# How do you light a chimney starter if you don't get the newspaper? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009 "2010-12-05T05:40:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/21 "2010-12-06T05:10:06Z")
Cardboard works pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/22 "2010-12-06T07:22:29Z")
A paper towel soaked in vegetable oil works really well. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/23 "2010-12-06T14:38:30Z")
By the way, more of those annoying newspaper things I get in the mail were on actual newsprint than I thought - plenty in the recycling bin to start my chimney, although (possibly because of the smaller size, possibly because of the ink?) damn did it get going - showers of sparks and all when I emptied it, which was kind of scary. Usually I use the Wall Street Journal, which makes a very staid and respectable fire. Nothing gauche like that. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/24 "2010-12-07T14:11:52Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I’m working my way through _Low & Slow_ and am making baby back ribs in the smoker tomorrow. Only, I forgot to grab newspaper from work Friday, and I don’t get the paper. > > I can run by a gas station tomorrow morning and grab a paper (plus coupons) but I’d rather not have to if I can get a good fire engaging my charcoal some other way. Paper towels? Suggestions? Lighter Fluid…:rolleyes: Bogue (sp?) the neighbor’s paper…😃 Seriously, though…try some paper towels LIGHTLY soaked in peanut or canola oil… Be careful, and don’t forget the newspapers next time. I normally keep a pile in the garage (in a covered metal can)…keeps 'em dry and ready for when I get that smoked tri-tip itch… ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/25 "2010-12-07T14:37:19Z")
It’s been well answered already but I usually use a few sheets of paper towel sprayed with Pam. I find it makes less ash compared to newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/26 "2010-12-07T21:45:07Z")
I’ve always stacked the charcoal in a pile. One squirt of starter fluid, wait 2 minutes then light with match. no newspaper needed. works great for me for 30 plus years ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/27 "2010-12-07T23:15:21Z")
I have my smoker next to my propane grill. I’ll occasionally use it to finish something at high temperature. The side burner is perfect for starting the chimney. Set the chimney on the burner, light it up, and Bob’s your uncle. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/28 "2010-12-07T23:15:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve always stacked the charcoal in a pile. One squirt of starter fluid, wait 2 minutes then light with match. > > no newspaper needed. works great for me for 30 plus years People using a chimney starter are generally avoiding the use of starter fluid. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/29 "2010-12-07T23:24:17Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Oh yeah, you’re from the Carolinas, where “barbecue” refers only to pulled or chopped pork. That’s an adorable little quirk. Is it better if I say “That’s what’s so nice about making your own barbecued meats?” Seems unnecessarily wordy. I’m not sure where you got that idea. I’ve been told by many people (including Texans and Missourianites\*) that the unique thing about the Carolinas is that we’ll call just about any kind of meat barbecue. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/30 "2010-12-07T23:56:28Z")
Oh, I don’t know where you’ve been eating _your_ barbecue, but that is manifestly untrue. I can’t imagine going somewhere that served “barbecue” and the main dish not being pulled pork. If I ordered “barbecue” and got ribs or brisket I would be very suprised and displeased. Now, there’s “barbecue chicken” which just means “chicken with barbecue sauce”, that sort of thing. But “barbecue” is uniformly pork all over South Carolina in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/31 "2010-12-08T00:06:25Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > I use cotton balls, petroleum jelly and canning wax (parafin). > > I rub a bunch cotton balls in the petroleum jelly, and I break up the parafin into roughly 1-inch chunks. I then keep these in small zip-top sandwich or snack bags, with the parafin separate from the soaked cotton balls. To start my chimney, I place a few (3 - 5) of the cotton balls in a small pile, and then set one of the chunks of parafin on top. Fill up the chimney with charcoal, center it over the cotton balls/parafin. Light with a match and in 10-15 minutes you have a nice set of hot coals ready to go in your grill. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Dryer lint is great for starting fires. Back when we had a wood-burning fireplace (God, I miss that!), I used a combo of these ideas to make my own “fire-starters”; it was cheap and easy, and my girls were little at the time, and thought it was almost like a craft! 😉 I’d save all my dryer lint in a coffee can in the laundry room. I’d also save my cardboard egg cartons. When the coffee can was full of lint, I’d get out the supplies (candle wicking from crafting store, paraffin wax, dryer lint, egg cartons) and we’d begin: melt the paraffin in a double boiler, pour a tiny bit into each divot in the egg carton, place a piece of wick about an inch higher than the divot; fill in around the wick with the dryer lint, pour in the paraffin. Let set, then cut into individual divots. It would take two or three to start a good fire. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/32 "2010-12-08T02:28:02Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I’m not sure where you got that idea. I’ve been told by many people (including Texans and Missourianites\*) that the unique thing about the Carolinas is that we’ll call just about any kind of meat barbecue. Well, you see **Zsofia** ’s post attesting to its truth, and I had a long-time roommate from Durham, North Carolina, that drove it into my head that pulled or chopped pork is the ONLY thing you can call barbecue. It’s cute, but it’s definitely the case. At any rate, we can at least agree that chicken is not barbecue. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009/33 "2010-12-08T02:40:02Z")
Knead used to live right where I do, though - I can only assume he was poorly educated. A shame, really. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-light-a-chimney-starter-if-you-dont-get-the-newspaper/563009.md?page=1)