Grip solvent - can you use that as lighter fluid for a BBQ?

[nevets88]

Is it toxic or anything? Stupid question, but not an experienced cook meat outside person. Just pour it on the charcoal and we have fire? If I could co-opt would be one less thing to buy.

[iacas]

5 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

Is it toxic or anything? Stupid question, but not an experienced cook meat outside person. Just pour it on the charcoal and we have fire? If I could co-op would be one less thing to buy.

I don't think so.

Plus, you don't need grip solvents at all if you just use PURE grips.

[nevets88]

3 minutes ago, iacas said:

I don't think so.

Plus, you don't need grip solvents at all if you just use PURE grips.

Thanks. I do use PURE, I guess I wont use solvent next time, it's just habit I guess, I have so much leftover tape and solvent, I figure I should use them and keep procrastinating on buying that air compressor.

[DaveP043]

My best, relatively uninformed guess, is that you could use charcoal lighter fluid as grip solvent, but that grip solvent may not burn the right way to function as  charcoal lighter fluid.  On the other hand, I can't imagine that solvent would be any more toxic than the lighter fluid.  I do see that lighter fluid is substantially more expensive than grip solvent, so it might be worth a try.  I've long used a charcoal chimney to start my charcoal, using only a couple of pieces of yesterday's newspaper, so I don't buy any lighter fluid.  

[billchao]

3 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

I've long used a charcoal chimney to start my charcoal, using only a couple of pieces of yesterday's newspaper, so I don't buy any lighter fluid.  

+1 on the chimney starter, though occasionally I do use a lighter cube if the kids are playing in the yard and I want to keep the smoke down.

I never use lighter fluid. I'd rather use dried up sticks in my yard (and have) to light my coals.

[David in FL]

The only solvent I've ever used for grips is mineral spirits.  They're certainly flammable, so I imagine they would start charcoal, but I can think of a lot of better ways to do so....

[Valleygolfer]

7 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

My best, relatively uninformed guess, is that you could use charcoal lighter fluid as grip solvent, but that grip solvent may not burn the right way to function as  charcoal lighter fluid.  On the other hand, I can't imagine that solvent would be any more toxic than the lighter fluid.  I do see that lighter fluid is substantially more expensive than grip solvent, so it might be worth a try.  I've long used a charcoal chimney to start my charcoal, using only a couple of pieces of yesterday's newspaper, so I don't buy any lighter fluid.  

Chimney is the way to go. You can wet the newspaper with canola oil to get a longer burn time. FYI mineral spirits are flammable but tough to light and doesn't burn easily.... don't ask how I know.... 

[nevets88]

Thanks to all for the answers. I'll try it the old fashioned way. Flame on!

[arturo28mx]

Solvent may leave a bad taste??? I don't know.

[nevets88]

I used a chimney, found it useful and bought one for myself. In Amazon reviews, people say lighter fluid leaves an aftertaste or smell, but I never noticed all the times I used lighter fluid maybe didn't notice. There are also lighter cubes (as @billchaomentioned), which look like sugarcubes but burn for a long time, you can use these in lieu of paper, apparently they even burn when raining. Anyways, now I'm on a barbecue kick and will try different charcoals, the wood-ish ones are up next.

[Piz]

Grip solvent is not suitable for grill use.