charcoal chimney starter - Diy build, quick question

[wozzad]

I'm about to build a charcoal starter - DIY. I happen to have a nice peice of brushed stainless sheet handy - so will form it round a o2 bottle, and sort a handle out.

My only question is: The grate - i've seen flat grates, and i've seen conical grates ( like the weber)

Is there really a difference in lighting times with the weber compared to flat grated models ?

Thinking it over in my head, this starter will take 5kg of charcoal if i need it to......

any advice welcome !

[Tiny]

My advice?
Buy the Weber!
Cheers
Tiny

[wozzad]

Lol, i thought someone might say that.

I wanted something with a 'little' more capacity for an oil drum bbq. I'll also be using it for my 57cm one touch though.

based on you telling me to buy the weber, i'm going to take that as a vote for the conical grate !

[derekmiller]

Warren.
Go with the conical grate, it allows more surface area to be heated up.
Derek.

[wozzad]

Cheers - I'm just looking at how much of a pain in the nuts it'll be to make a conical grate......I'm aiming for a 8inch dia chimney, with alternating 2 inch dia/1inch dia inlet holes. Will make a handle from whatever i have lying in the shop!

Depending on what mesh i have lying around, i might make a pyramid grate - easy to cut/bend compared to a proper cone !

Will post results. My only concern is trying to bend/roll stainless sheet into a 8 inch dia cyl, without the use of sheet rollers! FWIW i'm planning to roll it round a BOC o2 Cylinder.


Did i mention i like to build things ?

[derekmiller]

Did i mention i like to build things ?

I think we might of guessed, , good luck with it.
Derek.

[Tiny]

Wassit,
Ah! capacity issues, my advice? Purchase 2 Weber Chimneys!

I am not sure how the chimney starter works I just know lighting lumpwood was a complete pain in the buttocks until I got the weber chimney, 3 sheets of newspaper and it never fails.

Not to make your build any tougher but I dont think the weber is a cylinder, it is narrower at the top than the bottom.

Good luck with th your build though

Cheers
Tiny

[keith157]

One of the best features of the Weber is the handle and heat shield. Cheaper handles are connected directly to the chimney and get HOT!!! Imho I agree with Tiny, 5lbs of burning coals are nothing to muck about with

[wozzad]

[wozzad]

Done!

Took a few hours. Few bits i'm not happy with - rolling it proved to be a real problem - would have only taken 5 mins with right tool !

My hole cutter died on the last big hole( hence it burned its way through the stainless)

Mesh is temp - i have stainless on its way to me!


Other than that, it works very very well. Had a 5kg bag of cheap charcoal bricks lying around, so decided to use them for some heat ! Bunged the whole lot in, prob 4 sheets of news paper, lit it and left it be. less than 10 mins later and it was RAGING ! Handle stayed cool throughout - and even after 10 mins was still cool to the touch. Very little heat transfer - the little sheild works very well. I'll perhaps upgrade the handle to stainless- though the angle has a nice high surface area to get rid of any heat !

Might add a wooden cover for the handle too - pretty sure i have a broken pick axe handle somewhere that will make a nice handle....and if its hickory like i think it is, will get used up for smoking too !!!

Happy BBQing !