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Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:23 am
by OnTheChoppingBoard
Hi all,

Been using the normal firelighters or newspapers to start my charcoal/beads. But wanting something a bit quicker. Found Looftlighters in my bunnings and also see Heatguns for around the same prices.

Anyone have experience in using the two and reliability of one against the other?

Thanks in advance

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:27 am
by titch
My looft lighter gets a hammering and it's looks worse for wear buts it's still going strong.
I believe the body is tougher and your hand is further away from the fuel source.
Cheers

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:50 am
by Shane_H
I have used a looftlighter for about 6-8 months and only recently invested in a chimney... man the chimney leaves it for dead if you want to get a bbq up to temp, by lighting a few spots with the looftlighter and waiting for it to get up to say 180c is prob at least 1/2 hr... with a chimney would be no more than 10-15min... id reccomend go straight to the chimney, i barely use the looftlighter anymore

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:56 am
by OnTheChoppingBoard
Shane_H wrote:I have used a looftlighter for about 6-8 months and only recently invested in a chimney... man the chimney leaves it for dead if you want to get a bbq up to temp, by lighting a few spots with the looftlighter and waiting for it to get up to say 180c is prob at least 1/2 hr... with a chimney would be no more than 10-15min... id reccomend go straight to the chimney, i barely use the looftlighter anymore
I missed out on the deals 2 weeks ago for a Chimney at Woolies for $8, so I'm going to kill myself for buying them now at RRP. Hence I'm looking at other alternatives so i don't feel so bad :)

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 10:04 am
by the dane
make one from any large tin or can!
I made this in 10mins! drank it first hahaImage

Sent from my GT-I9305T using Tapatalk 2

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 10:49 am
by Nath
Both chimneys and looflighters have their purpose.
I have also had my looftlighter awhile and still going strong, doesn't get looked after either, a few times even left in the rain.
Works very well for lighting charcoal in the kamado without having to fire up the chimney.

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:55 am
by waterboy
Buy a chimney - it will change how you view cooking with solid fuel - I would even go so far as saying it is an essential accessory for any weber kettle. The heat bead baskets are good but a chimney does a far superior job.

Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 1:10 pm
by Nath
waterboy wrote:Buy a chimney - it will change how you view cooking with solid fuel - I would even go so far as saying it is an essential accessory for any weber kettle. The heat bead baskets are good but a chimney does a far superior job.
You should still use the charcoal baskets in your kettle anyway. Chimney is just an alternate way of starting the fuel. Much more efficient.

The charcoal baskets are designed to keep the fuel located in a "pile" and to avoid direct contact with the kettle shell itself, not necessarily designed for lighting the fuel.


Nath

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 4:41 pm
by Zorba
you can get cheap chimneys at a lot of places. its only the heat beads one that is $30

Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:06 pm
by Gumb
Zorba wrote:you can get cheap chimneys at a lot of places. its only the heat beads one that is $30
And even that is cheap for the time and effort it saves. If it's going to hold a lot of red hot beads, I want good quality.

I use a gas torch most of the time. Cheap cans at Bunnings and the nozel from eBay. Also got a little devil which is great for lighting inside the kamado.

Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 10:42 pm
by DaveW
Looftys are great for lighting a small spot (or two or three) in the Kamado for a long slow cook.


DaveW
Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life!

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:00 pm
by urbangriller
We had this conversation over two years ago...I think before the Looft was here?

http://www.aussiebbq.info/forum/viewtop ... =+heat+gun

Image

Cheers
Chris

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:23 am
by peteru
Shane_H wrote:I have used a looftlighter for about 6-8 months and only recently invested in a chimney... man the chimney leaves it for dead if you want to get a bbq up to temp, by lighting a few spots with the looftlighter and waiting for it to get up to say 180c is prob at least 1/2 hr... with a chimney would be no more than 10-15min... id reccomend go straight to the chimney, i barely use the looftlighter anymore
WTF? Are you using the Looftlighter properly?

It takes me less than 5 minutes of continuous Looftlighter use to get a Kamado roaring. Light one spot just off centre, then back off and fan the flames through all the other charcoal, pointing in at around 45 degrees downwards and across the pile. It's very quick to get an inferno going if you use it like you would use bellows in a furnace.

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:34 am
by Chargrilled
Yep another one here for the looft lighter.
Very quick to get going!
I've use a heat gun quite a few time and it just doesn't compare...
I used to use a hot devil weed burner, was ok but didn't have the fan to get the fire roaring.

Re: Reliability of a Looftlighter vs Heatgun

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:51 am
by ghent
Looft fan here as well.

- Make snake
- Point business end at snake
- Wait 1 stubby or 5 minutes, whichever comes quicker
- Adjust vents to previously marked spots
- Sync Maverick
- Retreat to aircon and pull the pork out next morning.

Magic wand!