Starting Wood Charcoal......

[Falconboy]

I'm using a chimney fire starter. The thing is sometimes I have an easy time getting the coals to light and at other times its a pain. I put a wad of newspaper under the bottom and light it per the instructions on the chimney starter tag. Is just a matter of sometimes not enough air getting in there to keep the fire alight?

BTW, I'm getting better at the burger grilling. My last foray was quite fine and I intend to a few spices I got at Wally World on a burger.

[hammb]

The best way, IMO, is to place the chimney over a propane burner for 30 seconds or so. I use my turkey fryer, but if you have a gas grill with a side burner it would also work well.

I've never done it, but the guys on various BBQ forums seem to have good luck using paper towels drizzled with vegetable oil instead of the standard newspapers. They say it starts better than newspaper and doesn't have as much ash as newspaper does. Give it a whirl.

[Falconboy]

Thanks man , I'll have to give that oiled paper towel thing a try. I believe my problem has been the newspaper simply burning up to fast before any of the coals get really lit up good.

[Metz]

Try more newspaper...

I know what the instructions say, but I have one and I usually have to put 2-4 balls of newspaper for them to get going really good.

[Lord_Byron]

I use a ring of newspaper in the starter and then set it on a crumpled piece of newspaper that is already lit. Have had good luck with this.

Here's a Youtube Video of some guy using a starter.