Lighting only a few briquettes

[Grillin Dad]

So, there are times that I need to light only a few briquettes. For instance, when following ecowper instructions for heating a kettle to 325 (thanks, by the way, those are pretty much dead on). Anyway, I've always had trouble lighting less than a quarter of a chimney of briquettes. There's just not enough briquettes to fully cover the bottom of the chimney, and always a couple end up not fully lighting.

Anyway today, by accident, I discovered a solution. I was lighting 16 briquettes (as per ecowper instructions) and was in a hurry, so I lit 2 firestarters. I also just happened to pile the the briquettes on one side of the chimney. Then, I placed the chimney such that the lit firestarters were directly under the half of the chimney with the briquettes. Success!! All 16 briquettes lit evenly!!

As I am writing this, I realize how obvious this is. I'm sure everyone but me already knew this. But I'm still excited.

[J-Melt]

Not obvious to me! I have never succeeded lighting so few briquettes in a chimney. I usually just switch to putting a starter in the sns or charcoal bed if needed to keep the temp low.

[Donw]

When I first got my SnS kettle I thought about how to start small quantities too. Found out that Weber makes a smaller compact chimney so I use that for the SnS.

[Grillin Dad]

I've thought of that, but the minimalist in me doesn't want a second chimney if I can get away with it

[SheilaAnn]

So, there are times that I need to light only a few briquettes. For instance, when following ecowper instructions for heating a kettle to 325 (thanks, by the way, those are pretty much dead on). Anyway, I've always had trouble lighting less than a quarter of a chimney of briquettes. There's just not enough briquettes to fully cover the bottom of the chimney, and always a couple end up not fully lighting.

Anyway today, by accident, I discovered a solution. I was lighting 16 briquettes (as per ecowper instructions) and was in a hurry, so I lit 2 firestarters. I also just happened to pile the the briquettes on one side of the chimney. Then, I placed the chimney such that the lit firestarters were directly over the half of the chimney with the briquettes. Success!! All 16 briquettes lit evenly!!

As I am writing this, I realize how obvious this is. I'm sure everyone but me already knew this. But I'm still excited.

my day is not wasted…. I just learned something!

[Grillin Dad]

I am genuinely surprised that this was not common knowledge that I happened to stumble upon. I feel that I have 'taken' much from AR (in the form of learned knowledge), if this is my contribution back, then I'm happy. 🤣

[mnavarre]

With the full-sized Weber chimney you can just flip it over, throw a fire starter in there and it works great for between 15-25 KBB briquettes.With B&B it's probably more like 12-20.

[Steve R.]

What sorcery is this?!

[Grillin Dad]

What?! And that works? I'm trying this!!

[Jessterr]

Yep. May want to employ a small empty can or such to elevate the fire starter a bit, but yeah, it works. I’ve always wondered whether Weber intentionally designed that cone shaped grate specifically for that purpose.

[RichieB]

It's known as the PBJ chimney. Half the size of a full weber chimney.

[Grillin Dad]

Yeah, I've thought of that. But I'm a bit of a minimalist (or at least I used to be, before joining AR, now I have a kettle, a gasser, and a PBX) and don't want to have to get a second chimney if I don't have to

[Clark]

Grillin Dad You said the lit firestarters were directly OVER the half with the briquettes. Is that really what you meant or did you mean UNDER the briquettes?

[Grillin Dad]

Oh yeah, I see where I wasn't clear. I placed the chimney such that the briquettes were directly over the lit firestarters

[Michael_in_TX]

When I was first starting out, I had trouble lighting twelve briquets for the SnS. A friend of mine made me a custom charcoal chimney (complete with air holes, bottom grate, and handle) out of a motorcycle muffler pipe! Worked great!

[Finster]

vroom vroom vroom

[Grillin Dad]

Kick ass! You have pics of that? Sounds sweet!

[Donw]

We use to use many customized chimneys in the old days. Their size depended on the size of the coffee cans you bought when coffee cans were metal. All it took was the pointy edge of a beer can opener to customized. 🙂

[RolfTaylor]

FYI, there are two sizes of chimneys. The smaller one would work better, but not beg enough for general use. I like your technique better

[Murdy]

I must have a smaller one. I've been reading this thread thinking, "What's the big deal?"

[Lynn Dollar]

I use 6 to 8 B&B briquettes when I reverse sear steaks. I run the Kettle at 200* to 225*. I pile them up inside the SnS and then use my weed burner. Fastest way I've found for a small number of briqs.

[jfmorris]

You've discovered what I've always done. When I light 10-12 briquettes for the SNS on my Performer (propane ignition), I pile them all on one side of the chimney, strategically placing to get them in a little stack, then put that spot of the chimney over the ignition jet in the Performer.

Another option you might try is to flip the chimney upside down. THEN it is more of an inverted cone inside and it would hold a small amount of coals close together in the center, but with the point of the cone down...

[ecowper]

I just learned something great for a full size chimney! Awesome.

I use this Weber compact chimney since I never need to light anything more than 25 briquettes and usually just 12-16.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009IH0ICG?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_9&th=1

[RichieB]

Ist, nice to hear from you, hope all is well. I use the Pit Barrel chimney I got with the Barrel. Basically, the same size and fits in the Smokey Joe. As you, I don't need full a chimney unless I'm doing longer cooks in the Kettle with SnS as I am today for beef short ribs or wings with the Vortex.

[RolfTaylor]

With all the money spent by boating enthusiasts, I find it hard to believe that stainless steel chimneys don't exist. But I have searched in vain.

[labbq]

Here you go RolfTaylor ! I have owned one for 5 years now after 3 or 4 rusted Webers and highly recommend:

https://a.co/d/2S59k64

[RolfTaylor]

labbq - Thanks. Not cheap, but at our cabin the sea air rusts them quickly, so it should pay for itself over time. Is this the size of the big, or the small, weber? Or maybe in between. Looks well made. Looks like sometimes it goes for closer to $65 vs the current $75 so I shall be searching and waiting till the time is right . THANK YOU again.

[Lynn Dollar]

Another option is using a 46oz or 64oz can, like Campbells tomato juice is in. Then drill holes in the side. Drop it down inside a regular Weber chimney.

Here's one that I never got around to drilling the holes.

[smokenoob]

I watched a youtuber light 12-15 briquettes in a chimney by putting the briquettes bunched up tight on one side, then placing a starter on the grill grate directly under the briquettes. This was done to start the briquettes for a slow n’ sear.

[jfmorris]

Yes - this is what I mentioned above, and what I've always done, except I usually am using the propane ignitor on my Performer Deluxe to get the chimney going.