Chimneys

[Char Grilla]

I'd be too embarrased to say I had a problem lighting a chimney, but I have a friend who rips up one full sheet of newspaper and puts it in the bottom of his chimney, then fills it with ez light Kingsford briquettes. He lights it using the holes in the bottom, but it seems to always go out. What a loser this guy is eh? Any help for him, my friend?

[sksmoker]

What you want to do is put in 2-3 pieces of newspaper lightly twisted around in a circle, so you basically make a doughnut out of it. Then put it in the bottom of the chimney. Put the other ring in there as well and that should give you enough to keep the flame going to get the charcoal going.

Some use a propane torch called a weed burner to get things going, and I even used a plumbing torch laid up underneath the chimney for about 30 seconds to get the charcoal going.

Try out some more paper and that should help. Don't pack it in too tight, you need air to get it going or else it will just sit there and smolder, which is what I used to do when I first started out. You'll get the hang of it!
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[Megla]

Tilt chimney and light the paper from the bottom, once well lite, place the chimney back flat

[T00lman]

well let,s ah say help your freind out I myself me john use about 4 pages of the newspaper in the bottom of chimney fill with coal (lump or briquttes) light the paper from the bottom pour a drink (jack &diet coke)
wait 15-20 minutes wala fire works every time hope this helps your freind out .
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[Char Grilla]

[dutchmancreek]

Two ways work well...........

Use newspaper but spray some Pam on the paper before you light it.

My way.......fill the chimney with charcoal and set over the side burner of my gas grill.


Steve
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[OddThomas]

Here's basically how I've always done it and I never have a problem with it going out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHXcibEJ1lc

[Char Grilla]

Thanks Old Tom, I'll view that when I get away from my overly censored work computer. My friend is very appreciative of everyone's advice. He did have a follow up question though. The charcoal in the chimney is not near enough to cook with. His question is should he put a layer of charcoal down, and put the chimney charcoal over that charcoal, or should he put down the chimney charcoal and cover that with new charcoal.

[Pocket Treys]

I always use the ole butane torch method with half a stick of the easy fire starter....after about 30 seconds of that and 5-7 minutes on the concrete...that fire will be purring and ready to put into the smoker

[USDA Monkey]

If the newspaper becomes too much of a mess for you, I mean your friend, he/she can start doing I did a few months ago. I save the paper towels I use while BBQing and put a few in an old cool whip container. I pour a few spoonfuls of vegetable oil on top and let them soak it up. I use one oiled paper towel under the chinmey. They burn like a wick and there is little to no ash.

I got real tired of the mess newspaper left after the chimeny was lit. I usually use my gas grill side burner to light the chimney for my charcoal grill but I don't use the WSM on the deck so I needed an easier and cleaner way to light the chinmey. Oiled paper towels was the solution.
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[istock74]

[mds2]

Does anyone ever use sterno to light there chimneys? i have a can at home but I dont know if it would blow up or something.
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The Saucy Lads BBQ Team

[lantern]

[wnkt]

Ive used sterno before...but its something I have to actually go buy. I use the paper towel with some oil/bacon grease on it with a sheet of newspaper wrapped around it to start my charcoal, mostly because I always have those on hand.
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[Markbb]

[mds2]

[Beertooth]

The fire starter stuff works great. A little piece burns for 20min and no mess from newspaper.

I just bought a turkey fryer burner recently and use it to hook to my propane tank from the gas grill. I can pre-heat my offset as well as sit it between two bricks and then set the chimney of coals on the bricks and crank 'er up.
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[Canadian Bacon]

I just hold a propane plumbers torch in the bottom for a couple minutes and it starts no problem.
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[Smokinfunk]

Nah, what's with all this newspaper crap. What you wanna do is to thoroughly soak those briquettes overnight in lighter fluid, stack 'em high in your chimney, stand back, and throw in a match. Make sure you cook some grillable foods while they're still flaming to get that authentic amateur backyard grill taste. If the taste still isn't quite authentic, next try it with gasoline, or maybe top-fuel nitromethane.

Sorry, there were too many darned good contributions in this thread - had to give it some balance.

Me, I'm a proponent of sksmoker's doughnut method. The only thing I'd add is, I wad up the 2 sheets of newspaper in a tight ball first, then unwad them to roll up the dougnut tube. The wrinkles make sure it stays loose to allow plenty of air and burns well.

Only one downside I've ever seen to this method. If it's a really humid day, and I leave that newspaper outside for even 10 minutes before lighting, I'd swear it absorbs enough humidity to really tone down the burning action.
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[lantern]

Smokinfunk,

You forgot the matchlight option! Now that's real backyard bliss!