BBQ Charcoal Starter

I've always used a charcoal BBQ, and I've used a charcoal starter chimney to start the charcoal for years. I had a Weber brand one that lasted about ten years, until it rusted away, the handle and heat shield live on, on this new Stainless Steel Charcoal starter.

I had purchased a no name brand of starter that lasted less than two years, then I thought a stainless steel one would be the way to go, it would take the heat and never rust away.

To buy the material would be cost prohibitive, a source for the S.S.would have to be found. Luckily some machines at the place I work where on their way to be recycled soon and they had some very nice S.S. pieces. I managed to extract two identical pieces, the project could begin.

Materials and Tools Needed

I had two 16" x 8" pieces of Stainless Steel that are either 18 or 16 gauge and are quit heavy. A piece of 16" x 7.5 " piece of perforated steel. I had some S.S. bolts on hand they are 1/4" x 1" and nuts, washers and lock washers qty. 6 of each.

The handle and heat shield from my old long lasting Weber BBQ Charcoal starter.

The place I work also has a small manufacturing shop. The person that worked there said he would cut and form the S.S for me, he used an industrial sheet metal shear and an industrial sheet metal brake to do the work. Thank you Kevin W.

I also needed to used my electric power drill, a step drill bit and an electrical 1" knock out punch and a ratchet wrench to use it.

A 7/16" socket and wrench for the bolts.

Construction

Sorry I don't have pictures of the forming or drilling, but you can see the results in the pictures.

The two identical pieces have four 1/4" holes in them and one of the pieces has two additional 1/4" holes that match the holes on the heat shield / handle combination.

Using the step drill bit, pilot holes were drilled for the knock out punch, I needed a 3/8'' hole for the bolt of the 1" punch.

The holes were punched out, two per side, about 1 1/2" from the bottom edge.

The two halves were bolted together and the handle / Heat shield was bolted on.

When it was bolted together. I then took the perforated steel piece folded a right angle about 4" inches from one edge, then placed it on the chimney and made a second right angle so that it just would fit inside the chimney at the bottom. The way it fits in is so that it holds the charcoal above the punched holes.

It is now completed and ready to be tested.