The media could not be loaded. I like the design with the tube in the middle.
It works really well.

It rained and it rusted a little bit.

I did a video about an alternative to the $60 BBQ Dragon fan a lot of people are complaining about.

Bonus here is it's made from stainless (I'm guessing 409 by the color) so assuming they didn't lie, it should last a long time and not burn out like the carbon steel ones. My only problem with this unit is it's too small. my older paper chimney would hold 30-40% more charcoal, so when I throw it in my grill, I have a nice base that fills the tray... this thing heats them up good with the blower, but when you dump the coals out, it kinda fills the middle of the pan, but the edges are empty. Handle is good, you're not going to get burnt or anything like that.

If I get annoyed enough, I'll grab a piece of stainless flue pipe and remake this thing 4 inches taller so it's the same. Is it that big a deal? Not sure... but it's annoying to have red hot coals and then have to add another quart volume of unlit charcoal and spread it around and wait for that to light before starting to cook. I can't even pile them up higher at top.

For a smaller grill it's probably fine, but my grate at roughly 12x18 inches is too sparsely filled to do the job on one load.

As far as light it off goes, if you're using the blower, just leave it on low and make sure you put the bale of pine shavings in sideways so there's more surface area facing the tube... if you put it in long axis in, it'll burn, but you're not going to get the heat production.

I bought this to replace an older chimney that rusted out. The instructions say it is most efficient when used with the Dragon Fan, but I found that it pretty much requires forced air to work, unless I put newspaper under it as well. Instead of purchasing the Dragon Fan, I plan to get a hand-operated bellows, and rig a tube from it that will fit the side opening of the chimney, so my lovely bride can get some exercise while lighting the charcoal. Other than the forced air issue, the chimney is well-made and solid. It should last me for years.

Do you NEED this? No... Do you WANT this? YES! I'm of the belief that if it ain't broke don't fix it. I've got a good chimney that I've used for years. That being said I bought the BBQ Dragon blower and chimney combo for my friend and it starts a roaring fire in like 1 minute when it's done right. First you want to put in your coals. Make sure to space out the coals so it can breath. If you suffocate the chimney, the fire can't get through and it won't circulate properly. I use a dense rolled up piece of newspaper or mail and shove it in the pipe hole. Light it, then start the fan on low, completely insert the fan in the pipe hole, then progressively turn the speed up until I get a good fire. When done't right, it wont take long. I would recommend hand/eye protection because the fire will get crazy if you let it.

My brother in law loves it. Says it works better than the small one which he used to pieces. Says if you use the pipe right you don't need a blower but surely the blower is nice. Says he actually prefers to see a pipe on one