Weber Kettle Club Forums
Cooking & Food Talk => Charcoal Grilling & BBQ => Topic started by: Sramsey on May 26, 2014, 04:22:33 PM
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I picked up a pack of those Weber fire starters and I like them a lot since I wanted get away from using lighter fluid. Do you have any tricks of the trade to light charcoal other the lighter fluid and newspaper under a chimney? The thing I hate about the newspaper is the fire doesn't last and when you lift the chimney all the paper is flying all of the place.
What are you all using?
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Just thought about this, buying match light, and using 1 or 2 pieces to get the fire going?
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Gas assist Performer is awesome.
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Just thought about this, buying match light, and using 1 or 2 pieces to get the fire going?
I've seen folks do that....usually it comes from getting matchlite along with a kettle pickup......couple pieces won't hurt, I just don't like the smell of it burning very much...............
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Gas assist Performer is awesome.
This! I fired up a chimney with the gas assist today while by bro-in-law looked on and gave me the nod of approval. He converted to gas a long time ago but I think I have him thinking about charcoal again.
A more practical solution is burning a brown paper bag (burns longer than newspaper) or a paper towel w/ a little oil on it. Cube are good and you could probably get away w/ using a 1/2 cube especially if using lump. Lump in a chimney fires up quick.
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why don't you use a weber cube under the chimney?
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I still have a partially-used bag of MatchLight bought last year in desperation when my Performer's Touch 'N Go system wasn't yet operational. I placed a few pieces on the charcoal grate and lit them as if they were Weber wax cubes BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIND MY PACKAGE OF WEBER CUBES AND I WAS NOT GONNA BUY MORE, KNOWING THEY WERE SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE. (Have I mentioned I'm stubborn?)
I picked up a pack of those Weber fire starters ... Do you have any tricks of the trade to light charcoal other the lighter fluid ...
LightningBoldtz asks the pertinent question: You already know about the Weber paraffin cubes, are you looking for something else/better/different?
It's been suggested that the cubes can be cut in half and still work just as good, so there's a possible efficiency savings.
You mentioned MatchLight, which, long term, a bag is cheaper than the Weber cubes, yes. But they don't produce as big a flame and take longer to get the chimney going. "You get what you pay for."
Try a bag of lump charcoal. The price may turn you off but a few pieces of lump in the bottom of the chimney will get it going even faster, even if you decide not to cook with it.
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if you want a real treat and a possible visit from the local fire dept.
spark up a chimney full of matchlight.
I think it would be visible from space.
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if you want a real treat and a possible visit from the local fire dept.
spark up a chimney full of matchlight.
I think it would be visible from space.
Speaking of sparks, I lit a chimney of Frontier lump the other day and the sound is what got my attention. I need more mats on the deck if I'm to use my 6 bags of that stuff this summer.
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Too much spark, do this.....
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/End%20%20Aug%202012%20Wok/EndAug2012Wok041.jpg)
Windy at all, set a small rock on top of the pan......
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LightningBoldtz asks the pertinent question: You already know about the Weber paraffin cubes, are you looking for something else/better/different?
It's been suggested that the cubes can be cut in half and still work just as good, so there's a possible efficiency.
I was curious to find out what you veterans are doing or tricks of the trade. I'm new to the charcoal game and only have a few grillin sessions on my kettle. Still learning how to drive this thing and seemed I used more of those cubes the last time. I do have some lump coal and used a few pieces.
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Mark from Canada uses this:
I used to use the newspaper method. Now I use my weed burner. Works great!
(http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n615/MacEggs/Miscellaneous/IMG_0083.jpg) (http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/MacEggs/media/Miscellaneous/IMG_0083.jpg.html)
cbpeck beat me to it by mere seconds. ;) ;)
From this thread:
http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/grilling-bbqing/chimney-lighting/msg96819/?topicseen#msg96819
Here's another piece from him that shows the unit:
The technical term for a weed burner is "propane torch".
They come in various sizes, and features. This one is the basic.
Have a look at a local hardware store or even an auto parts store.
They might know where to get one if not there.
I even use it to lite charcoal. Works fantastic for that! 8)
(http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n615/MacEggs/Miscellaneous/P4110002.jpg) (http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/MacEggs/media/Miscellaneous/P4110002.jpg.html)
I also have this one for actually fighting weeds.
It has a longer wand, so I don't have to bend over ... a little easier on the back. :) :)
(http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n615/MacEggs/IMG_1665.jpg) (http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/MacEggs/media/IMG_1665.jpg.html)
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We have Weber charcoal chimney starter as it is quicker, easier and safe option. IT would take hardly 30 minutes an now the charcoal are ready to use.
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I rip off one chunk of an empty egg carton (part that holds egg), stuff it with a paper towel, dose in a little veggie oil and light. I stick that under the chimney that has a brown lunch bag stuffed in the bottom.
This works perfectly for me every time.
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I must be doing something wrong.........I just use.....newspaper! :o Works for me everytime. I will use the pages from a phone book too if I don't have any newspaper...I just avoid the glossy ad portions of the paper.
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I've been experimenting with making fire starters for about a year. Some have been successes and some have been... learning experiences. I can't stand to pay for things I can make, and I have plenty of time on my hands (relative bachelor with no kids).
My first attempt involved scentsy wax and dryer lint, and was a learning experience. They burned, but the dryer lint smelled like burning hair and the scentsy wax doesn't smell good when ignited rather than warmed.
The next time I had some sawdust I'd swept up after building shelves. Most of the sawdust was pretty coarse from drilling the holes for the capscrews, which I've found to be ideal. I bought a cheap unscented candle (cheaper than canning wax) and melted it on the stove (admittedly not the best idea). Then I poured the melted wax over the sawdust in a pizza box (bachelor) and used scrap pieces of wood to mix it up. After it cooled I cut it up into 1" square(ish) pieces. A lot of the pieces ended up different sizes. This formula was successful, but it was a lot of work and a lot of mess. They lit easily, burned hot and long, and stored easily.
My next attempt involved melting wax again and dipping lump charcoal (can't remember what brand) in it. After I dipped the lump charcoal pieces, I immediately covered them with dryer lint so they'd light easily. I thought this formula would be fantastic, but they didn't light well and were an even bigger mess than the second formula. This formula was a learning experience.
The most recent formula, and the one I think I'll stick with is also the easiest. I use the coarse sawdust from the second formula and still use the cheap candle wax. I had started to scrape off the candle wax with a steak knife to make it melt easier when I realized I could mix the powdered wax with the sawdust before melting the wax. I'd try to guess a proportion of wax to sawdust but it would be just that. I put enough wax so when I squeeze a handful of the mix it holds in a ball. Then I grab one sheet of blue shop towel and put a ping pong ball size handful of the wax/sawdust mixture in the towel and crumple the towel around the mixture. Then just put it under the chimney and let it go. It burns just as well as any other and might be cheaper (I haven't calculated it but at least it keeps me away from the TV). This formula is my favorite because it works and I don't have to make a mess in the house or risk burning the house down.
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I started a thread on this and tried most of the ideas . the cubes win hands down as far as cleanup , speed, cost, safety with out using propane. cut them in half and they work just as good.
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When using a charcoal chimney dryer lint on its own works just fine, so does newspaper...
Maybe I'm missing something here, but aren't we taking something that was easy and making it challenging?
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Yes, it's called Pole Vaulting Over Mouse 'Turds (PVOMT)......common symptom of Weberitis.......
Just check any thread having to do with Weber hubcaps for confirmation of this aspect of the disease............ 8)
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When using a charcoal chimney dryer lint on its own works just fine, so does newspaper...
Maybe I'm missing something here, but aren't we taking something that was easy and making it challenging?
Challenging was the point for me, during the winter I used it as an occasional weekday night project.
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I've been using newspaper under the chimney, but what a smoke screen !
The past couple of cooks I lit lump directly in the sheet metal holders using 91% alcohol as a starter.
Clean and works.
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I've been using newspaper under the chimney, but what a smoke screen !
The past couple of cooks I lit lump directly in the sheet metal holders using 91% alcohol as a starter.
Clean and works.
For years I used 99%, sometimes 91%.....works grate, burns clean, ready quickly, be careful adding any in after it's ablaze......
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/End%20%20Aug%202012%20Wok/EndAug2012Wok029.jpg)
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/Veg%20cook%207-10-2011/VegQ7-10-2011002.jpg)
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/Veg%20cook%207-10-2011/VegQ7-10-2011001.jpg)
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/End%20%20Aug%202012%20Wok/EndAug2012Wok048.jpg)
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C'mon buckie - you're always at 110%
8)
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I like to use a paper bag. See this thread
Grilling & BBQing / end of pg 3 pictures of bag being lightRe: chimney lighting?
http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/grilling-bbqing/chimney-lighting/msg102300/#msg102300
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Good tips I'll try. Should have a stickey on this seems others have brought up this topic. Guess I used the wrong search words.
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Used to use firelighters, as most of my cooks are at home I recently bought a Looftlighter for $40 at the hardware store, plug into the electricity point. It works great and I don't have to continue with the firelighters.
http://www.looftlighter.com/
There is another one by Bison that is a similar thing though was about $100....
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You can also tear off pieces of the Kingsford bag, separate the layers the best you can and light them up. As long as you don't stuff them in there too tightly they do a great job too and you're using something that you've got already anyways.
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i make my own.
dryer lint stuffed into empty egg shell cartons (cardboard ones, not foam)
then i melt paraffin wax and put a few spoonfulls into each 'egg hole'
they burn for a good 8 minutes. no funky smell. cheap. fun.
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i make my own.
dryer lint stuffed into empty egg shell cartons (cardboard ones, not foam)
then i melt paraffin wax and put a few spoonfulls into each 'egg hole'
they burn for a good 8 minutes. no funky smell. cheap. fun.
Sounds very practical. I use plain newspaper, or newspaper with vegetable oil on it. I always grab a stack of free newspapers for this purpose when I see them out and about.
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I've used newspaper before. That weird ash that blows around bothers me though. Plus I rarely have any newspaper around.
Phone book is brilliant, I wish I had thought of that!!
Paper towel with some oil (i use coconut) splashed on works great as well.
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I'm still pretty new at this, but I have gotten pretty quick with rolling up newspapers and stuffing them under the chimney. I roll up the newspaper somewhat tight and it burns the perfect amount of time. I then set the chimney on my lower grate that holds the charcoal or on my other grill, which catches all the newspaper ash. Once you dump the charcoal onto the grill itself, there really isn't any newspaper ash left. It has worked for me in my short time doing this, but I expect I'll get bored eventually and start trying unconventional methods!
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Starter cubes for me. I used paper bags and newspaper but I didn't like all the paper flying around, especially in this Cali drought. The question are clean and easy.
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(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag159/Elastokinematic/imagejpg1_zps3fe4b28c.jpg)