Rapidfire Compact Chimney Starter, Silver

Most people look at it and wonder - Is it worth the money? Well it used to be that you would pile your charcoal up in a pile.. squirt about that much fluid on it.. look at it.. and squirt a bit more just because... light it and watch the mini bonfire that was in your grill and hope you didn't burn down the patio (or something else if the wind shifted)... mean while in the middle of such you remembered that you didn't open the vents and curse while tapping them open as your carefully constructed pile of charcoal fell from the tapping/shaking which then left you trying to pile the briquettes back up in a pile using whatever was handy at the time (normally one of the BBQ utensils), and at the same time you tried your best not to loose your arm hair in the process and searing the flesh from your knuckles, with the worse case scenario being the briquettes only half lighting due to the collapse and you now having to spray more fluid onto the already half lit briquettes and hope you don't catch fire in the process. So this is how it went down... The Grill- Bought the Silver Smokey Joe, here on Amazon (no tax & free shipping... yes I know not all states are not tax free now, so if you are living in one of those unlucky states see this as a convenience factor) The Fuel Source- I used kingsford briquettes (standard blue bag kind) and filled this new gadget to the rim (watch your big box stores who are either Blue or Orange for charcoal to go on sale during/just before summer holiday periods- Memorial Day, 4th of July, Fathers Day). Ignition Source- Placed a single Weber 7417 Firestarter Lighter Cube on top of the charcoal grate in the grill, Placed the chimney over it, picked it back up and then re-adjusted the lighter cube to be under the center of the chimney. Due to the handle on the Chimney it won't be in the center of the 14" grill... once it was were it needed to be I lit the cube and placed the chimney back over it Now I won't lie, the entire time I was thinking this isn't going to work.. So I watched it for 3-4 minutes and well it looked like it was doing something more than just burning the lighter cube. So I walked in the house to wash my hands and to get the meat, but if you have ever set up the BBQ only to come back and find that your briquettes are smoldering.... this is what I expected to come back to in another 4-5 minutes... I was wrong... I had a chimney full of nice hot coals. Now the top layer had not ashed over, but I dumped it out into the grill, spread the coals out and it covered the bottom of the smokey joe 14" grill. The 3-4 briquettes that had not ashed over fully quickly did so in the grill. We now go back to the original question- is it worth the money? YES, in my opinion, to have hot coals in around 10 minutes.. I'll take it over the original way we used to do it back in the day. No Fluid drowned charcoal required... no fussing...(and for those who use cheap fluid and/or don't let it burn out fully of the charcoal you do get a funky taste in your food.. just saying).. Now I will say I did have to add a few more briquettes to what was in the chimney, but this was also due to cooking a nearly 2 inch thick London broil on the grill.... if it had been something thinner then I would have been more than ok with what was in the chimney to start with. Keep in mind that charcoal will absorb moisture out of the air over time, and it will take longer to ignite or may not evenly heat/burn... so if you have a bag of it then you may want to store it in a plastic container with an air tight lid.. 5 gallon paint bucket would work (or several depending on bag size)

Best to start BBQ coals. Don't need to use horribly unhealthy lighter fluid any more. Easy to start and dump out the lighted coals. Everyone in family will get this as a gift.

The Weber Rapidfire Compact Chimney Starter works great and makes charcoal grilling so much easier. It lights the coals quickly, the size is compact but still very efficient and perfect for small to medium grill like us. Durable, easy to use, and a must-have for BBQ lovers!

This Weber Chimney Starter has made lighting my grill so much easier. It lights charcoal quickly and evenly without the need for lighter fluid, which makes the whole process cleaner and safer. I love how the air vents and sturdy design help the coals heat up in no time. The grill is usually ready to go in about 15 minutes or less. The handle stays comfortable and cool to the touch, even when the coals are blazing, and the heat shield gives extra peace of mind. It is built well and feels like it will last for years of summer cookouts. Easy to use, easy to clean, and worth every penny. A a must have for anyone who grills regularly!

Excellent when cooking for 2, I would recommend a larger chimney for someone regularly grilling for 4. The grating on the bottom has rusted, so I would recommend not leaving it in the rain.

I’ve been using the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter for several months now, and it has drastically improved my grilling game. This isn’t just a gadget—it’s a solid piece of grilling gear that gets the coals going quickly and consistently. What Makes It Great: Fast, Even Lighting: Thanks to the cone-shaped grate at the bottom, the coals ignite much more quickly than with other starters. It takes about 10–15 minutes to get a full chimney ready to pour. Weber +2 BBQ Report +2 Durable Build: Made from aluminized steel, this chimney can take real heat and holds up well to repeated use. BBQ Report Smart Handles: The side handle and fold-out helper grip make it safe and steady to pour the hot coals into the grill without risking burns. Walmart.com Good Capacity: It can hold a large amount of charcoal—enough for big grilling sessions or two-zone fires. BBQ Report No Lighter Fluid Needed: You can ditch the chemical-laced lighter fluid. Just load the chimney, light some paper or cubes, and you’re good. Weber Things to Keep in Mind: Rust Over Time: Even though the steel is “aluminized,” a few users mention surface rust forming on the interior or exterior after years of use, especially if stored outside. Reddit Hot Handle Warning: While there is a heat shield, the handle still gets very hot when the chimney is full and blazing—gloves are a must. Weber Weight: It’s heavier than basic plastic starters, so it’s not super portable, but that extra weight comes with durability. Bottom Line: If you’re serious about charcoal grilling, the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter is a no-brainer. It’s built tough, lights fast, and helps you avoid lighter fluid altogether. For backyard BBQs or more ambitious grilling sessions, this is a piece of gear that’s absolutely worth the space in your tool kit.

EDIT: fixed my calculations for volume For my grill the easiest way to control the heat (225F for long smokes) is to limit the fuel. I have a full size chimney and found myself only filling it to 1/3 full (33 Kingsford Original briquettes). I decided I wanted half that and found that so few briquettes didn't catch on fire as well. I use the Minion method of using the lit coals to light unlit coals over time. So, the question is does this smaller compact chimney starter work for 15-20 briquettes? Here are the numbers: The full size chimney starter is 12 inches high, 7.5 inches in diameter. The interior cavity is 9 inches deep. There is an internal grate that provides air space under the charcoal about 1/4 of the way up from the bottom. It's conical in shape but I'm ignoring that; I don't think it makes much difference. Total volume is 126.6 cubic inches (or about 2 liters). The compact chimney starter is 8 inches high, 5.75 inches in diameter. The cavity is 6.25 inches deep. The total volume is 51.7 cubic inches (or 0.85 liters). 1 full compact chimney starter fills the full chimney starter to 1/3 (33 briquettes as it happens). This is going to be perfect for me. With my usual load of 15 briquettes they didn't even cover the whole bottom of the full sized starter. I made this measurement because briquettes aren't fluid and don't flow to fill all available space. I was concerned that the briquettes would not pack as well into a smaller volume. There is some discussion of the compact chimney starter not firing up coals as well. The volume beneath the coal grate that allows air in is smaller than the volume beneath the full size chimney starter. That's obvious. I just lit a 15 briquette load. Fifteen minutes, same as the larger starter. The charcoal in the compact starter is more uniform gray and better started. I think this is because a small load stacks better in the compact starter and you get more of the chimney effect. In the larger starter, they don't even cover the bottom. Since I don't intend to light more than about 33 briquettes I'm better off with the compact starter. If you need 50 or more briquettes to get your grill going the compact chimney starter is too small for you. If you are invested in the Minion method or in using a charcoal fuse or snake (look it up) then the compact chimney starter might be just what you need. When I'm doing a long smoke I have to add coals every hour or so. The small chimney is great for adding lit coals to a waning fire. Adding unlit coals produces too much smoke and takes too long to get the temperature back up if it dropped. 2014/08/09: I tried the small chimney starter with lump charcoal and I have to agree with Chris. It is too small for something as irregular as lump charcoal.

This has a better handle than other brands. It's also twice the price. It works great. You do not need lighter fluid. But I like to put some in there just enough for the smell. Paper on the bottom or tumble weeds only need 1 to get the fire started. Coals are ready very quickly 10 to 12 min and your cooking. Since I bought this I use charcoal 3 to 1 vs propane now a complete reversal.

It's perfect for the small 37 cm kettle weber or go anywhere webber. Fits in the go anywhere webber if you pack it in. What I don't like about it is that it can dent easily. It's not a thick plate of steal. But it's does what it needs to do. Excellent for Camping or fishing trips.

Made my life easier. Very good for small barbeque kit. If you have a big barbeque set, it is better to buy a bigger Fireplace lighter.

Compré esta chimenea de encendido junto a una Weber Smokey Joe y estoy muy contenta con ambas. La chimenea ayuda a reducir el tiempo de encendido del carbón o las briquetas, además de asegurar que se prendan de forma homogénea. También sirve a modo de medidor, ya que ofrece la cantidad de combustible perfecta para usar con las barbacoas más pequeñas de la familia Weber -para las de 47 y 57 cm, mejor usar el otro modelo de chimenea más grande. Otro aspecto importante que pocos comentan es que, a la larga, ayuda a conservar mejor tu barbacoa Weber. Conozco a varias personas que prenden la leña, el carbón o las briquetas directamente sobre la parrilla de sus barbacoas y, tras unos pocos usos, las parrillas se deforman e incluso el esmalte que cubre y protege el cuerpo de la barbacoa comienza a descascarillarse. Por tanto, es preferible encender el combustible usando este accesorio y renovarlo cuando se deteriore del todo que tener que comprar una barbacoa nueva o varios repuestos de la parrilla. A la larga, sale más económico así y te alegras de haberlo comprado. Conclusión: considero que la chimenea de encendido es un complemento ideal e imprescindible para tu barbacoa, ya sea de Weber u otra marca.

quality

sumamente funcional gran material y la verdad simplifica bastante el trabajo del carbon, rapidito y sencillo, aunque si excelente calidad.