using a torch to light natural coals

[dizzing]

okay, so i've found a couple of great ways to light natural coals - i either use a coal tray that fits on a gas stove over the head (after taking the grille off of course) which allows the flame to pour up through the holes in the bottom [it's really cool looking] , or i use an electric burner that i got for like 9 bucks (thanks for the walmart tip, whoever pointed that out) .  however, if i'm not near an electrical outlet (say i want to smoke outside) neither of these methods work too well.  so i picked up a propane torch from lowes today.  my question is this: how do you hold the coals while you're lighting them?  or what do you set them on?  what exactly is the procedure for this?  i'm curious, because i like the thought of being totally independent of my stove or burner.

[HookahCaterpillar]

Grab the coal with the tongs so that the coal's bottom side is flat if
you understand what im saying. Dont have the tongs covering the bottom
and top instead the right and left side. Then aim the torch at the
bottom until bright red and put it on the bowl and pry open the tongs a
little so the coal drops on the bowl. Or another method is to lie the
coal on the tray bottom side up and light it with the torch I always
make sure i have a spot on the tray free from ask and shisha mess so i
can light a coal on it. 

[yashman19]

What type of torch did you get Dizz? If its like mine which I got from
Home Depot with just a standard valve that you light with a lighter,
then I just hold the coal with my tongs, get one side of my Nour finger
completely red hot, then set the coal down, pick it back up but with a
different side showing, then torch that side until the coal is fully
lit.

You will notice that mainly, just the outer shell of the coal is lit
while the center is still black. You can really get your coal going by
blowing on it a few times after you get one side red hot.

Also, what type of gas are you using? If you are using mapp gas, it
might get too hot for you to hold with the tongs because the flame on
mapp gas torches are much larger/hotter than when using propane tanks
(what I use).

You will probably find out that you can't hold the tank upside down as
well, or else the flame will go out. When I first got my torch, I tried
lighting my coals by setting them on the ground and aiming the torch at
them, but the flame just goes out because the gas is floating upwards,
away from the nozzle. This can be fixed by buying one of those torch
hose attachments. Its just something that replaces your torches nozzle
with. The hose is like around 2' long, and this makes it so you can
angle the flame downwards while leaving the torch standing upward. Get
it?

Sort of a lot of things, but I'm just trying to remember helpful tips as I go

So yeah, what type of torch do you have?

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This is basically what I have, but without the soldering crap.

[yashman19]

Hmm...crappy link... Just go to Home Depot and use the "keyword search" for "bernzOmatic" and you should see what I use.

[HookahCaterpillar]

BTW I assumed you were using the standard torch lighter not an actual
blowtorch. I also assumed you were using a regular round charcoal not
the poop shaped natural ones. Either way though lying the coal on the
tray and lighting it until red and then blowing on it will work.
Remember also that it doesnt have to be completely red because hitting
it will make it red and in my experience it chars the foil if it is too
hot when you first put the coal on the hookah. I use a NIBO brand torch
lighter 3 flame I think they work really well and are very handy. You
can just keep it in your pocket and pull it out and light your coal
real quick. It uses butane.

[ZAP]

I use a blow torch with the Nour finger coals and I hold them with some big barbecue coals.  It works a lot better than with regular tongs which seem to get too hot.  And since they open so wide, I hold the coal sideways and it lights a lot quicker that way.

[yashman19]

Ahh thats a great point Brad with the fan. If you have access to a
cheap little fan, place the semi-lit coals in the tray right infront of
the fan, and the fan really gets them going real quick, even the middle
of the coals.

[HookahCaterpillar]

The fan is a good idea assuming you don't have ash in your ashtray