Let's Talk BBQ

Outdoor Cooking Equipment => Grills & Smokers => Charcoal Grills => Topic started by: CaptJack on September 30, 2012, 11:45:52 AM

Title: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: CaptJack on September 30, 2012, 11:45:52 AM
cheating a charcoal chimney

Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: smokeasaurus on September 30, 2012, 12:11:03 PM
Excellent tutorial Captain.

I remember reading somewhere that spraying the paper with cooking spray also works well.............
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: CaptJack on September 30, 2012, 12:15:25 PM
Excellent tutorial Captain.

I remember reading somewhere that spraying the paper with cooking spray also works well.............

David's comment from the other board

CaptJack, Good idea! I've also used some canola oil on the newspaper instead of lighter fluid. Tried this because I didn't have any lighter fluid on hand, but did have oil and was having trouble keeping the paper lit long enough to get the charcoal going. Typically this helps me keep the paper burning even in a brisk wind.

Cheers,

David

Great tip David (http://i50.tinypic.com/20ztyfl.gif)
I knew there was another reason to save my bacon grease  ;D

CaptJack
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: smokeasaurus on September 30, 2012, 01:58:55 PM
I tell ya Captain, that is a safe way to light a chimney starter on the lawn!! I sure wouldn't want to use lump though............
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: CaptJack on September 30, 2012, 03:21:20 PM
Smoke, I buy light and use the 40# bag of mequite lump from Sams all the time and never have a problem. But there isn't anything close enough to the charcoal chimney that will ignite from the popping mesquite ;)
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: Hub on October 01, 2012, 08:32:19 AM
Definitely better than pouring benzene right on the briquettes, but add me to the list of folks who just spray the newspaper with a little PAM.  Doesn't take much and I get a chimney full of lit charcoal in about ten minutes.  Haven't even had to do this is a long time since the Performer has a butane starter.

Hub
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: Savannahsmoker on October 01, 2012, 12:26:38 PM
Excellent tutorial Captain.

I remember reading somewhere that spraying the paper with cooking spray also works well.............
+1  or veggie oil.
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: TwoPockets on October 01, 2012, 05:36:38 PM
I have not had any problems with getting my Weber charcoal chimney to start up using two sheets of newspaper.

I save my bacon grease in a bacon grease sort of like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Home-2-Quart-Stainless-Storage/dp/B00318C5P6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1349127313&sr=8-7&keywords=grease+holder
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: TwoPockets on October 01, 2012, 06:36:23 PM
Ken,
when I was a kid we all had one of those on the stove top (http://i50.tinypic.com/20ztyfl.gif)

(http://i48.tinypic.com/1o16jb.jpg)

We have one, ours has a hinged lid like sort of like a beer stein. We keep it in the fridge. It stays full to the brim most of the time and sometimes I have to have a coffee cup with what won't fit in it in the fridge. I probably cook a pound or two of bacon a week and don't throw out any grease.
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: TwoPockets on October 01, 2012, 06:40:42 PM
I have a 3 burner CampChef gas stove on the deck with 3 30k btu burners. Turn a burner to high, sit the Weber charcoal chimney on it and in 10-15 minutes you are ready to rock. A side burner on a gas grill should work too.

I still use 2 sheets of newspaper and sit the chimney down on the charcoal grate of the grill most of the time, feels more primal.
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: Pam Gould on February 07, 2013, 08:05:07 AM
2P..this is how I do it with a spritz of oil on the paper..it works every time. Pam .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: nepas on February 07, 2013, 08:32:08 AM
I use a charcoal chimney lpg starter

(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab242/nepas1/chchs.jpg)


(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab242/nepas1/chchs1.jpg)

3 mins on the burner and take it off.
(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab242/nepas1/chchs2.jpg)


Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: Pam Gould on February 07, 2013, 08:45:06 AM
Rick..nice..I didn't know they made those. Too kewl. Did you make that yourself? Pam  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: TentHunteR on February 07, 2013, 09:07:42 AM
Quote from: Hub
...add me to the list of folks who just spray the newspaper with a little PAM.


Me too! It makes the paper wad more slowly and steadily like a candle.


Another trick I use to help cut the wind is to take the top grate out of the Weber and set the chimney down inside the kettle on the charcoal grate to light it.

Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: drholly on February 07, 2013, 09:22:24 AM
I've always used a little veg oil spraying Pam sounds easier, thx. I use my Weber as the base for the chimney as well.

David
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: smokeasaurus on February 07, 2013, 06:44:10 PM
Quote from: Hub
...add me to the list of folks who just spray the newspaper with a little PAM.


Me too! It makes the paper wad more slowly and steadily like a candle.


Another trick I use to help cut the wind is to take the top grate out of the Weber and set the chimney down inside the kettle on the charcoal grate to light it.

me too and I really like the little paraffin cubes from Weber so I don't worry about burning paper on a blustery day.......
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: sparky on February 07, 2013, 07:24:08 PM
I have not had any problems with getting my Weber charcoal chimney to start up using two sheets of newspaper.

me too.  i just crumble the paper up and stuff it underneath the chimney.  no fluid.  works great every time. 
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: nepas on February 07, 2013, 07:37:29 PM
Rick..nice..I didn't know they made those. Too kewl. Did you make that yourself? Pam  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.

Got it as a freebie for doing a demo at Meadow Creek BBQ
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: flbentrider on February 07, 2013, 08:57:01 PM
I use a couple of pine cones. There are everywhere in my yard, and usually at every campground we visit.
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: sparky on February 07, 2013, 11:34:12 PM
I use a couple of pine cones. There are everywhere in my yard, and usually at every campground we visit.

does that work bent? 
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: flbentrider on February 08, 2013, 08:45:46 PM
I use a couple of pine cones. There are everywhere in my yard, and usually at every campground we visit.

does that work bent?

Yes.

Like a lot of things, they have to be "right" - not totally closed, not ravaged by a squirrel.

Very rarely do we camp anywhere there aren't any, but if we can't find any then we ransack the motorhome for scrap paper.
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: knucklehead on February 11, 2013, 08:14:55 PM
+1 on the Weber starter cubes.  I also light mine in the belly of the Weber.  I had issues with the Houston Chronicle's deliveries so I canceled the subscription and looked for other alternatives to light the charcoal.
Title: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: LostArrow on February 28, 2013, 05:03:18 PM
I use Rutland fire starter squares, less than $0.10 / fire, always work, by 10 min completely burned.
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: smokeasaurus on February 28, 2013, 05:11:28 PM
+1 on the Weber starter cubes.  I also light mine in the belly of the Weber.  I had issues with the Houston Chronicle's deliveries so I canceled the subscription and looked for other alternatives to light the charcoal.

I buy the Weber squares by the case for my starters...for indirect cooking, I will use my weed torch to just start a section......weed torches are fun  8)
Title: Re: cheating a charcoal chimney
Post by: smokeasaurus on February 28, 2013, 05:49:03 PM
I must remember to let everyone know that Smoochy is scared of chimney starters and is not watching this thread.

(http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc469/s1cott11/funny%20icons/003-9.jpg)