I wish I had bought this item earlier. I bought the 18 1/2" grill a few months ago, and after struggling with starting it with charcoal (briquettes are just too expensive in Pakistan), I was disappointed that I could not use it more often.

I saw the starter on Amazon, read the reviews, thought it a good idea, won approval from the Home Department [read wife], and bought it. In the past 2 months, since I've had it, I have used it about seven (7) times. It is that easy to use - even with just plain charcoal.

Highly recommended!!!

This thing works great! lights my charcoal with ease and without fluid. If you are picky about the taste of your food (you will notice the difference if you grill without lighter fluid or pre-soaked coals) then get this handy starter. It couldn't be easier! shove a couple pieces of newspaper on the bottom, fill it up with coals and light.

Even though my grill is pretty small, this starter chimney is the way to go. A crumpled up paper towel in the bottom, a couple cups of charcoal, a matchlite and away we go. Since I use only a small amount of charcoal, it only takes about 10-15 minutes for the briquets to be ready for the grill. The very best part is there is no lighter fluid used, which always "flavors" whatever you are grilling. The handles stay cool, and are positioned to give you good control while dumping the coals into the grill. A great addition to your grilling equipment and a great price. Highly recommend.

I have been grilling for years, using either charcoal presoaked in lighter fluid, or pre-soaking them myself with liberal amounts of fluid or kerosene. The neighborhood always knew when I was about to cook because of the mushroom cloud rising above my house as I lit the grill! Even after letting the coals burn for a good while, there would still be a faint gasoline taste in the food. Well, no more!
The Weber chimney starter is a typical Weber product, functional and very well made. It holds about 8-10 pounds of charcoal and all are ready and raring to cook after 15-20 minutes. This works especially well for the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker, you can light one chimney full and load the charcoal pan, and then add another chimney full of unlit coals on top. The whole process takes less than thirty minutes and you are ready to cook. The price is excellent and you will save this in lighter fluid costs very quickly.
I only wish I had purchased one sooner, I would give it 12 stars!!!!

I am a diehard charcoal griller (apologies to the Arctic icecap) and over the years have gone through all the starter methods out there (lighter fluid, electric element, t-shirt soaked in high test) and this chimney is the most effective for a couple reasons. I use old newspaper from the recycle bin to start the coals and, as mentioned elsewhere in this space, the chimney heats the material quickly, so much that I sometimes find myself scrambling to get the food on the grate before the conflagration gets out of hand (a problem I don't mind having). If you use the chimney with hardwood coals they are ready in less than five minutes, charcoal briquettes about 12 minutes. Good stuff, especially on cold winter nights when you don't want to spend a lot of time outside fiddling with the heat source.

A small investment for a big return. . .