Agree. Chimney starters are amazing.

This.

If you use an electric starter ring, they fire right up. You don't need to wait till flames are coming out the top, just about half way up. Remember, unless you are using some sort of pre soaked coals (never!), then the coals wont have an off taste if they aren't red.

I am in the market for a new grill. I have only ever used charcoal with lighter fluid but I am exploring my options now that I can put a little more money into something for our house. I had heard of those chimney starters but it seems like a bit of a hassle to put the charcoal in one thing then transfer it to another. Is that what is done? And how much quicker is it actually?

I was also looking at a charcoal weber grill that apparently uses a Touch N Go iginition system (propane I guess) to light the charcoal. Would that or a chimney starter be more beneficial than the other?

I have a cheap piece of crap one I bought from Garden Ridge and while I've never timed it, it seems like it gets it going in 10-15 minutes. I use lump instead of briquets so maybe that's the difference.

Newspaper that you can normally scrounge up for free seems more beneficial to me vs propane or charcoal starter.

And you just have to dump the charcoal into the grill once it's going, it's not really a hassle at all.

Yup, I just look around for some paper that will burn and go with it.

I've heard some mixed results on the non-weber branded versions of the chimneys, seems hit or miss, but glad you got a hit! I knew with my luck that if I tried to go cheaper I would end up with a crappy one, and what I saved by not buying yet another gas grill made up for it, lol.

That is actually a good thing since the one with the propane starter is $50 more and the weber chimney starter is only $15 at The Home Depot. Do you wait until the coals are red hot and turning to ash or do you transfer them soon after lighting?

I wait until I'm getting ash, but it really doesn't take long at all.

Spend the $15. You'll be happy with it.

Cool. I am not really concerned with the time it takes. Part of the fun of grilling is being outside and enjoying your yard. I just want to make sure if I go this route I do it correctly by placing the coals in the grill at the right time and using the right amount. I also like the idea of using charcoal without needing lighter fluid.

One more question. So you light the chimney from the bottom, do the charcoals heat up at different rates depending on whether they are on top, in the middle, or on the bottom?

A charcoal chimney is the way to go. I haven't used lighter fluid in 20 years. No need for it, no need to add the chemicals to the mix. A charcoal chimney works like a champ.

Yup, bottom will heat up first. I generally wait till the top ones are somewhat lit and then dump them. Though sometimes I come back and I have a ball of red hot screaming fire coming from the thing. If you are looking to cook longer, I assume the first way makes more sense as the hotter coals will burn out first and the others will continue to burn.

this... just pre load it up while you are bbqing, keep dry so its ready to roll for next time...

they work awesome