G'day everyone

I've just joined and this looks like a very informative site with friendly forum members.

All my cooking is outdoors (with the odd exception). I have a 47" Weber plus a Weber BabyQ 100. I also  use a Coleman Perfectflow 2 burner stove. All this is done on my balcony. I also have a camp oven but only use it when I go camping. MY 12'' cast iron skillet is a delight to use.

For larger cuts of meat I have to use my charcoal Weber as the BabyQ is too small. Even using the Easylite Heatbeads I've had problems getting all of the briquettes to fire up evenly. On the US Weber site I came across the idea of the chimney starter but you can't get these here (too expensive anyway!) So it was with some delight tonight that I read on this forum that you can buy other chimney starters here in Australia.

So, what do you recommend? What sort of price am I looking at?

All suggestions gratefully received.

Cheers

Wal

Hi Wal and welcome.

I to have a Weber although it hasn't had much use for a while.

The chimneys are $29.?? something and you can get them at Barbecues Galore.

Look forward to hearing more about your cooking and camping escapades.


Derek

Hi Wal and welcome.
I use a 4ltr paint tin with the bottom cut out  and a few holes.
Easy and cheap.
Muzz

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G'day Wal

Welcome, Where are you at mate?

You will find everything you need to know here.......well just about everything. enjoy

Cheers

Jono

"Mackerel Whisperer"

Hello

Thanks for the great welcome guys. I registered quickly and haven't had time to set up a profile. I live on the Gold Coast and like to use both my Webers for nearly all my cooking. I have neglected my camp oven and this forum suggests that I should go back to it so I will. I am a bit of a roast meal junkie as well as trying to create some of the more sophisticated casseroles like beef stroganoff, osso bucco and Boeuf Bourgignon. A slow cooker  like the camp oven is ideal for this so I'm going to spend some time perusing the recipes and cooking tips.

Hi Wal and welcome, ever since I saw some huge osso bucco's at the Mall I thought they would be great in the CO but I havent got around to making it yet so if you hit on a great recipe I hope you will take photos and share it.

I got my Chimney Starter at BBQs Galore and paid I think the 29.95 some got them earlier for 19.95 and quite a few of the clever guys in here have made great ones from tins at probably no price at all.

Carolyn™ wrote on Mar 29^th, 2008 at 9:43am:

quite a few of the clever guys in here have made great ones

Hi Wal & welcome,
Carolyn, not me!, you must be talking about Sundryed (Muzz) ;D ;D ;D

Mick.

the chimney does not start the briquettes evenly. the ones at the bottom get going much faster/more then the ones on top. but that's the best way to start the beads anyway.

HI Wal
You will love this site !!!!  It is like being a part of a BIG Aussie Family and I am from Canada
Kispiox Vicky

t9e99 wrote on May 23^rd, 2008 at 3:38am:

the chimney does not start the briquettes evenly. the ones at the bottom get going much faster/more then the ones on top. but that's the best way to start the beads anyway.

You are correct about the coals at the bottom starting first. A friend of mine developed a technique for mixing the coals around and getting them all started more evently. Her technique is very similar to sauteing vegetables in a pan when the chef "flips" the food up the in the air. She takes the chimney and repetedly gives it a flip upwards until the bottom coals start to move upward. It takes a bit of practice to perfect the technique. Since some of the coals lift completely above the chimney, you have to be careful when you do this!

To learn this technique, you may want to practice with unlit coals. Paint a few coals white (so you can see if they move) and put them o the bottom of the chimney. Then put some regular coals on top of those. Fill the chimney about 2/3 full and give it a try.

A couple of tips:
- Don't overfill the chimney.
- Wear gloves
- Wear shoes

I do a lot of cooking in sandals and have the burns to prove it.  :D If you don't get all the coals to fall back into the chimney, you don't know where they are going to land. Feet seem to be a favorite landing spot.  [smiley=oops.gif]

Joanne
 

I made my own Chimney Starter by cutting out both ends of a 4 ltr can (commonly known as a #10 can here in the States) then about a third of the way from one end I drilled some holes around the side. Then I used some heavy wire (old wire coat hangers) to criss cross making a grate. It works well to get the heat beads going.

And yes, the bottom ones always light first, but when I dump them out I mix them so that the unlit or part lit one catch from the others.

:)

Best, Duncan

I just let the chimney sit until the top beads are completely grey (lit), I use the top ones for underneath and use the bottom hot ones one top to belt a bit of heat on top to brown the top of everything.
They do seem to burn off a bit quicker but I generally use a few more on top than the calculator suggests.

Robbo

Yes Robbo thats all I do and in the bead lighter it does not take long.

Muzz

I wait until I have a good glow on the beads on top with flame coming through them.  Takes about 20 minutes.

I always get at least a good hours worth of heat which is pretty good.  Most dishes apart from slow roasts take 20 to 50 minutes and I find the beads will provide good heat for a good hour.

Derek wrote on Jun 25^th, 2008 at 10:52am:

I wait until I have a good glow on the beads on top with flame coming through them.Takes about 20 minutes. I always get at least a good hours worth of heat which is pretty good.Most dishes apart from slow roasts take 20 to 50 minutes and I find the beads will provide good heat for a good hour.

Thats it.
And if you are doing a roast or something, after an hour or so crank up another batch of beads, crack a tinnie, sit back and relax.
Aaaaah love it!!......mmmmm might do a roast tonight.  [smiley=drool5.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]
(one beer is never enough ;D ;D)

Robbo

By the way, be careful using self lighting heat beads in your chimney.  This lot nearly burnt me out.  Kinda singed the ceiling on the patio.  Darned thing took off like a flame thrower.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

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I know what you mean Derek..bloddy near burnt down the shade sail.
I now only use four or five in the bottom and top up with standard beads.
Muzz

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!  [smiley=reddevil.gif]

A close shave!

Barb

wrote on Jun 25^th, 2008 at 11:22am:

I know what you mean Derek..bloddy near burnt down the shade sail. I now only use four or five in the bottom and top up with standard beads.

Soooo Muzz

If you use a few in the bottom do you still need to use firelighters or are the self lighting beads enough to get them going?

Robbo

Robbo
Robbo wrote on Jun 25^th, 2008 at 1:42pm:

If you use a few in the bottom do you still need to use firelighters or are the self lighting beads enough to get them going?

Robbo
I put two or three under makes them start quicker.
MUzz

If I'm using beads and they begin to die down I put a few lighters on top of the CO and light up the chimney on the lid. It will give the roast or veggies a nice little boost until the beads are ready to distribute.

I have been doing this a lot lately and the seasoning has not been damaged. Keep an eye on the internal temp as you may need to remove the chimney earlier (depends on what's cooking) ;)

A good trick try it out!

Regards Skip [smiley=chris.gif]

I don't use the self lighting heat beads as my starters get them going just fine and I don't have to worry about burning down the tent/shade/house with the flames.

Derek, I think that your chimney has been spotted from orbit! ;D

Best, Duncan