How to Create a Charcoal Fire Without Lighter Fluid

Steps

1. Crumple a full sheet of newspaper then loosely roll it up into a tube. Even though claimed not to anymore, newspaper paper still has chemicals in it, including print paint (used to be lots of lead in it); you might find paper towels much more "health friendly" and porous, thus holding more oil in them, for the purpose.
2. Form the tube into a donut shape in the bottom of your chimney starter.
3. Spritz the paper donut with approximately one tablespoon of canola or other vegetable oil.
4. Place 15-20 pieces of charcoal into your chimney starter.
5. Light the paper in SEVERAL places from underneath your chimney starter.
6. Set the chimney starter in a safe place and let "cook" for 10 minutes or so. In ten minutes your charcoal should be going perfectly.
7. Add whatever additional charcoal you will need for your barbecue and let it "cook" for an additional 5-10 minutes.
8. Move the coals to your barbecue grill or smoker when they have turned into beautiful red coals (or white/gray if it's daytime).

Tips

• You can make your own chimney by using a punch type can opener to make holes along the bottom edge of the side a large metal coffee can. Once the holes are punched, use a conventional can opener to remove the bottom. You might also use a piece of coat hanger wire to fashion a handle for your new chimney.

Warnings

• The most common mistake is to compress the newspaper too much.
• The second most common mistake is trying to start too much charcoal. Start with a small amount, then add more once it is started.
• Leaving your chimney starter unattended, especially on a wooden porch, is a great way to burn down your house.