Granadier electric firelighter / starter - how easy to make?

[gidon]

Just bought the latest Jamie Oliver book for my wife, and in it in the section of BBQs he mentions the Grenadier Electric Firelighter:

It looks quite nifty and I like a gadget. I'm sure it's worth the price - good idea and made in England and all that but I don't think I could afford its £120 asking price.

But isn't it just a modified hairdryer. I bet someone clever here could knock one up from a heat gun or such like with little difficulty or am I being naive?

Cheers

Gidon

 

[Taffy Turner]

Gidon,

I use my Black and Decker electric heat gun for the same job (also lights BBQ's) - I paid £20 for it, but you do have to hold it, rather than it coming with it's own stand like the one in the picture.

Regards

Gary

 

[Scrit]

It doesn't mention the temperature reached, but at 1100 watts it has a smaller element than many hot air guns - the main things it does have is the locking on off switch and the stand (and possibly a mercury tilt safety switch). I'd say go for it and make your own

Scrit

 

[NickWelford]

Hot air guns are marvellous for hurrying along the charcoal on your BBQ. Don't tell us you are still blowing on the embers ..........
The principle is the same as the old blacksmith bellows to force more oxygen into the coals and raise the temperature.

 

[gidon]

To be honest my BBQ lights pretty easily - 3 no odour lighter cubes below a pyramid of coals. I light the cubes with a long wind-proof butane lighter and leave it alone for up to an hour. No blowing or such like. Come back and all the coals have a coating of grey ash.
But the sitting room coal burner is harder. Plus we tend not to use lighter cubes since it's lit everyday pretty much in winter so would be costly.
Still may try playing around with the hot air gun if I get a chance .
Cheers
Gidon