British BBQ Society Forums

The Webers are nice, but there are others too.

Anyone have any pros/cons of any of these?

I even see someone selling a galvanised one on ebay for 10 pounds including delivery!

I remember my dad using a chimney starter in the early 80's - I don't think it was a Weber though!

BE CAREFUL, the Weber and Landsman both have handles that are seperated from the body of the chimney, the cheapo ones don't. There is a metal bracket top and bottom into which the wooden handle is pressure fitted. This leaves a metal cap at the top and base of the handle which is directly connected to the body of the chimney and it gets £$^$*&% HOT, if you grip it wrongly. Most people would hold the handle with their thump resting on top for stability, like you would with a measuring jug or a pint of beer......mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm beeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr. It's a mistake you only do once, but it makes picking up the cheap starters VERY tricky as the heat did go straight through the cheap welding gloves I was wearing.

Good warning Keith.
Thanks.

So basically it is worth spending a few quid more for a weber.

The cheaper versions also tend to be smaller or larger. This may not mean alot to most people, but we tend to discuss things as a "chimney starter full". This can be a difference of 2-3kg of charcoal depending on the starter you are using, I think in general, most people are refering to the Weber starter. The Webers tend not to rust as badly as the no-name cheapo's. But @ £7, they are generally good value. I have had mine going on 7 years now with no issues (as long as you keep it out the rain :>)

Aris,
I am a self confessed anti Weber man.......but when it comes to chimney starters pay the extra fiver, you will spend hundreds on charcoal over its life so for me in this case the Weber chimney starter is worth the extra few quid.......hurts me to say it though.......

Cheers
Tiny

Tiny wrote:Aris,
I am a self confessed anti Weber man.......but when it comes to chimney starters pay the extra fiver, you will spend hundreds on charcoal over its life so for me in this case the Weber chimney starter is worth the extra few quid.......hurts me to say it though.......

Cheers
Tiny

Good advice - thanks. Sometimes spending a little more at the outset pays dividends. Sometimes not - which is what I wanted to find out

Another vote for the Weber. Mine is just over four years old and I would think it fair to say that it has been used at least once a week every week, so well in excess of 200 uses (thats on the low side) It lives outside and receives no special care but will admit that the climate here is much kinder than in the UK.

If and when it falls apart, another Weber will replace it.

The big advantage for me with the Weber is the base, it's a wire frame so make it much easier to light the charcoal then either the Landsman or the cheapo I used which are both perforated metal plates. As has been mentioned, some things you can get away with the economy brands some you can't which includes chimney's and thermometers etc.

Here is an example of the handle problem I mentioned

http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/outdoor-l ... icamp=recs