Lighting pellet tube without big torch

[BigDave11]

I was hoping someone has any experience lighting these tubes of pellets and keeping them lit without a big torch. Attached is the kind of lighter i have. doing a big brisket on the vertical pellet smoker for thanksgiving and need more smoke.

i always light my charcoal in a chimney with a few balled-up, used cooking oil slightly soaked paper towels. maybe i could do something like that in the first few inches of pellets.

everything i saw on youtube was big torches and one guy even doused his pellet tube with lighter fluid.

thanks for any help.

 

[Randy1]

I suggest you avoid the smoke tube and rethink the kind of pellets you are using.

Anytime you use smoldering wood for smoke, you are tasting white smoke. Often people that have come from like a electric bullet smoker miss the harsh taste of smoldering wood, white smoke. In wood burners you always are trying to avoid white smoke.


What pellets brand are you using?

 

[dubob]

I use this with excellent results.

 

[BigDave11]

I suggest you avoid the smoke tube and rethink the kind of pellets you are using.

Anytime you use smoldering wood for smoke, you are tasting white smoke. Often people that have come from like a electric bullet smoker miss the harsh taste of smoldering wood, white smoke. In wood burners you always are trying to avoid white smoke.


What pellets brand are you using?

I am using lumberjack. I have pecan and charred hickory. Was gonna do about 2/3 pecan 1/3 char. did some ribs last week with just pecan, lacked some smoke for me.

 

[okie sawbones]

You can use a fire starter cube.

 

[JckDanls 07]

I use the same as dubob ... And I suggest you keep going with the tube for supplemental smoke.. .

Anytime you use smoldering wood for smoke, you are tasting white smoke.

This is a false statement...
How else do you think your going to create smoke if the wood/pellets don't smolder ??

 

[Randy1]

I am using lumberjack. I have pecan and charred hickory. Was gonna do about 2/3 pecan 1/3 char. did some ribs last week with just pecan, lacked some smoke for me.

Well, no doubt a quality pellet. When I run my wood burner, I use about 1/3rd pecan, and 2/3rds hickory. On the pellet, I normally straight hickory. I do keep thinking about the pecan shell pellets. I tried pecan shells on my wood burner since pecan trees are everywhere down here. Lost one of mine to Helene.

I have not seen charred hickory.

Lot of youtube videos on smoke tubes.

 

[DougE]

This little butane torch from Harbor Freight does the trick and was like 15 bucks.

I got it thinking it would work for searing meats out of the sous vide, but it really isn't up to that task. It is fine for lighting pellet tubes and bonfires though.

 

[JIMSMOKES]

Pour a lil grain alcohol in the open end. Light it and let it burn for a few to get started

 

[DougE]

Pour a lil grain alcohol in the open end. Light it and let it burn for a few to get started

Lol, like most of us keep a bottle of pure grain handy.

 

[TNJAKE]

Lol, like most of us keep a bottle of pure grain handy.

The same can be done with unscented hand sanitizer. When fire rod went out in my pit boss once customer service instructed me on a manual light with hand sanitizer. It’s the same stuff as the “gel” that used to come with the tubes

 

[Brokenhandle]

Lol, like most of us keep a bottle of pure grain handy.

He's trying to enable you into a still!

Ryan

 

[JIMSMOKES]

Lol, like most of us keep a bottle of pure grain handy.

I thought everybody kept at least one jar of shine around. You know for medicinal purposes.

 

[Fueling Around]

This is the best tube lighter.

The same can be done with unscented hand sanitizer. When fire rod went out in my pit boss once customer service instructed me on a manual light with hand sanitizer. It’s the same stuff as the “gel” that used to come with the tubes

Good advice Jake.

I suggest you avoid the smoke tube and rethink the kind of pellets you are using.

Anytime you use smoldering wood for smoke, you are tasting white smoke. Often people that have come from like a electric bullet smoker miss the harsh taste of smoldering wood, white smoke. In wood burners you always are trying to avoid white smoke.
...

A pellet tube in a pellet burner is the ideal way to add more smoke flavor without being cigarette smoke harsh. The convection oven airflow keeps the tube burning above a smolder.
It it produced the white smoke you noted, my wife would not eat it.

 

[bmudd14474]

I use a heat gun. 30-45 seconds and your golden

 

[BigDave11]

This little butane torch from Harbor Freight does the trick and was like 15 bucks.

View attachment 708041

I got it thinking it would work for searing meats out of the sous vide, but it really isn't up to that task. It is fine for lighting pellet tubes and bonfires though.

my lighter puts out a similar flame. how long are you putting flame to pellets? are you lighting pellets, letting them be on fire for a bit then blowing out flame so pellets smolder?

Pour a lil grain alcohol in the open end. Light it and let it burn for a few to get started

no booze here. i'm allergic. always end up breaking out in cuffs. ha!

 

[BigW.]

Are you lighting pellets, letting them be on fire for a bit then blowing out flame so pellets smolder?

Yes, use whatever torch you have and get them nice and red. After a couple minutes blow out the flame.

 

[gmc2003]

The lighter you have works well with dust, but for pellets you need a tad more power.

 

[fxsales1959]

I have a brulee torch like on this link: below where it says robot or human.
Many pellet poopers need the aid of a tube, regardless of the pellet used. My new Pitboss has an assinine engineered firepot where pellets aren't allowed to smolder due to fan stoking them.

Culinary Butane Torch, Professional Cooking Torch Lighter Butane Refillable, Adjustable Flame, Safety Lock for Baking, BBQ, Creme Brulee, Heat Shrinking Tubing and Soldering (Butane Gas Not Included) - Walmart.com

Buy Culinary Butane Torch, Professional Cooking Torch Lighter Butane Refillable, Adjustable Flame, Safety Lock for Baking, BBQ, Creme Brulee, Heat Shrinking Tubing and Soldering (Butane Gas Not Included) at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[jcam222]

I suggest you avoid the smoke tube and rethink the kind of pellets you are using.

Anytime you use smoldering wood for smoke, you are tasting white smoke. Often people that have come from like a electric bullet smoker miss the harsh taste of smoldering wood, white smoke. In wood burners you always are trying to avoid white smoke.


What pellets brand are you using?

Smoke tubes are a tried and true method of achieving good smoke when used properly.