First, Welcome to the WKC clivingston1, second get a Weber or another brand of charcoal chimney.
My approach is to fill the chimney full of KBB, light the gas and leave it going for 10 to 15 minutes,
the coals are going pretty good by then and they will be ready in 25 to 35 minutes total time.
Then you can fill your baskets or set them up how ever you need based on the cook you are
going to do.