Mapp torch to light briquettes?

[oldsmokey]

I'll have my PBC on Thursday to complement my BGE, in advance of a party where I need to cook 9 racks of St. Louis ribs, a whole pastrami, a brisket, two pork butts, 12 pounds of steak, and a boneless leg of lamb. I always use a Mapp torch to light the lump in the Egg, and wonder what the technique would be to do this in the PBC (or if it should be done at all).

Can I put the charcoal in the cooker and then reach down with the torch to light them? Or do it in the charcoal starter for a minute or so?

And what do people do about long-term storage? I leave my Egg out in all weather, all year. Can the PBC be left out like that? Does it need to be covered or brought inside during the winter?

I'm looking forward to trying it out!

[Obi-Dan]

I'm not one to answer lighting. I always use a chimney. But I do leave my PBC out year round (I'm in Houston so I can grill year round) and bought the cover. So far so good. Been almost two years and is in great shape.

[Jon Solberg]

I keep my PBC in the house year round. I was going to get a cover for it from Yukon Glory which is actually an 18" weber cover BUT WORKS GREAT. For a PBC. I do however cook with the PBC outside. She seems to like it better out there for sure. She's never happy when I bring her back in the house. It's sad.

[Nate]

I keep my PBC outside with a cover on it most of the year.

When winter rolls around I put it in my garage which is really just a storage shed for the cookers, grills, mower, chuck wagon, lawn furniture and other toys.... alas no vehicle gets parked in the little detached garage...

As far as lighting goes I use this method.

[Mr. Bones]

I use charcoal chimley(s) at all times, with newspaper, an' a MAPP Torch.
Yeah, I've used th' Torch to "hurry up" or revive some coals before, but very, very rarely...

[xaugievike]

I light with the torch pretty much all the time. A 30 second blast focusing on a few spots from the bottom side of the chimney and 20mins later she's rolling. Couldn't be easier.

[hogdog6]

For my method I have a used tuna fish can pour a small amount of 93% rubbing alcohol in it, light it with a torch and put the loaded chimney on top. Works great with no paper ash blowing around it also gets the briquettes lit faster than paper. I store my PBC inside.

[Mr. Bones]

Cool method! Like some of th' Survival stoves...
I, personally, like to apply th alcohol internally, then play with my MAPP torch, an' newspaper!
No real reason, other than it amuseth me greatly, an' I can use that, in my life!

[Notavegan]

Love it hog dog! Great idea.

[DWCowles]

My PBC stays out on the deck year round with a cover on it.

[oldsmokey]

@xaugievike: You hit the chimney with the torch from below? Do you hold it with a gloved hand? How does that work?

I'm really sorry to be dense, but I've never worked with briquettes before.

[xaugievike]

Nope...I just hold the handle on the chimney with one hand and the torch with the other.

[oldsmokey]

Fabulous, and just what I'm looking for. The PBC arrives Thursday and I'm doing three racks of St. Louis spares Friday night to try it out. They take 6 hours on the BGE; my brother says his take less than 3 1/2 on the PBC.

I can't wait.

[Notavegan]

A torch is cool. It matters. I use an electric but am now ALWAYS using the hair dryer to jack it up once started. Whether I need it quick or not, its fun. Poor mans dragon.

[johnec00]

Mapp gas seem like overkill to me, why not just regular propane? I just use a Weber compact chimney. Two chimneys full of unlit KBB in the PBC basket, then light a third chimney full using a Weber lighter cube for 20 minutes and dump into basket. Spread lit coals about as necessary, hang meat and cook. Has never failed, and very simple.

[PBCDad]

I can't speak to the torch, but contrary to many here I leave my PBC outside uncovered all year round. Other than being a little dirty, no harm has come to it

[NickinAZ]

I am here in Arizona and I leave my PBC out all the time. It does not have that nice shine like when I got it but the insides still work like a champ. I have to see how to get my Navy symbol back on the placard that it came with years ago.

[gcdmd]

As I recall some folks here have used the side burner on a gas grill to light the charcoal in a chimney. Anyone?

[PBCDad]

fzxdoc https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...autionary-tale

[doctorak]

As I recall some folks here have used the side burner on a gas grill to light the charcoal in a chimney. Anyone?

Yeah I did this to light my second set of coals when the originals went out during my chuckie cook Memorial Day weekend. It worked fine, and was pretty quick. It lit the 35ish coals in like 10 minutes with the side burner cranked all the way. I have some Weber lighting cubes to use up, otherwise I may just start doing this every time.

[fzxdoc]

I don't do this anymore, given my experience with melting the Weber gasser side burner on my first try. Not worth it.

That said, other side burners without Aluminum deflectors seem to do OK, from my YouTube perusings.

Kathryn