On May 27, 4:13*pm, Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 27 May 2009 15:52:55 -0400, John H
wrote:



I just pour the hot coals over the newspaper ashes. What the hell,
ashes are ashes. By the time I put the food on, any ashes have
settled.

But, each to his own. I detest the smell and taste of charcoal
lighter, and it's just one more thing to run out of.

Too much newsprint mercury and cyanide on the food when you use
newspaper. *Rather have diesel.
Seriously, the lighter smell never bothered me.
If I'm out, I just light the corners of a couple briquettes with a
lighter. *Burn my fingers sometimes. *Battle scars.

--Vic

I use my torch! In competitions you'll never, ever see lighter fluid.
Those keen judges can smell and taste it a mile away. I actually
watched a judge open a carton in the rib catagory, took a whiff, said
"fluid" and marked the scorecard accordingly. She then tasted it, and
said "fluid" and marked her card accordingly. And these ribs are
usually smoked low and slow for a couple of hours and the fluid still
flavored them. Now most people's palates aren't that keen, but. Same
with beer judges, they'll rip a beer apart that some would find VERY
good.