British BBQ Society Forums

Hi all,

I bought some heatbeads this weekend, and I had a real problem with them. I filled my starter-chimney to the top, balled up some newspaper and lit it underneath. It burned out, I put more under and watched it burn away. Fast forward half an hour, I've burned half a newspaper and the fire still wasn't lit. It took me over an hour to get them to light. Eventually, 1.5-2 hours later, I had flames coming out the top of the chimney.

I dumped the coals on the smoker and put my meat on. The temperature fell and fell. Vents full open, it dropped to 180°F and stayed there for the first hour. Three hours later, I was drunk and grumpy, and the temperature had only risen to 210°F.

Four hours later, badly cooked meat taken off, the bloody coals start to get hot, and shot up to 300°F I closed the vents and the fire quickly died out. The next morning, I dusted off the unburned coals, and put them back in the bag. It was nearly full.

Question: Is this the sort of thing I should be expecting from heatbeads? If so, I can't see why you guys use them.

My first BBQ with guests ended up being the worst farce of a cookout I've ever done.

I don't use heatbeads, but I've found I can't get Weber briquettes to light without firelighters. Tried newspaper, cardboard and even the bag the briqs come in, but it always burns out before the coals take.

Never had a problem with firelighters causing a taint either, they're long gone by the time I dump the lit coals out.

I always use a couple of firelighters as well to light the chimney starter

Yup always start with a firelight and never had any problems. Get them white hot with a good coating of ash on and then I dump into the basket (always use minion method as well). Normally takes no more the 1hr start o finish ( do use a forced air systems but that should just speed things up by 30mins or so).

Try spraying a little vegetable oil on the newspaper before you wad it up, this helps it to burn longer.

I had the same problem lighting them too, took me bloody ages to get em going

Thanks for the replies, guys. It sounds like they are generally harder to get going.

I think I'll stick with my local lumpwood for the moment, as I know what to expect when using it.

I think it is a compromise. Longer burning can mean harder to light. Using minion method, put lump in your starter, and heatbeads in the charcoal basket. The lump should get you started and get the heatbeads going.

That's a good idea, Aris, thanks. I will try that.

I find them hard to light but they do. Two weber firelighters and Robertas your aunt come the weekend.

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