Minion style charcoal hack

[Big Grouch]

I saw this somewhere, I can't take credit. If you can source a metal coffee can, cut the top and bottom out. Put it in the middle of the charcoal ring, fill everything around the can with charcoal. When a chimney of charcoal is ready, dump it into the coffee can, then grab it with pliers and pull it out. Works well for me.

 

[TulsaJeff]

This is a great hack.. thanks for sharing!

 

[tbern]

Nice idea, thanks for sharing it!

 

[chopsaw]

I saw this somewhere,

Me too . @SmokinAl . Lol .
It does work good . Thanks for posting .

 

[bill1]

Costco still sells coffee in a metal can that you can remove the bottom with a good ol' can opener.

Still it's not big enough for a big firestarter chimney. For that it works well to just take some roofing flashing, cut it to a length of your desired can diameter, then join the edges to form a larger open can with rivets, screws, or hog rings. Same principle: form your labyrinth while your starter coals heat in the chimney with the open can forming your starting point. Then when starter coals are ready, pour into the can, then pull out the can with angled channel locks and your labyrinth maintains its shape.

 

[pit 4 brains]

It works well. For the WSM folks, I used to use a 28 oz can full of gravel in the middle and a small brick leading to the edge. I did this method to get the coals going and the burn would just move around the can. It is especially handy to be able to adjust the dampers as it goes.
Now I'm old and lazy so I use one brick and lighter fluid. Yes I admit it...

 

[radioguy]

I use a 3" piece of exhaust pipe to start my PBC jr. I only need 4-6 coals.

RG

 

[chalabi]

That sounds like a great idea! I've never tried it before, but it seems like it would be an effective way to get the charcoal going. Thanks for sharing!