You put in your coals, screw up some newspaper (or use a firelighter) and put it underneath - then guess what happens? You have to light it. Sometimes if I'm just doing a couple of chops or burgers or something that I've done sous-vide then I'll just cook them directly over this then spritz out the coals and you can use them again.
Had loads today in the Seven Kings store near Goodmayes Tesco.
use an empty baked bean tin - free
- luvsadealdealdeal
Top comments
davej1710
2 Oct 1619#2
Great item, had one from them for a few years now. Lasted well.
Good points:
Cheap as chips if bought at the end of the season. Can buy 4x for the price of a discounted webber.
Better than firelighters, but get some just in case as it can struggle a bit.
Burns much better than spreading regular charcoal & firelighters & better all round cooking performance.
Much easier to get going than regular methods of lighting, excluding petrol, flammable gels etc.
Bad points:
As with all these chimney starters, watch your eyebrows. The charcoal flares up so keep your face away when tipping out and wear some decent hand/ long arm protection like welders gauntlets. Stops singed arm hairs.
Rusts quickly, so keep dry.
Bottom grate keeps popping out, but obviously only push back in place when cold.
Not as effective as a webber. I've both and most of the time I end up putting firelighters in this one but not the webber. Webbers when on offer around this time of year are better in the long run, but cost 4x more initially if bought end of season.
Takes a bit of getting the knack. Bit of a technique and can be easily given up on, but great once you understand it.
Tips:
Get a sheet of newspaper and twist it until it forms into a long length of paper rope. Flip the unit upside down & push the twisted newspaper around the inside of the circle base, but leave a hole in the centre to let the air vent through to create a wind tunnel effect. Helps airflow & getting it lit. Should look like a satellite picture of a hurricane if done right. Flip back over, put around 3/4 full of charcoal inside with the odd firelighters broke up in two mixed in. Light the paper in a few places & then leave. You can gently blow at the base to get it going or get one of those bbq fan blowers if needed, but watch your face getting burnt if too close. Might need re-stocking with paper but don't give up.
Enjoy!
NotMyRealName
2 Oct 165#21
Where do you get FREE baked beans/soup tins from then? Do you steal them?
Also, how many tins would you need v's buying on of these. Surely the point is to get ALL the coals going before pouring them in. Wouldn't fancy having 5x soup tins to achieve the same thing. Oh yeah, your 'free' tins don't come with handles. Will you weld some on? If so, won't this end up costing more than just buying this in the first place?!
arpster to davej1710
2 Oct 163#9
Nice post Dave, reminds of how helpful this site used to be before the Twitter/Facebook invasion
Cheers
All comments (37)
hiswife
2 Oct 161#1
Bought a similar one from Argos in the sale a month ago for about 4 pounds...hot...and a great buy...
davej1710
2 Oct 1619#2
Great item, had one from them for a few years now. Lasted well.
Good points:
Cheap as chips if bought at the end of the season. Can buy 4x for the price of a discounted webber.
Better than firelighters, but get some just in case as it can struggle a bit.
Burns much better than spreading regular charcoal & firelighters & better all round cooking performance.
Much easier to get going than regular methods of lighting, excluding petrol, flammable gels etc.
Bad points:
As with all these chimney starters, watch your eyebrows. The charcoal flares up so keep your face away when tipping out and wear some decent hand/ long arm protection like welders gauntlets. Stops singed arm hairs.
Rusts quickly, so keep dry.
Bottom grate keeps popping out, but obviously only push back in place when cold.
Not as effective as a webber. I've both and most of the time I end up putting firelighters in this one but not the webber. Webbers when on offer around this time of year are better in the long run, but cost 4x more initially if bought end of season.
Takes a bit of getting the knack. Bit of a technique and can be easily given up on, but great once you understand it.
Tips:
Get a sheet of newspaper and twist it until it forms into a long length of paper rope. Flip the unit upside down & push the twisted newspaper around the inside of the circle base, but leave a hole in the centre to let the air vent through to create a wind tunnel effect. Helps airflow & getting it lit. Should look like a satellite picture of a hurricane if done right. Flip back over, put around 3/4 full of charcoal inside with the odd firelighters broke up in two mixed in. Light the paper in a few places & then leave. You can gently blow at the base to get it going or get one of those bbq fan blowers if needed, but watch your face getting burnt if too close. Might need re-stocking with paper but don't give up.
Enjoy!
kristoff to davej1710
2 Oct 161#4
Got to be worth a 'like' that.
Thanks for the tips and info.
arpster to davej1710
2 Oct 163#9
Nice post Dave, reminds of how helpful this site used to be before the Twitter/Facebook invasion
Cheers
hukdbargain to davej1710
2 Oct 16#10
Cool Story.
dorothyhoggarth to davej1710
3 Oct 16#28
not needing one but love to see a great common like this! heat for this x
sradmad
2 Oct 161#3
good find op, heat added
DonnyBrago
2 Oct 16#5
I had one of these, very rusty but still going strong in the hands of the person I gave it to.
It is about half the capacity of the big weber version, which is why I stopped using it.
Perfect for smaller BBQs though.
DonnyBrago
2 Oct 16#6
I think this is the version with a plate with round holes cut into it instead of a metal grille, not quite as good as a grille but still works.
scaryprowler to DonnyBrago
2 Oct 16#8
This. It also doesn't have quite enough ventilation in the upper 2 thirds, could do with a few holes imo.
You really don't need firelighters put in the charcoal, that's one of the other main benefits of using a chimney. They'll pickup the taste else. Best pop one underneath with the newspaper.
Heat!
zippypants
2 Oct 16#7
Smoking hot....
liamf12
2 Oct 16#11
I bought some of these a few years ago before switching to a gas bbq, best £2 I ever spent. Never had an issue & I always put a few of the larger left over Richmond sausage fat coated coals from the last bbq just to help. No need for Hinckley C when you could use them for fuel.
TehJumpingJawa
2 Oct 16#12
What's wrong with just using a hair dryer?
masif1 to TehJumpingJawa
2 Oct 161#14
These are brilliant, you can get a coal BBQ running in no time! No need for firelighters or liquid. Just charcoal, newspaper and a lighter!
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Opening post
No, it's not summer.
Yes, it's filthy cheap and probably flammable.
You put in your coals, screw up some newspaper (or use a firelighter) and put it underneath - then guess what happens? You have to light it. Sometimes if I'm just doing a couple of chops or burgers or something that I've done sous-vide then I'll just cook them directly over this then spritz out the coals and you can use them again.
Had loads today in the Seven Kings store near Goodmayes Tesco.
use an empty baked bean tin - free
- luvsadealdealdeal
Top comments
Good points:
Cheap as chips if bought at the end of the season. Can buy 4x for the price of a discounted webber.
Better than firelighters, but get some just in case as it can struggle a bit.
Burns much better than spreading regular charcoal & firelighters & better all round cooking performance.
Much easier to get going than regular methods of lighting, excluding petrol, flammable gels etc.
Bad points:
As with all these chimney starters, watch your eyebrows. The charcoal flares up so keep your face away when tipping out and wear some decent hand/ long arm protection like welders gauntlets. Stops singed arm hairs.
Rusts quickly, so keep dry.
Bottom grate keeps popping out, but obviously only push back in place when cold.
Not as effective as a webber. I've both and most of the time I end up putting firelighters in this one but not the webber. Webbers when on offer around this time of year are better in the long run, but cost 4x more initially if bought end of season.
Takes a bit of getting the knack. Bit of a technique and can be easily given up on, but great once you understand it.
Tips:
Get a sheet of newspaper and twist it until it forms into a long length of paper rope. Flip the unit upside down & push the twisted newspaper around the inside of the circle base, but leave a hole in the centre to let the air vent through to create a wind tunnel effect. Helps airflow & getting it lit. Should look like a satellite picture of a hurricane if done right. Flip back over, put around 3/4 full of charcoal inside with the odd firelighters broke up in two mixed in. Light the paper in a few places & then leave. You can gently blow at the base to get it going or get one of those bbq fan blowers if needed, but watch your face getting burnt if too close. Might need re-stocking with paper but don't give up.
Enjoy!
Also, how many tins would you need v's buying on of these. Surely the point is to get ALL the coals going before pouring them in. Wouldn't fancy having 5x soup tins to achieve the same thing. Oh yeah, your 'free' tins don't come with handles. Will you weld some on? If so, won't this end up costing more than just buying this in the first place?!
Cheers
All comments (37)
Good points:
Cheap as chips if bought at the end of the season. Can buy 4x for the price of a discounted webber.
Better than firelighters, but get some just in case as it can struggle a bit.
Burns much better than spreading regular charcoal & firelighters & better all round cooking performance.
Much easier to get going than regular methods of lighting, excluding petrol, flammable gels etc.
Bad points:
As with all these chimney starters, watch your eyebrows. The charcoal flares up so keep your face away when tipping out and wear some decent hand/ long arm protection like welders gauntlets. Stops singed arm hairs.
Rusts quickly, so keep dry.
Bottom grate keeps popping out, but obviously only push back in place when cold.
Not as effective as a webber. I've both and most of the time I end up putting firelighters in this one but not the webber. Webbers when on offer around this time of year are better in the long run, but cost 4x more initially if bought end of season.
Takes a bit of getting the knack. Bit of a technique and can be easily given up on, but great once you understand it.
Tips:
Get a sheet of newspaper and twist it until it forms into a long length of paper rope. Flip the unit upside down & push the twisted newspaper around the inside of the circle base, but leave a hole in the centre to let the air vent through to create a wind tunnel effect. Helps airflow & getting it lit. Should look like a satellite picture of a hurricane if done right. Flip back over, put around 3/4 full of charcoal inside with the odd firelighters broke up in two mixed in. Light the paper in a few places & then leave. You can gently blow at the base to get it going or get one of those bbq fan blowers if needed, but watch your face getting burnt if too close. Might need re-stocking with paper but don't give up.
Enjoy!
Thanks for the tips and info.
Cheers
It is about half the capacity of the big weber version, which is why I stopped using it.
Perfect for smaller BBQs though.
You really don't need firelighters put in the charcoal, that's one of the other main benefits of using a chimney. They'll pickup the taste else. Best pop one underneath with the newspaper.
Heat!