Hi everyone, I’m new here, I hope I’m posting this in the right place. I just got a chimney started and I’m confused. Is it true that I can put regular charcoal in it? Not the pre-soaked kind, just regular Kingsford charcoal? Before I got the chimney starter I would pile up the charcoal, drench with lighter fluid, light and wait. Can I use that same charcoal with the chimney starter, with out adding any lighter fluid? Thank you!!
Chimney starter
- Thread starter Audrey C
- Start date
J Grotz
TVWBB Wizard
You can stuff the bottom of it with newspaper, but I never had consistent success that way and lots of big newspaper ash blew around. I buy the weber starter cubes; they work great. Light a cube, set a full chimney of charcoal on top and come back in 12-15 minutes. Some people make their own.
One tip: do not wait for the coals on top to ash over before you dump the chimney onto your grill. If you do, the coals at the bottom of the chimney will have been completely consumed. Just get the top coals lit then dump. Everything will ash over nicely after that while you are waiting for the cooking grate to warm up.
One tip: do not wait for the coals on top to ash over before you dump the chimney onto your grill. If you do, the coals at the bottom of the chimney will have been completely consumed. Just get the top coals lit then dump. Everything will ash over nicely after that while you are waiting for the cooking grate to warm up.
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A lot of folks no longer take a daily newspaper, so the habit of using it to light charcoal in a chimney starter has become less popular. Like J. Grotz, I also use the Weber Firestarter cubes, two placed a few inches apart on the charcoal grate, light, place the filled chimney starter on top, and you'll be ready in maybe 10 minutes. Also what J. said about not waiting too long before dumping the lit charcoal.
I wrote an article on this subject, you'll find it here: https://www.virtualweberbullet.com/how-to-use-chimney-starter/
I would dump charcoal when it starts looking like this, maybe another minute longer.
I wrote an article on this subject, you'll find it here: https://www.virtualweberbullet.com/how-to-use-chimney-starter/
I would dump charcoal when it starts looking like this, maybe another minute longer.
Thank you!
Thank you. So just regular charcoals will do? I don’t need the kind that are presoaked? I guess I’m finding it hard to believe they will light without lighter fluid or being the pre-soaked kind of charcoals.
My bet would be folks with inconsistent results have a chimney starter with a perforated sheet metal bottom, those simply do not have enough airflow. The Weber chimney starter has a conical wire grate bottom, and that's the only kind I'll use (finally had to replace mine after 10+ years.)
A single sheet of newsprint (shows a total of 4 pages,) lightly wadded up under the grate, with a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil, and fill the chimney with charcoal (NOT the quick light variety, please.) Light the newsprint, and 10-15 minutes later, your coals will be ready.
A single sheet of newsprint (shows a total of 4 pages,) lightly wadded up under the grate, with a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil, and fill the chimney with charcoal (NOT the quick light variety, please.) Light the newsprint, and 10-15 minutes later, your coals will be ready.
J Grotz
TVWBB Wizard
No, do not use pre-soaked.
Yes, regular charcoal of any kind. Avoid Kingsford MatchLight or similar presoaked products.
I can promise you that if you put Kingsford Original charcoal into a Weber chimney starter and light it with two Weber FireStarter cubes and you're not in a windstorm or pouring rain, that charcoal will light! Guaranteed!
Barry Karnes
TVWBB Member
Welcome Audrey C. Those chimneys are awesome! No more lighter fluid! I have a pool & quickly learned about the starter cubes! No more newspaper ashes in the water.
To quote Fozzie Bear.... "Trust me." Okay, trust US. Chimney starters just plain work, and without volatile accelerants.
Thank you!! I needed to hear that directly!!Yes, regular charcoal of any kind. Avoid Kingsford MatchLight or similar presoaked products.
I can promise you that if you put Kingsford Original charcoal into a Weber chimney starter and light it with two Weber FireStarter cubes and you're not in a windstorm or pouring rain, that charcoal will light! Guaranteed!
Dan C. FL
TVWBB Pro
I’d never seen them before. Moved into a new neighborhood about a month ago and three of the four neighbors I’ve seen with kettles have been using them. I was like why? Is it because it’s windy here?This reminds me of the electric charcoal starter that I brought home with my first Kettle in 2015. Than I found this site
MikeS in Alaska
TVWBB Fan
I use a propane torch to light off a chimney of briquettes or lump. Takes about a minute to set it off.
Timothy F. Lewis
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
I often use a brown grocery bag, less ash than the Kalamazoo Gazette. Even though it’s about the only thing that the newspaper is good for.
Welcome to the forum!
Welcome to the forum!
Larry D.
TVWBB Emerald Member
In a pinch I use the charcoal bag itself instead of newsprint. Once the bag gets down to about half full, you can tear off enough to light the chimney and still have enough to fold down to close the bag. Another tip is to use a paper towel with vegetable oil to oil the grates, then use it to light the chimney.