magnusfide wrote:
Weber makes a compact chimney starter. Not collapsible but when dealing with heat I'd be concerned that the joints would eventually fail in a collapsible.
There's always the old reliable #10 can of baked beans. Remove the label, empty the beans and clean. Then using a church key punch a bunch of holes in it. I've done that many times and used a pair of pliers and a DO lid lifter to empty the coals into the grill.
Free.
Compact.
You always have a lid lifter and pliers with you anyway.
And you get enough beans to feed at least 15 people in the bargain.
:B
Collapsible is important on my end since I've not the storage space of garage and attic homeowners:).
I happily owned the prior s/s chimney starter for at least 3 seasons with no signs of rust/deterioration and then dealt w/ the frustration of a smaller chimney starter; an equal to the original sized galvanized steel w/ a bare metal handle and most recently, a large round chimney starter. Tired of those design flaws. Whether they rusted out, took up too much space or required a bulky/clumsy oven mitt for handling, it was too much for a simple task tool.
Read and thought of making a chimney starter using a #10 can but the storage constraints came into play; hate to do a something that has to be done camping season after camping season. I like my Dremel but err not THAT much, LOL.
garmp1 wrote:
I made one using duct work sheet metal. A friend of mine cut the metal to my specs and punched two holes in each of the four sides near the bottom for air. I used a piano hinge with pop rivets to connect the 4 sides. Bent some metal rod I had lying about for the folding handles. The grate on the inside was cut from an old BBQ grate I had. Drilled two holes for tow of the grate pieces to fit and a pop riveted lip on the opposite side to hold the rack up. I'll have to find some pics. Folds flat, about 3/4" thick.
My fav and now sought version had s/s coated piano hinges; a Bakelite type handle that moved from side to side but locked in place when hot, and an oven/grill quality base. Suspect it was about 1.5 maybe 1.75" when folded.
Wuvved that thing!!
This is the version I'm contemplating now despite it's hot to hold handles and too small air holes:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Stainless-Steel-Folding-Charcoal-Starter-Outdoor-BBQ-Grill-Chimney-Starter/351367690652?_trksid=p2141725.c100338.m3726&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150313114020%26meid%3D83e8eb789fe24022a8ee32ce22e089c1%26pid%3D100338%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D30%26sd%3D262742704682
