SS Mini-Chimney


 
TonyUK

TonyUK

TVWBB Guru
I've spent an age looking for a mini-chimney for lighting 12-15 briqs for a 14.5 WSM Minion start. I find the Weber Compact a little too big. [YMMV}.

• Made from 1.5mm SS. It measures 8" H x 5" W. Made in England! 😯 Has a nice solid feel/weight to it.
• The cylinder is riveted at three points.
• It has the same wire cone inside as the WC.
• The handle is held on with screws so it can be detached for travelling. [I have removed the pouring handle].

For £16.99 I thought that was a fair price for a solid SS unit. There is also a larger model, which is about the same size as the regular Weber Rapid-Fire.

The George Foreman Quick-Fire™ Compact Chimney! [Who knew?].

IMG_2696.jpg

I haven't used it yet, but I see no reason why it won't perform well.
 
$36.99 USD? Holy cow!
I will just partially fill the full size ones I already have. The charbroil “shorty” is really a good size for an 18” kettle charge but, mine is ten years old and getting pretty ratty, I have two full size Weber chimneys still in good shape and I have a Røsle full size in the garage waiting for the Webers to give up the ghost before I break that out. The Røsle is seriously well built, heavy 304SS and should provide years of service!
 
Looks cool, but does it actually light a small batch faster? I recently played around with a 1/3 full chimney of briketts at night. When I laid them out flat in the chimney, they were more evenly hot compared to a stack on one side. The stack had a much hotter center, but the top coals were a lot cooler.
 
Jonas-Switzerland said:
Looks cool, but does it actually light a small batch faster?
Click to expand...
I don't know. I haven't used it yet. I don't really see the need for speed when lighting a chimney.
I loaded it up earlier with 14 briqs and it was two-thirds full. I'll try & do a test-drive tomorrow using two Weber Natural Firelighters.
 
I’ll stick with my “Sidewinder” method that YOU actually turned me on to! With full credit going to the estimable Enrico Brandizzi for sharing it in the first place. It has proven to worn so well for me, I don’t need yet one more pice of “kit” for that.
😉👍🥃
 
Looks like it will fit in the On the go charcoal grill for storage and transport.
When I bought my Son the newer Jumbo Joe I also grabbed the Weber compact chimney for the same purpose.
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Jonas-Switzerland said:
Looks cool, but does it actually light a small batch faster? .........
Click to expand...

Just did an experiment to see if this chimney lights a small batch faster, or slower, than the WC chimney.

Using 16 Weber Coco-Shell briqs & two Weber Natural Firelighters. [It's pretty much accepted that coco-shell briqs take a wee bit longer to get going].
IMG_2703.jpeg

13' 50" later. This would be the point when I would dump the briqs into the tin-can & get after it. [YMMV].
IMG_2704.jpeg

It got the briqs "up to speed" quicker than my WC chimney when using just regular charcoal briqs. I think the chimney performed admirably.
I hope this appeases all the "speed-merchants" out there.;) Personally I didn't care if it was faster or slower. I like that it's SS and more robust than most other chimney's out there, & a competitive price too!

Edit: I have another SS chimney that's is bigger than the WCC but smaller than the WRFC. Very similar construction quality of the GFQ-F.
It'll get a workout for tonight's feast.
 
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I figured out a long time ago that the best chimneys are the ones with wire grates in the bottom, and not a perforated plate of sheet steel. The perf'ed plate simply does not flow enough air.
 
JKalchik said:
I figured out a long time ago that the best chimneys are the ones with wire grates in the bottom, and not a perforated plate of sheet steel. The perf'ed plate simply does not flow enough air.
Click to expand...
I agree, [from my experience]. I had a SS Broil-King chimney which had the perforated plate on the bottom. Rubbish! By the time the top briqs were getting lit the bottom briqs were half spent! Plus the perforated plate warped horribly. I gifted it to an unsuspecting, but grateful friend. 🥷
 
Thanks Tony that is a great find. For smaller cooks I have had issues lighting a smaller quantity of coals in a big chimney so this looks ideal. The fact that it's stainless steel is good for those of us who ahem may have a habit of leaving the chimney in the garden overnight after a cook.
 
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