is doing its thing while I do mine. I can see why the torch is enjoyed too. I mean.. who has never pretended to have a flame thrower as a kid?

[@bbqwalt]

I have half of a chimney going in five minutes using my side burner on the POS gas grill. Hooking up the Torch to the tank should be counted as time spent. At least you can kill some weeds with the torch.

[@Brock-Landers]

I put my chimney on my propane grill side burner.

[@BreakItYourself]

sounds like the easiest way for sure

[@atvridingtrail]

Merci mec👍

[@cannaqueen1396]

This should be titled "the fastest way" vs the best if active vs passive isn't being taken into consideration imo

[@michaelmurray5578]

I’ll just keep using my chimney and a tumbleweed. I always can find something to do during the 15 minutes it takes to light like drink another beer!

[@CaseyScoffieldWOW]

I like you buddy. This is exactly my method. It has never failed.

[@silvermapleleavesusa]

The torch should be used with safety glasses. The forceful movement of air/combustibles can cause ricochet of particles in the grill.

[@davem8836]

Better yet, get a Harrier jet or F-35B to hover over your grill. Would probably take what, 1 1/2 seconds?

[@BreakItYourself]

Preach 😂😂

[@oam2720]

This comment deserve 1M thumbs up 😂

[@ThatguyBBQ]

You should next try the Grill Gun

[@Jillian1stJohn3-9-10]

I just purchased the heat gun

[@KemDIY]

One thing I was interested in is the amount of smoke. I always feel badly using my charcoal chimney at 7 am on a summer morning knowing my neighbors may have their windows open while sleeping. And then they smell smoke! Anyone deal with this? Or have a thought on how to be courteous for those longer smokes. I guess bringing them ribs or pulled pork later in the day could help :)

[@KemDIY]

Mark Carson of course agreed. but still would like to be courteous. At least it’s not everyday. That would get annoying I’m sure.

[@paulh6517]

Just take them a little of what you are smoking (meat) and I am sure all is forgiven.

[@KemDIY]

@@paulh6517 haha I totally do that. It definitely works. ;)

[@spencersloan79]

Best way? Seems like the fastest way to get all coals but best for low and slow? Cost? Convince?

[@cplcouture]

Which one produce less white smoke at the start? Chimney look produce a lot of smoke for a long time. What’s best option when you have really close neighbors?!

[@mattmetivier2775]

Yes, I would like to know as well

[@GoodnessandTruth]

I don't know how your chimney took so long. I use a chimney with some fire starter cubes at the bottom of it. It usually takes 15-20 minutes for the top to ash over.

[@HomerSlated]

I light my BBQ with ... patience. This also has the benefit of being so cheap it's basically free.

[@venutt65]

I was using a heating element, but they do not appear very durable. It seems I need a new one every other year. Propane? It is not just noise, but expense and hassle. Yes from the time you start it up it finishes quicker. But what about setup? Expense? You have to break out a propane tank, hook it up, and then periodically go refill the propane tank... not cheap and if you factor in just the time to periodically g out to do a tank swap you haven't really saved much time. Looflighter is over priced. So I am thinking just go back to the chimney method, or the heat gun.

[@matthewnicholas6365]

4 videos, 3 have a guy standing in front of a bbq, one has a pile of coals self heating. What's best? Speed or ease?

[@thomasgoff1059]

For me ease.. nothing like starting your charcoal then clean the grill prep the food clean up from prepping the food and boom grill is ready to use with a quick dump

[@stozov2]

Went down a KZbin wormhole and ended up here from originally looking up Mandela effect....Dont ask me how lol...Cool channel tho I'll stay

[@BreakItYourself]

haha welcome! i think we've all been there

[@Jillian1stJohn3-9-10]

Normally I just grill my steak on the stove within 5 minutes but I wanted the flavor of a barbecue. I've never had a BBQ before, so this week I wanted to cook my steak WithOut the flavor of Lighter Fluid, so I bought "Expert Grill INSTANT Lighting Charcoal Briquettes" but they did not catch fire with a lighter, so I went back to the store and I saw "Western BBQ Smoking Chips", I thought shirley that would quickly catch fire, but no it didn't. Last night I watched several videos that said lump charcoal lights quickly, so today I just bought "Expert Grill Lump Charcoal" and it won't light either! ~Do all 3 of these products require a flame thrower?

[@CaseyScoffieldWOW]

Charcoal chimney my friend. Charcoal chimney.

[@Alwayslivinggood]

What about the heat gun in the chimney

[@patrick5028]

Nice if you have way us propane torch on chimeny starter

[@alexng8417]

you should try propane torch to start chimney. I guess it would be way way way faster

[@scottbutler1561]

Propane wins. Of course it's an unfair advantage with the background distraction in that frame :)

[@LexLutha]

I’m a chimney guy myself.

[@Ethan-yx3xd]

Why is he wearing hearing protection for a propane torch?

[@dougcorey1205]

Have you tried liquid oxygen?

[@As_129sl]

Haha that blow torch 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@HoopFam]

You're not using the Looftlighter correctly. I only use lump charcoal and I can light it in about a minute or two with a Looftlighter. Cool video though, thanks for taking the time to show multiple methods.

[@JuanMartinez-df1lc]

I never rush to light my charcoal. I like to sit down drink a beer and enjoy the burn

[@imtired20]

All real men love super obnoxious , very loud , flame thrower bbq ignition systems . Just ordered one.

[@jermainewilliams4966]

Grill Gunz!!!!

[@dustinstone9221]

The heat gun method here is absolutely not what to do. You put the narrow tip onto the heat gun and stick it into the coals somewhere there’s a little tight path for air to follow. Then DONT MOVE IT. Generally, I get ignition within 10 seconds and the pressurized hot air turns into a flame thrower after that as it speeds through the tight path. Absolutely amazing to watch. But be sure to use the tightest nozzle. I think I’ll make a video of this.

[@robhimself79]

How about that castle behind your house?! Dang, that looks like a huge house!!!

[@BreakItYourself]

It’s massive. Definitely doesn’t fit the neighborhood 😂

[@blueskys6265]

would be great to build something to hold the flame thrower. Only thing that could be better is have two flame throwers blowing. Or i bet the flame thrower shoved up the butt of the chimney starter would be like a jet engine and start super fast too. Then ill just cook directly on top of the chimney starter with a small grill grate. ha ha. So cool.