Weber Chimney Starter for Charcoal Grill Review

I have gone through a myriad multitude of cheap charcoal chimneys.  You know, the ones from Wal-mart.  The shiny, narrow-profiled tubes of directional heating.  The inexpensive ones that you think are a good deal.

I was wrong!

When my last set (yes, I would use two of these slender chimneys at at time) rusted away into razor-sharp shards, I decided to try the Weber Chimney Starter.  I'd looked at it before, lusted after its large charcoal capacity, its dual handle system, its conical briquet grill, its heavy-duty construction.  But I'd always cheap-out and get another couple of rustbuckets.

The Weber Chimney Starter revealed to me the folly of my cheap ways.  Here was a tool, not a gadget, that worked, that did exactly what it was supposed to do, and did it better than the Cheapy McGeneric charcoal chimneys.  It holds more charcoal, it holds more newspaper to start the charcoal, it's tough and sturdy, and overall is a joy to use.

Fast-forward about a month after buying my Weber Chimney Starter.  My wife buys me a Web Performer Charcoal Grill.  An amazing instrument, another stake into the heart of cheap grilling tools.  Uh-oh, the Performer comes with a propane starter.  Oh, well, the Webe Chimney Starter was good in its day.  No way.  In between the little bottles of propane (which I burned through like I was trying to achieve orbital velocity), the Weber Chimney Starter came to my aid.  And it was as good as or better than the propane.  Yes, the propane starter is easier to use, but the chimney is almost as easy, and less expensive to use.

As someone religiously opposed to gas grills, my finding the Weber Chimney Starter was sort of a Damascus Road experience, charcoal-wise.  Get one.  Take care of it.  It will definitely take care of you.