Cheap Weber 7447 Compact Rapidfire Chimney Starter

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List Price: $13.99
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For my grill the easiest way to control the heat (225F for long smokes) is to limit the fuel. I have a full size chimney and found myself only filling it to 1/3 full (33 Kingsford Original briquettes). I decided I wanted half that and found that so few briquettes didn't catch on fire as well. I use the Minion method of using the lit coals to light unlit coals over time. So, the question is does this smaller compact chimney starter work for 15-20 briquettes?

Here are the numbers: The full size chimney starter is 12 inches high, 7.5 inches in diameter. The cavity is 9 inches deep. There is an internal grate that provides air space under the charcoal. It's conical in shape but I'm ignoring that; I don't think it makes much difference. Total volume is 397.6 cubic inches (or 6.5 liters).

The compact chimney starter is 8 inches high, 5.75 inches in diameter. The cavity is 6.25 inches deep. The total volume is 162 cubic inches (or 2.6 liters).

1 full compact chimney starter fills the full chimney starter to 1/3 (33 briquettes as it happens). This is going to be perfect for me. With my usual load of 15 briquettes they didn't even cover the whole bottom of the full sized starter.

I made this measurement because briquettes aren't fluid and don't flow to fill all available space. I was concerned that the briquettes would not pack as well into a smaller volume.

There is some discussion of the compact chimney starter not firing up coals as well. The volume beneath the coal grate that allows air in is smaller than the volume beneath the full size chimney starter. That's obvious. I just lit a 15 briquette load. Fifteen minutes, same as the larger starter. The charcoal in the compact starter is more uniform gray and better started. I think this is because a small load stacks better in the compact starter and you get more of the chimney effect. In the larger starter, they don't even cover the bottom. Since I don't intend to light more than about 33 briquettes I'm better off with the compact starter.

If you need 50 or more briquetts to get your grill going the compact chimney starter is too small for you. If you are invested in the Minion method or in using a charcoal fuse or snake (look it up) then the compact chimney starter might be just what you need.

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I frequently just need enough coals to place under and above a 10" Dutch oven. This smaller starter holds all I need and takes less space while traveling than my full sized Weber starter.

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I have the Weber Smokey Joe Jumbo. If you fill this to the very top it starts 40 pieces of charcoal, perfect for grill. Also perfect for smoking w/ Minnon method for smoker. You fill charcoal pan w/ charcoal and then put lighted coals in the middle, as coals burn down it spreads the fire and maintains temp.

Honest reviews on Weber 7447 Compact Rapidfire Chimney Starter

I usually don't need to light 5 pounds of charcoal, which is what the regular size charcoal chimney holds (12 inches tall and 7.5 inch diameter). This one is 8 inches tall with 5.75 inch diameter and will hold a bit over a pound of lump charcoal. So it much easier to start the small amount appropriate for cooking indirect on a Weber CharQ or for a low and slow fire in a ceramic cooker.

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I previously had a Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter but since downsizing my grilling operations to a Smokey Joe thought this was a better fit. And it is a good fit in terms of charcoal amount for a small grill like the Smokey Joe but it really doesn't work as well as the larger size. Almost always need 2 newspaper sheets (one after the other) whereas on the larger unit one sheet was usually sufficient.