Weber Kettle Club Forums

Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Eastex on February 05, 2013, 07:33:29 AM

Title: 'Old Country BBQ Pits' XL charcoal starter
Post by: Eastex on February 05, 2013, 07:33:29 AM

Dont know how many of you have Academy sporting goods stores around but this is the Old Country starter next to the Weber full size model
(http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r575/Sherrods92/C5044364-7A03-4944-A163-E5D313F5E3D7-1115-00000228B9C1FBD0_zps1c012226.jpg)
I've looked at them for awhile and could never figure out why I would need that much charcoal but before the Super Bowl it hit me, starting multiple grills. So I picked one up, it's made like a tank, did I need it, nah not really even though my full size Weber is starting to show its age, did I want it, yea, it'll look cool next to my mini starter.

Title: Re: 'Old Country BBQ Pits' XL charcoal starter
Post by: G$ on February 05, 2013, 12:21:49 PM

Does it work as well as the weber rapid fire? 

When I had one that was in that style, I had to drill extra holes to get it to work better.  To be fair, mine was smaller than the weber, not a beast like yours...

Title: Re: 'Old Country BBQ Pits' XL charcoal starter
Post by: HankB on February 05, 2013, 05:39:04 PM

For me the way to high heat is to light a lot of charcoal. I have a second almost rusted out chimney for that but this chimney would be useful if it has a wire insert. The chimneys with perforated sheet metal don't seem to work as well.

Title: Re: 'Old Country BBQ Pits' XL charcoal starter
Post by: Eastex on February 05, 2013, 06:04:21 PM

It's got a expanded metal type grate in the bottom, should flow plenty of air, I'll have to take some size comparison shots in the daylight

Title: Re: 'Old Country BBQ Pits' XL charcoal starter
Post by: Eastex on February 09, 2013, 05:45:39 PM

Here's a shot of the two Webers and the Old Country all together. I'm gonna fire it up tomorrow , I'll let y'all know how it does
(http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r575/Sherrods92/FB0B9D33-B334-4B3A-9A4F-1458D902E411-1152-000002345C6545CA_zps6562a5fe.jpg)

Title: Re: 'Old Country BBQ Pits' XL charcoal starter
Post by: G$ on February 11, 2013, 05:20:33 AM

Let us know, eastex.  The reason air flow was a problem on mine was not because of the bottom, it is because of air restriction TO the bottom. On a rapidfire, with the rectangle shaped holes, almpst half the surface area is vented.  With the  circle pattern spaced so far away, there may not be enough air flow.  Let us know how it goes.

Title: Re: 'Old Country BBQ Pits' XL charcoal starter
Post by: Eastex on February 11, 2013, 05:26:21 AM

It fired up really well, didn't seem any slower than the Rapidfire. I'll try to get a pic of the holes around the base.

Title: Re: 'Old Country BBQ Pits' XL charcoal starter
Post by: G$ on February 11, 2013, 05:39:27 AM

Nice.  Do you use newspaper or parafin cubes?

Title: Re: 'Old Country BBQ Pits' XL charcoal starter
Post by: Eastex on February 11, 2013, 06:02:56 AM

I used the starter cubes