Charcoal starting chimney suggestions

I've been thinking about one of these for a while (not this exact model, just a picture I found) and was thinking of making one. Anyone have some input? Should I make one, buy one or use something totally different?

 

I have one of them, works quite well

 

Store bought?

 

Yeah, cheap enough to not be worth the time to make one.

 

What are you trying to light charcoal for? They do work and I use them on occasion, but most of the time I use a propane torch. You can get a 500,000 BTU torch from Harbor Freight with a push button igniter for about $25. That thing works great for nearly all your outdoor fire starting needs and you can also use it to sear stuff after it comes out of the sous vide bath.

The chimney works great over a propane burner or indoors on the gas stove when your wife is not watching, but it is way to slow if you follow the directions and try to ligh it with a sheet of newspaper.

 

You should make one AND buy one.

I have a small charcoal grill that I use my homemade jobber for (holds about 46-50? briquettes), and the store bought unit must hold around 100 briquettes. I'm lazy and start it on the side burner of the propane bbq.

 

Here ya go. How to light a grill and a video explaining the grill lighter and showing other uses.

 

I use a store bought one, works great.

 

I've had the same store bought one for years. Two or three sheets of newspaper under it, it takes about twenty minutes to get red hot coals. I use that time to have a cold beer, and it looks like I'm busy!

 

Bye one, I've had one for years. It's great.

 

We made some out of coffee cans when I was in scouts. I however use the Webber ones I have 2 one for the home grill and one I use for the little joe while car camping

 

Won’t be using the Webber for a while!

 

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys!
I’m going to just buy one next time I come across one I guess.

Might have to invest in one of those just to have it!! I usually use the acetylene torch and the leaf blower to get a fire cranking.

 

They are great! We backed away from LP cooking about 8 years ago and went back to wood or charcoal. I watched my cousin use one about 4 years ago and for about $12 (Walmart) they can't be beat. It put's a little convenience back into it after being used to the ease of LP.

 

My big thing was wanting one for Dutch oven cooking to fire up some coals to stack under and on the oven without having to build a fire.

 

And that is exactly why I have two of them. Get one going and then use a couple of coals from it to start another one. Excellent for dutch cooking as they are contained and pretty much the same temp.

 

I have a Weber brand one still under 20$. Been in use 2 years now works well . I like the idea of not using lighter fluid any more just old newspapers. You could make one just for the sake of doing it, but for the $$ just buy one.

 

I've had the Weber brand one for years. It sits outside year round and still works like a charm. I've used a few that look like the one pictured and the handle gets really hot the Weber also has a folding handle that help dump the coals. Either news paper or the Weber cubes fire starters are great.

 

Just picked up a Weber brand one!! $19.99 guess you can’t go wrong there! Sure is bigger than I thought, which is good she should hold a nice load of briquettes!