How To Light A Grill In 30 Seconds

video How To Light A Grill In 30 Seconds

Theodore Gray shows how to get a grill going in 30 seconds. Really going. Don't forget the welding shield. And if you haven't handled dangerous chemicals and explosives before, you might want to stick to a more conventional approach. Seriously: This way of lighting a grill is INCREDIBLY dangerous! Powerful explosions can result if you do it wrong! Don't try this unless you have already had experience handling liquid oxygen! And for much, much more on every element under (and, of course, in) the sun, check out www.periodictable.com and www.graysci.com. Play safe!

b1tbang3r says: Feb 8, 2010. 3:34 PM

go here:

www.instructables.com/id/From-Rubbish-to-Rocketry/

orksecurity says: Oct 11, 2009. 10:39 AM

As was said, incredibly dangerous unless you know what you're doing. Not only can LOX give you severe cryogenic burns, but there's a serious explosion risk. If you're foolish enough to try this, note that starting the fire BEFORE adding the LOX is absolute critical.

But, yes, friends at MIT report that this really does produce ideal grilling coals almost instantly.

saehn says: Sep 17, 2009. 5:47 AM

The charcoal's not "good to go", most of it's still black. Needs to be ashed over for grilling. I know, this is not intended as a serious lighting method. Just sayin'! ;-)

theodore1 in reply to saehnSep 29, 2009. 9:14 PM

Interestingly, the coals really are ready for grilling very, very fast. Within a minute they are white all over (it might take a second pan full with that much charcoal in the grill). Unlike lighter fluid, which actually starves the charcoal of oxygen it needs to get ready, adding LOX burns the charcoal itself.

saehn in reply to theodore1Sep 30, 2009. 6:08 AM

Ah, that's cool then. It just didn't seem like it from the movie.

haroun says: Sep 17, 2009. 6:36 AM

George Gobel's original videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBLr_XrooLs
He did it back in '95. Would have been nice if the mad scientist had given a little credit.

theodore1 in reply to harounSep 29, 2009. 9:12 PM

(a) I've only got 30 seconds according to the rules of the contest, (b) he's not the first one to do it, only the best-known, and (c) he's actually kind of shy about it.

zom b says: Sep 17, 2009. 9:48 AM

as science this is interesting, as a practical method of getting a bbq ready for cooking it's ridiculous.

theodore1 in reply to zom bSep 29, 2009. 9:10 PM

Actually you'd be surprised.... There have been occasions when I happened to have some LOX left over and we were planning to grill. It really does work to get the coals ready in a hurry, though I'd certainly never go out and get LOX just for that purpose.

iectyx3c says: Sep 20, 2009. 10:14 AM

So how is this an original instructable? This is Theodore Gray's video edited with the Forbes banner in front. Negative vote. Negative points.

theodore1 in reply to iectyx3cSep 29, 2009. 2:57 PM

It's all very confusing.... I, the real Theodore Gray, posted this, but apparently I did it wrong and a moderator fixed things up but it ended up under her name, and somehow there was no way to transfer it to my regular login, so now I have a new one, theodore1, which now owns this video. I don't understand it either.

155

canida in reply to iectyx3cSep 29, 2009. 2:49 PM

Because he posted it. Might want to re-think the negative points. ;)

itsthatsguy in reply to iectyx3cSep 21, 2009. 8:17 PM

Not to mention the show "Tiem Warp" featured this with german inventor "Zaas" it was originaly his idea

hstan3 says: Sep 18, 2009. 6:55 PM

Incredibly dangerous. Check this out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9sIT6P_05I
This is a '60s era US Navy training video that ends with some gruesome footage (5:30) of someone who mishandled LOX.
A shocking but very effective film that scared many sailors into handling LOX with the respect and care it most rightfully deserves.

MakerBreaker in reply to hstan3Sep 23, 2009. 4:26 PM

Agree Creapy and Disturbing, and flaged

casey321b in reply to hstan3Sep 18, 2009. 9:55 PM

thats a little creepy and disturbing...

hstan3 in reply to casey321bSep 19, 2009. 11:23 AM

I totally agree. Super creepy and disturbing. I debated whether to post the link or not, but Mr. Gray's protection of only a welder's mask with the standard "this is dangerous" dislcaimer really seemed far to casual to me considering what happens if it goes badly. I'd really hate to see one of Instructable's readers end up like that.

sonogo says: Sep 19, 2009. 2:59 AM

man !! I want to get the meat cooked not my face.. thanks

owwio says: Sep 18, 2009. 2:06 PM

Bit against the point???

piper1234 says: Sep 18, 2009. 1:56 AM

I meant sneak, my sorry dislexia :P

piper1234 says: Sep 18, 2009. 1:55 AM

well if you live in florida... you can senak down the space shuttle with a hose and leech some oxygen from the tanks... just very careful when suck the liquid if you swallow you gonna have a very fresh breath... and a frozen larynx :P no worries nobody's gonna miss a gallon from the Atlantis shuttle xD just put a cork or something resistant to avoid explosions or instant freezing of yourself or some technician xD hahaha

gorillailla202 says: Sep 17, 2009. 10:50 PM

Well, I guess if you got a gallon of liquid oxygen just laying around this is plausible.

Allowance10 says: Sep 17, 2009. 9:10 PM

Why?

aussie2u says: Sep 17, 2009. 4:53 AM

"Liquid Oxygen?" While I'm sure those on college campuses know all about this stuff, I havent seen this at the local home depot, pool supply place, or bar-b-que warehouse for that matter. BTW - isn't this the liquid oxygen that brought down the Valujet plane a few years ago???

timberW in reply to aussie2uSep 17, 2009. 8:34 PM

No, that was an oxygen generator which releases oxygen as part of a chemical reaction. As dangerous, but necessary, as oxygen generators are, LOX is far more dangerous.

jongscx says: Sep 17, 2009. 7:28 AM

hold on... did he burn through the grill at the bottom?

engineeringnerd in reply to jongscxSep 17, 2009. 5:49 PM

I don't think so, I think you are looking into the air damper and the bottom of the grill is red hot. Could be wrong, though.

HewgO in reply to jongscxSep 17, 2009. 3:52 PM

Yes...!

jongscx says: Sep 17, 2009. 4:51 PM

We just used a leafblower to get things moving faster... cheaper than LOX at least...

sniffydogs says: Sep 17, 2009. 10:41 AM

I'm surprised he still has leg hair..........

hailster says: Sep 17, 2009. 9:18 AM

I think this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V53P2m2peU is a little more realistic way of starting a charcoal grill.

and7barton says: Sep 16, 2009. 12:39 AM

I think I'll just settle for sitting watching the barbie burn in the normal way, whilst perhaps breathing in a little of that pure oxygen, so as not to waste it.

dcodrea says: Sep 15, 2009. 7:13 PM

It would be appropriate to credit George Goble of Purdue University who first demonstrated this on the Internet some years ago:

http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2005/05/oxygen-control-good-first-step.html