alphaking,What I do is probably what most do...I put the lump in by hand...large pieces first..then work my way up till I fill the fire box..Then I use a MAPP tourch...and light the lump in a few places...You can do the same with fire starter cubes.... Paper towl soaked in Olive Oil..the way the egg works is to draw air in from the bottm vent in exhaust the air out the top...So all you really have to do is light the lump in a couple of places and it will burn down..You don't have to light then load on top or burry any that are lit. Fire will follow the source and the source is lump...