Need your input - cut-resistant gloves and firestarters

[rickbrowne]

I am starting to evaluate, review and write about the best cut-resistant gloves available in the US and would like Pitmaster's suggestions as to gloves they've used and loved, or hated. Please make your suggestions here as well as send to me at [email protected].

Also I am evaluating fire starters - electric (both the hot air blower type and the electric coil you stick under the briquets), as well as unique chimneys (I have the standard one), sawdust and paraffin blocks, bundles or chunks, or any other way you start your wood or charcoal grills WITHOUT USING liquid lighter fluids. As above please make your suggestions here. Or send to [email protected]

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS ASAP AS I'M BEGINNING TO GATHER THE MATERIALS FOR MY REVIEWS.

[Spinaker]

I have never used cut gloves.

For starter, I like to use my Benzomatic TS8000 MAPP torch. This baby runs hot, and it does a great job of lighting a small, hot fire in my kamados or hibachi. It takes about 30 seconds of direct flame and the lump is ready to go.

I also use it for other things too, like in the fire place.

[Potkettleblack]

I don't like gloves in general, so the best cut resistance is proper technique and a nitrile glove for poultry.

I have a gas grill, so I press a piezoelectric button and it's lit. But the Char-broil half-time has been mentioned by some folks around here, and it looks like a solid innovation over the standard format. Would also make a nice "hillbilly hibachi" with a grill grate on the top. https://www.charbroil.com/half-time-charcoal-starter

[Huskee]

I don't use cut-resistant gloves, I agree with PKB above on good technique, which I don't have but I do have luck so far I just use hospital nitrile gloves for cleanliness.

For starters I got spoiled on the Weber cubes. For $3-4/box IMO they can't be beat. Some batches work better than others, on rare occasions they'll take 5 seconds of lighter flame contact to light, other times they'll literally light with a spark from a dead lighter believe it or not. Most times, 1 second of flame contact and they're up, even if it's rainy outside. They burn a good ten minutes and one will light a full chimney. I've even lit a whole chimney with one cut in half. I take them up to fish camp, a couple of them will light a bonfire very nicely, no gas needed!

For chimneys I don't care for the CharBroil Half Time. IMO it's too wide. Charcoal lights quicker the narrower and taller it's held. I bought the Half Time to use with my PBC and it works for the lower height but I don't prefer it. No experience with BBQ Dragon's Chimney of Insanity, looks like more gimmick than productivity, but that's only a from-a-distance opinion. A tip- for lighter loads of charcoal, flip the regular Weber full sized chimney upside down. The now-concave grates inside will hold a starter cube nicely and you can pile about a half chimney's worth of charcoal in it that way!

[Huskee]

Potkettleblack I love my BBQ Dragon definitely, I'm just talking about their fancy charcoal chimney.

[Potkettleblack]

Ah. Out of the charcoal loop. Didn’t know there was such a thing.

[vandy]

I own the chimney of insanity and hardly ever use it, more gimmicky than anything else. You almost have to use the BBQ Dragon to get it to work because of the tube running under it that you put the dragon in to get the fire going plus it is smaller than the Webber chimney which is ok if you only need a small amount of charcoal but most of the time I want a full chimney.

[Danjohnston949]

rickbrowne, I Used Weber FireStarter Chimneys and 2-Sheets of News Paper Nearly Exclusively for Years‼️
Then I Purchased a Weber Performer Deluxe Grill and Cart with a Gas Igniter! See the Attached Pics❗️ I use a Metal Oil Drain Pan to Move the Lit Chimney from One Grill to Another! I Estimate it Takes the Chimney 10-15 Minutes With the Gas Ignitor and Perhaps 20 Minutes with News Paper❓❓ Hope this Helps You Rick❗️
From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan

[DWCowles]

I also don’t used cut resistant gloves only nitrile gloves. When trimming beef or pork I will only wear a nitrile glove on my left hand leaving my right hand bear for holding the knife. I do wear gloves on both hands when cutting poultry.

Like Huskee I used Weber fire starter cubes when lighting the chimney, SnS and the Kamado Joe.

[Danjohnston949]

rickbrowne, Prior to Buying a Weber Performer Deluxe, I Used the Weber Chimney both Large and Mini with
2 Sheets of Crumpled News Paper to Light KBB Charcoal❗️ Subsequent to the Purchase of the Weber Deluxe
With Its Gas Ignitor to Light the Chimney's (See Pic's)❗️ In addition to the Weber Chimney's I Use a Metal Oil Drain Pan to Prevent Hot Ash Spills as I Move the Chimneys from Grill to Grill‼️ I Hope This Helps You Rick‼️
From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan

[Skip]

I like to use my Weed Torch that's fed off my extra propane grill tank. It seems to be VERY positive when lighting the Lump Charcoal in the BGE and the KBB in the Weber Kettle/SNS. It only takes about a minute. As for gloves I've never used any cut resistant gloves of any kind.

[DWCowles]

That’s what I used to fire up the Lang.

[Omega-Man]

Now That's A Fire Starter!

[rat_rabs]

I don't use any gloves but to start my charcoal, I use a small DIY blow torch for about 30 seconds - 1 minute and then the BBQ dragon gets it ready to sear in 7 -10 minutes. It's fantastic! I hardly ever use my Chimney now.

[Rod]

I too do not use gloves. I did use the Weber cubes for the first time to fire up my PBC chimney and was very impressed. I haven't had a problem as of yet just using paper, but I think the cubes speed things up quite a bit. They really take off.

[Donw]

Well, I do use gloves as I made my living with my hands. I use these and like them https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[sos2979]

I don't use gloves at home, but I worked in a meat market in the past and used steel gloves like these. Everyone did. When your cutting meat all day you will eventually make a mistake and these saved me plenty of band-aids.

[rickbrowne]

THANKS, that's one of the gloves I'm testing, pretty sure it will be at the top of the chart along with the Victorinox chain mail glove.

[RonB]

No gloves for me either, but I did by an electric fire starter that was junk:
HomeRight ElectroLight C900046 Fire Starter, Charcoal Starter and Lighter, BBQ Smoker, Grill Starter, Chemical Free Heated Air with Built-In Blower

It would only run long enough to to light one piece of charcoal unless you never released the switch. That was tiring. If you went over two minutes or so and released the trigger, it would not restart for 5+ minutes. And if you kept the switch depressed, the aluminum heat shield would, (and did), melt.

[customtrim]

Tumbleweeds and my butane torch takes one to get the kj going

[rickbrowne]

Those are on my list for non-electric fire starters

[texastweeter]

I like the cheap rapala fillet glove, and paper products light my chimney when I am using charcoal.

[smokinfatties]

Sterno can underneath chimney gets it fired up easy. Also use wagner heat gun or Benzomatic MAPP gas torch