I know most people have no problem getting their fires going, but I've been here long enough now that I don't mind admitting it was one of my biggest problems a few years ago. It was so bad at one point, I wanted to quit cooking outside all together. So I thought just for grins, I'd document what I do, and if anyone wants to expand on that, we can all be the wiser:
First, I know most people use newspaper. Frankly, the only newspaper in my area as a waste of wood and ink, so I refuse to buy it. However, phone books are in great supply around here, so I use them (just don't use any pages that have color-ish print).
I tear off about 8-10 sheets from the large book and squirt 1-2 small lines of veggie oil on each page. The oil keeps the paper from burning up too fast, to give the charcoal a chance to burn. Wad them up into loose balls and put them under the chimney. Add your charcoal to the chimney and and place the whole thing somewhere it can suck in a bunch of air. I place mine on a piece of limestone that I set on my porch rail. The wind zips through there and turns the chimney into a blow torch in no time. Light the paper on at least on the wind side, but I usually light it all around.
Finally, walk away. Let it burn until you see a large amount of flames shoot out the top; and/or you can see from the top that most of the coals are burning. Then dump into your firebox of choice....carefully.
That's it. I'm sorry if I insulted anyone's intelligence here, but maybe someone will find it usefull.
First, I know most people use newspaper. Frankly, the only newspaper in my area as a waste of wood and ink, so I refuse to buy it. However, phone books are in great supply around here, so I use them (just don't use any pages that have color-ish print).
I tear off about 8-10 sheets from the large book and squirt 1-2 small lines of veggie oil on each page. The oil keeps the paper from burning up too fast, to give the charcoal a chance to burn. Wad them up into loose balls and put them under the chimney. Add your charcoal to the chimney and and place the whole thing somewhere it can suck in a bunch of air. I place mine on a piece of limestone that I set on my porch rail. The wind zips through there and turns the chimney into a blow torch in no time. Light the paper on at least on the wind side, but I usually light it all around.
Finally, walk away. Let it burn until you see a large amount of flames shoot out the top; and/or you can see from the top that most of the coals are burning. Then dump into your firebox of choice....carefully.
That's it. I'm sorry if I insulted anyone's intelligence here, but maybe someone will find it usefull.
