Charcoal Chimneys

[Fueling Around]

...
When I was working I used to make them out of 8 " 16 ga. spiral duct .
I still have a small one I made last year out of 4 " . Holds about 8 pieces . I use it to light the snake , or slow burn pile .
...

Uh duct work is galvanized. But so are many of the cheap chimneys. Maybe that explains things?
Maybe that explains thing?

 

[chopsaw]

Whatever .

 

[chopsaw]

Uh duct work is galvanized.

Maybe that explains things?
Maybe that explains thing?

You just opened my eyes .

 

[RiversideSm0ker]

I grill or smoke up to five times a week. I haven't been grilling as much the last couple of weeks thanks to a nasty shot of diverticulitis. I will be jumping back into the fray soon though. Need a fully functioning chimney to make things easier though.

G

 

[one eyed jack]

Good choice staying with the Weber . For some reason I try to make it last forever . I due for a new one too .

When I was working I used to make them out of 8 " 16 ga. spiral duct .
I still have a small one I made last year out of 4 " . Holds about 8 pieces . I use it to light the snake , or slow burn pile .
View attachment 528985

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Can't count the number of times I wished that I had a small one like that.

I use the snake in the kettle a lot and get by with the small Weber chimney, but a smaller chimney would be nice.

Gonna have to talk to a fabricator.

 

[G8trwood]

Always used a weed burner vs a chimney

 

[motocrash]

Eventually the spiral cone warps and my last chimney literally had the bottom fall out full of charcoal.

After looking at mine, maybe this will work?

 

[dwette]

I’m going to try this thread before I start a new one.

I have a Big Green Egg XL, and have used Weber chimneys for years. I replace them every couple years. No big deal: they aren’t that expensive.

However, I have too many problems with stray embers burning my vinyl deck, and my wife is ready to kill me, so now I am looking for an alternative.

Can anyone recommend something that works well for starting lump charcoal in place? I am thinking about a butane torch. I had electric starters in the past, but they didn’t last long. Maybe there are better ones now?

 

[DougE]

Can anyone recommend something that works well for starting lump charcoal in place? I am thinking about a butane torch. I had electric starters in the past, but they didn’t last long. Maybe there are better ones now?

Get a weed torch. It'll get it going in short order.

 

[JckDanls 07]

As for being able to keep using the chimney... Could you just set it on the BGE's grate after you light it... ??

As for in place ... Give it a try... Pile it up and use a torch to light around the bottom edge... When lit from the top down it takes longer for it to catch on ...

What are you using to light your chimney ? ... I use the torch as I don't like the ashes from paper ...

 

[chopsaw]

Can anyone recommend something that works well for starting lump charcoal in place?

Get some starter cubes . Mix in the middle and light it . They work pretty good .

I went to get a new chimney , and for $45.00 I figured I'd do another patch on my old one .
Rivets were out of the handle and the bottom was gone .
Got rid of all the bad ,


Saved part of the bottom cone and cut some security mesh .


Used SS bolts and acorn cap nuts to hold the handle .
Acually works better with the flat bottom .
Shoild be good for awhile .

 

[dwette]

Get a weed torch. It'll get it going in short order.

Hey, that might kill two birds with one stone. We need to kill weeds and stuff coming out between our patio paver stones, but don’t want to use Round-Up, etc since we have a precious rescue rottie. :)

 

[dwette]

Get some starter cubes . Mix in the middle and light it

But don’t they have chemical starter that can end up infusing flavor? That’s been my past experience with such things.

 

[DougE]

Hey, that might kill two birds with one stone. We need to kill weeds and stuff coming out between our patio paver stones, but don’t want to use Round-Up, etc since we have a precious rescue rottie. :)

No need in using chemicals where not necessary, but if round up (or the generic glyphosate) were going to harm dogs, chickens, horses, or cattle, I'd know it. Also don't believe everything the internet has to say about it as most of it is BS by people pissed off at Monsanto.

 

[dwette]

As for being able to keep using the chimney... Could you just set it on the BGE's grate after you light it... ??

As for in place ... Give it a try... Pile it up and use a torch to light around the bottom edge... When lit from the top down it takes longer for it to catch on ...

What are you using to light your chimney ? ... I use the torch as I don't like the ashes from paper ...

I set the chimney in the BGE’s firebox when I start it. It’s when I pour the lighted lumps from the chimney into the fire box that it’s a problem. No matter how careful I try to be I make mistakes (it’s those pesky IPAs I tell ya…LOL). Some embers stick in the chimney, some smaller ones show up in the wrong place and ….ugh.

I use blank news and/or packing paper as starter fuel mostly.

I have a butane torch I’ve used for soldering thick speaker cable. Maybe I’ll try to repurpose it as a trial.

 

[dwette]

No need in using chemicals where not necessary, but if round up (or the generic glyphosate) were going to harm dogs, chickens, horses, or cattle, I'd know it. Also don't believe everything the internet has to say about it as most of it is BS by people pissed off at Monsanto.

I agree about all the Round-Up hate nonsense. I’m not a Monsanto hater or skeptic. It’s just that we really love our dogs and don’t like to take chances they’ll get sick. They’re big and don’t live long as it is, so our attitude is give them every chance possible to make each other happy longer. We’re even careful with what we use to salt our walks in winter too. It’s the better safe than sorry paranoia. A good friend is a retired Entomologist for Monsanto (Bayer) here in St. Louis. I understand the deal.

 

[chopsaw]

But don’t they have chemical starter that can end up infusing flavor? That’s been my past experience with such things.

The ones I use are wax on some type of paper .

 

[DougE]

I agree about all the Round-Up hate nonsense. I’m not a Monsanto hater or skeptic. It’s just that we really love our dogs and don’t like to take chances they’ll get sick. They’re big and don’t live long as it is, so our attitude is give them every chance possible to make each other happy longer. We’re even careful with what we use to salt our walks in winter too. It’s the better safe than sorry paranoia. A good friend is a retired Entomologist for Monsanto (Bayer) here in St. Louis. I understand the deal.

Nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution at all.

 

[dwette]

Nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution at all.

Besides, how can you not love this face? This is Brahms. If you meet him, he will claim to be the official Smoke/BBQ taste tester, but he lies. Just so you know.

 

[noboundaries]

For starter I use cardboard egg cartons cut to fit the chimney. I cut a few more pieces to fit in the egg pockets. Spray lightly with cooking oil. Add a crumpled paper towel or two, also lightly sprayed with cooking oil. Insert in the bottom. Add desired amount of briquettes to the chimney. Light the carton. 20 mins later, ready to dump.