How to Make a Homemade Charcoal Starter Tube

Making a charcoal starter tube is easy, and a good way to light charcoal bricquets, without using lighter fluid. A charcoal starter tube, acts likes a chimney and makes a great fire starter.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One empty metal quart size juice can
• A can opener
• A bottle opener
• Pliers or tongs

1. Start by removing the paper label from the juice can. Just tear the label off with your hands. Any paper or glue left on the can, should be removed by washing the can in warm water.

2. 
    

   After the label has been removed, make holes all around one end of the can with a bottle opener. This will be approximately six or seven holes.

3. 
    

   Once all the holes have been made at one end of the can, use a can opener(electric or hand held)to open both ends of the can. Make sure the can is open on both ends, just like a chimney.

4. 
    

   You are now ready to use your charcoal starter tube, remove the grill from your barbecue. Place the charcoal starter tube, holes on the bottom, in the center of your barbecue.

5. Put one sheet of loosely wadded newspaper inside the tube, now add about seven to ten pieces of charcoal. Light the newspaper with a lit match, by placing the match through one of the holes at the bottom of the tube.

6. When your charcoal bricquets start to turn white, use pliers or tongs to remove tube. Be very careful, the charcoal starter tube will be very hot.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not overfill the charcoal starter tube with newspaper or charcoal bricquets. You can add more charcoal bricquets as the charcoal inside the tube gets hotter.
• Be careful when removing charcoal starter tube. The tube will be very hot. Always remove tube with pliers or tongs.