Customer Reviews

Charcoal Companion Black Boxed Chimney Starter

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Chimney starters are the only way to go for charcoal. However, do not by this one! As with another review, I also had one of the rivets holding the handle on pop. It also rusted out after the first use. BUY THE WEBER VERSION! I have now had the Weber version for over a year and it is still going strong with weekly use. Price is usually the same.

Amazon used to offer the Weber Charcoal Chimney at the same price. The Weber Charcoal Starter is 1000% better than this product. I had one of these and once when dumping the coals the upper rivet (yes rivet) came lose and the hot coals spilled out. Could have been a disaster.

Amazon no longer carries the Weber Charcoal Chimney; they list it as discontinued. Weber still makes their chimney and if you saw both of them side by side, there's no comparison. Weber is larger, sturdier, and safer.

Lobby Amazon to carry the Weber again, or do yourself a favor and search Google for the Weber. It retails at 19.99 even if you have to pay full price. Well worth it.

chimneys starters are a good way to go but like some of the other reviewer's mine popped a rivet and rusted. The Weber is
far superior.

For everyone out there that complains that this doesn't work well: learn to use it!! The key with all chimney starters is to put a bit of vegetable oil on the paper... this is the trick that Alton Brown taught me on Good Eats... I wouldn't spend twice the money for a fancy one when a tablespoon of vegie oil or a spray of Pam will do!

Though I cannot speak to the overall construction quality or instructions of this product, I will say that it works great. I use one with my Weber grill. It saves me money and time.

Simply crumple two sheets of news paper, stuff them up into the bottom. Set the chimney starter on the bottom grill grate, then light the newspaper with a long match or lighter. In about 15 mins, you can dump the coals onto the bottom grate, and you are ready to cook. Saves money on lighter fluid, and saves worries about having charcoal but not starter fluid. Plus I feel better serving meals to my family that do not smell of lighter fluid.

I have had no problems with getting my charcoal lit, but the metal holding the handle isn't screwd in and it comes when lifted. I have to make sure I hold the handle at the very bottom so I don't drop the chimney.

The design is fine, the construction is lacking...

Within minutes -- far sooner than I had anticipated, the first time I used it -- this device had every single briquette white-hot and ready to make a totally even bed of coals. It's a great innovation and a real aid to better grilling.

Forget about lighter fluid. A couple sheets of newspaper and about 10 minutes, charcoal is ready. IMO it's faster then using lighter fluid. If you can't figure out how to assemble this then you probably shouldn't lighting fires anyway.

Folks, bottomline, this is the only way to light charcoal. It really doesn't matter what brand you buy - it's a pretty simple device.

This is durable. Don't just buy one of these in the grocery store. The quality doesn't compare. The heat shield also protects the handle from getting too hot. You can use this item without lighter fluid. Just crinkle a sheet of newspaper in the bottom and voila! I have also seen some place this right on the camp stove to give the coals a quick start. If you do, be careful as they get VERY hot!