Lighting the fuel

[FireMan]

I think we need a poll! Yes, that’ll solve the problem.

[glitchy]

I usually use a chimney and have used tumbleweeds, Weber cubes, and just loosely crumbled up newspaper. They all get the job done. I also have a GrillGun for when I’m in a hurry or just want to play with a flamethrower.

[RichieB]

Weber cubes here.

[Mark The Q-er]

If I'm starting a low and slow fire in the SnS or my drum, I will use tumbleweeds. If I'm lighting charcoal for my initial offset warm up or a sear in the Weber, I'll use a chimney with 5-6 sheets of newspaper and a lighter torch. I also am a big fan of the paper towel roll hack where you place a paper towel roll vertical in the chimney which allows flames to shoot out the top in no time which lights the charcoal very quickly. If I'm in a super hurry, I'll blow air from the bottom of the chimney with my small lithium battery hand blower. I use stacked cinderblocks to redirect the air up into the chimney.

[Bkhuna]

Weber Performer Deluxe and a chimney!

[jfmorris]

I no longer get a newspaper, but when I did, a couple of crumpled up sheets under a chimney got things going. These days I use one tumbleweed or one starter cube. I hear of others using a cotton ball soaked in alcohol to start a chimney.

If you are trying to light a mound of charcoal laying on the grate of a grill, its much harder, as there is no draft like with the chimney. Getting my first chimney 20 years ago was a game changer - no lighter fluid in 20 years, woohoo!

[Alan Brice]

No thank you on the solvent starts. Charcoal bag pcs or non slick news print. Chimbly n teas veg oil on whatever paper. It’s a sure fire every time. Even windy conditions.

[Edward_Fortin]

I use paper towels soaked in canola oil under a chimney, if I have time. If I don't have much time I use a propane torch that completely greys over 80 kingsford brickettes in about a minute.

[Ernst]

Getting better at it. No more problems with fire. My first attempt at Bacon. It is actually very nice, thank you all that have laboured before me by giving tips and recipes on various fora. Pretty hap[py with the result.

[quod erat]

Chimney with some paper towels with a little cheap cooking oil soaked into them. Burns long enough to get a chimney started.