Lump Charcoal Lighting Tips?

[snowswamp]

My parents bought a Smokey Joe. They also bought lump charcoal instead of standard briquettes. They have a small charcoal chimney lighter for the Smokey Joe. Can I get some lighting tips? The chimney is wicked hot, glowing, and white when I poured it in but quickly dies down even with all the vents wide open. The irregularity of the lump with such a small amount makes it hard to get even heat. I’d hate for them to waste the bag of lump. Is there a way to use lump in such a small cooker and get good results?

[FireMan]

Somebody just presented that to me on Sunday. 3 Joes & lump. I just stacked the coal high. Fortunately we were cookin only brats.

[customtrim]

I guess you could try like I do on my kj when doing low and slow, light one firestarter and keep a eye on your vents

[Spinaker]

I like to use a Benzomatic TS 8000 torch. I light a small, hot fire in the middle of the lump. Works like a charm.

[EdF]

Macho! ;-)

[RonB]

Maybe try to pick out pieces of uniform size? Or break the larger chunks into smaller pieces. These are just guesses 'cause I don't use lump.

[djl]

Based on what you said, sounds like it is not getting enough oxygen. Try leaving the lip slightly tilted (ajar)

[Keiferr]

I use lump all the time. I put a square fire started in a little depression in the lump, light it with a MAPP torch for about 15 seconds, then stack more lump on and around the fire.

[SmokeyGator]

I use a harbor freight heat gun, or a propane torch. The heat gun actually works better. There is a fancy BBQ heat gun lighter that runs $80, the cheapie from HF is $10 but doesn’t have the long nozzle.

Anyhow it produces enough heat to ignite the lump AND the forced air gets a good fire going quickly. It’s like having a torch / firestsrter AND the BBQ dragon or some other fan.

As for the small kettle, this should not be a problem. Make sure all the ash is cleaned out. I’m going to suggest using the larger chunks but fewer of them. Japanese charcoal grills get small. Smaller than the little Webber. But the lump traditionally used isn’t very lumpy because of the tree used (think long thinner branches, as opposed to a tree you could get large logs from). So larger chunks spread out in a single layer will get more airflow than a pile? Seems like that would work.

[EdF]

Hmn, heat gun - I've got one of those in the garage (somewhere).