Faster charcoal lighting

[Cellar2ful]

Go ahead and laugh. I did when I saw a posting of this on a Weber FB site. But then I tried it.  From lighting with my plumbers torch to dumping in the charcoal baskets now takes a total of 7 minutes.  It shaved roughly 3 minutes off my charcoal lighting time and less smoke. The top chimney is empty and I guess creates a vortex effect, drawing more air up through the briquettes in the lower chimney.

[JEBIV]

Makes sense that it works, longer chimney for cleaner burn,  also should help to concentrate the heat in the lower chimney creating quicker start, I guess my stay last night at the holiday inn express made me a frickin scientist LOL

[PotsieWeber]

It also likely achieves a higher heat & more quickly.  Early iron & steel furnaces were pretty much an enormous chimney attached to a portion where the actual burning of fuel & melting of metal is occurring.

[Firemunkee]

I'll have to try this! Would it work even better if the top chimney is put on upside down so the vents are at the top?

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[Jules V.]

To get a better stack/chimney effect, the wall on the  second(top)  chimney should be solid and be around 10-12 feet tall.  The tall chimney(flue) will ensure that the top has a much lower atmospheric pressure than the bottom.  The larger the atmospheric pressure difference  between the top & bottom, the more natural up draft will occur.

[charred]

why stop at 2?

[pancho2017]

Stihl leaf blower works great ashed over coals in a few minutes but what's the rush it's summertime?

[hawgheaven]

My go to is a lit can of Sterno under the coal chimney. Just place the Sterno on your cooking grate, light it, then place the chimney on top of it... Lights in minutes.

[pjo65]

Whats the hurry?
When you light it up it's time to relax with a Dry Martini and chill for a while.


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[MacEggs]

Whats the hurry?
When you light it up it's time to relax with a Dry Martini and chill for a while.

[crowderjd]

Just tried this myself and holy cow does it work!!  Thanks @Cellar2ful !

[Schaefd2]

It also likely achieves a higher heat....

You do realize that adding more stacked chimneys is the only true method of reaching "higher" heat.

<\sarcasm>


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[Cellar2ful]

I'll have to try this! Would it work even better if the top chimney is put on upside down so the vents are at the top?

Yes, it does work better. Tonight I flipped the top chimney so the vents were at the top.  Lit the briquettes, went in and set my timer for 8 minutes.  Went out at and checked at 7 minutes and the briquettes were so well lit, when I removed the top chimney, flames and sparks were shooting out of it.  I never would have thought of trying that.  Figures a Fireman would figured that out.  Thanks. 

I have two other chimneys in addition to these two.  Four chimney stack = under 5 minutes possibly?

[1spacemanspiff]

Thanks for the heads up, Fastest I've ever lit Weber coals

[bladz]

Thanks for the heads up, Fastest I've ever lit Weber coals

Me too. It's really amazing how fast it fully lit.


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