I've noticed that the average plastic bottle of fire-starter fluid has the squirt-nozzle located in the center of the top of the bottle. This is inconvenient. One way to TEST to see if the charcoal has ignited is to squirt a little extra fluid at the pile. If it doesn't light, then you know you need more, and you need to start the flames again. If it DOES light, well, consider a nearly-empty bottle that you are trying to squirt -- your hand is directly OVER the fire!
To be able to squirt the last drops from such a bottle from the side means that the squirt-nozzle needs to be located at a "corner" of the roughly-box-shaped squirt bottle. And from the corner, the nozzle should be tilted (a direct line from the nozzle should pass through the center of the box).-- Vernon, Sep 06 2004 Typical bottle http://www.thomasre...362235/ligh-flu.htm [ldischler, Oct 04 2004] Kingsford Lighter Fluid http://www.instawar...id.71175CLX.0.7.htmKingsford, perhaps the largest American manufacturer of BBQ briquets and lighter fuels, seems to have addressed the problem with this container design. [jurist, Oct 04 2004] //One way to TEST to see if the charcoal has ignited is to squirt a little extra fluid at the pile.// This is not a very good test. And if you'd had enough starter to begin with, you'd have a nice ash showing on the coals already.-- ldischler, Sep 06 2004 What do people actually use to light their BBQ? Lighter fluid? I've been looking for a picture of an existing squirt bottle, but all I seem to find are references to gel and solids. [Thanks, ldischler!]-- jutta, Sep 06 2004 random, halfbakery