When I was a kid, we had an electric heating loop element to get the charcoal started. A nearby basement window allowed an extension cord out to power it.
In the 50s, my dad used charcoal lighter, and hooked up the vacuum to blow onto the charcoal to intensify the flames until they were glowing just right. In my early efforts at grilling I did the same, until I learned about chimney starters—nowadays, my Weber chimney starter makes getting perfectly glowing hot coals almost hands-off and effortless, without the chemical smell, or ashes getting blown everywhere … or the risk of the whole thing blowing up in my face ala “Crankshaft”!
My neighborhood reeks of “charcoal lighter fluid” on any warm evening. Those hydrocarbons are a harmful pollutant. If you can’t figure out how to work a “chimney starter”, get an electric starter. It only consumes electricity for a few minutes and cuts down on pollution.
We were camping at one of our favorite places in New Hampshire one year when the guy at the site across the road was pouring about half a can of lighter fluid on his fire. The flames were about 8 feet high. To add to the problem, he took the can of insect repellent that his wife was spraying and emptied it into the fire because some of it had sparked when it accidentally hit the flames. He thought it looked "pretty ". His final act of stupidity was to throw the empty can into the fire. We watched, horrified, but none of us wanted to get any closer.
Grampa had a grill that had a hand crank blower attached to the side to provide enough air flow to start the grill using a little crumpled paper under the charcoal. He never used lighter fluid. Don’t know if the grill came like that or he made the blower. I was under 6 so I wasn’t allowed near the grill, even when it was cold.
dadthedawg Premium Member over 3 years ago
…..and I’ll bring the matches.
Superfrog over 3 years ago
And I’ll ring the fire brigade.
Imagine over 3 years ago
And then take a step back. About a mile.
oldpine52 over 3 years ago
He’s out beat Tim Taylor’s record for highest altitude of a BBQ grill.
Lucy Rudy over 3 years ago
Don’t burn the treehouse down.
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray over 3 years ago
Use alcohol or acetone in a spray bottle set to Stream. Gets the fire going and don’t stink or give off smoke.
Dean over 3 years ago
When I was a kid, we had an electric heating loop element to get the charcoal started. A nearby basement window allowed an extension cord out to power it.
KenseidenXL over 3 years ago
I know that stuff USED to come in metal cans, but they were never THAT big….
willispate over 3 years ago
so, whacha both want on your pizzas?
LeslieBark over 3 years ago
In the 50s, my dad used charcoal lighter, and hooked up the vacuum to blow onto the charcoal to intensify the flames until they were glowing just right. In my early efforts at grilling I did the same, until I learned about chimney starters—nowadays, my Weber chimney starter makes getting perfectly glowing hot coals almost hands-off and effortless, without the chemical smell, or ashes getting blown everywhere … or the risk of the whole thing blowing up in my face ala “Crankshaft”!
littlejohn Premium Member over 3 years ago
Is Crankshaft near by?
Studebaker Hoch over 3 years ago
A charcoal chimney would probably cheaper than that big can of lighter fluid. And the food wouldn’t taste like petroleum.
Prey over 3 years ago
I use newspaper but I have a Belgian barbecue which lights easily.
gopher gofer over 3 years ago
giving a whole new twist to ‘getting lit’ at the bbq…
rugeirn over 3 years ago
What’s he looking so cranky for? He bought the can.
mistercatworks over 3 years ago
My neighborhood reeks of “charcoal lighter fluid” on any warm evening. Those hydrocarbons are a harmful pollutant. If you can’t figure out how to work a “chimney starter”, get an electric starter. It only consumes electricity for a few minutes and cuts down on pollution.
raybarb44 over 3 years ago
Seems about the right ratio to me…..
joannesshadow over 3 years ago
We were camping at one of our favorite places in New Hampshire one year when the guy at the site across the road was pouring about half a can of lighter fluid on his fire. The flames were about 8 feet high. To add to the problem, he took the can of insect repellent that his wife was spraying and emptied it into the fire because some of it had sparked when it accidentally hit the flames. He thought it looked "pretty ". His final act of stupidity was to throw the empty can into the fire. We watched, horrified, but none of us wanted to get any closer.
rshive over 3 years ago
A small container of lighter fluid?
DCBakerEsq over 3 years ago
Carcinogens for all!
cuzinron47 over 3 years ago
Gonna need a new house.
Totalloser Premium Member over 3 years ago
Should have used a Chimney no lighter fluid coals get white hot in 30 minutes
JD'Huntsville'AL over 3 years ago
This is the 21st century. Start that grill in 2 seconds.
https://youtu.be/AjuXrxHcFfg?t=108
crazeekatlady over 3 years ago
Grampa had a grill that had a hand crank blower attached to the side to provide enough air flow to start the grill using a little crumpled paper under the charcoal. He never used lighter fluid. Don’t know if the grill came like that or he made the blower. I was under 6 so I wasn’t allowed near the grill, even when it was cold.
jnacombs over 3 years ago
Skyler is Pancho to Cosmo’s Don Quixote.