Step 1: Lighting the chimney starter
Roll three sheets of newspaper into a loose circle, donut like. Loosely stuff, one after another, in the bottom of the charcoal chimney. Set the chimney on something that allows airflow under the charcoal chimney and is fireproof. The grill grate of a Weber Grill or smoker grate works well.
Add lump charcoal, almost to the top of the charcoal chimney.
Light the newspaper in two or three places.
At first the newspaper and lump charcoal will smoke and smell a bit off. When the charcoal is fully engaged, burning brightly it is ready to use per the instructions below.
Never use lighter fluid, that defeats the purpose of using the charcoal chimney in the first place.
Step 2: Building the Fire
Fill WSM charcoal ring one half full of charcoal, lay 3 2x3 debarked wood chunks on top of charcoal (image 1).
Add additional charcoal to just past top of WSM charcoal ring (image 2).
Fill Weber charcoal chimney with charcoal, light, when fully engaged add to coals in ring (image 3).
When the charcoal has stopped billowing white smoke, about 5-minutes, add 3 2x3 debarked wood chunks (image 4) and assemble WSM: lower the water pan into the chamber, place the middle grill on top of the water pan if needed, place the assembled middle chamber (carefully so as not to spill the water) on the fire, and then place the top grill on the chamber and prepare to put food on the grill.
Depending on whether you use lump charcoal or briquettes and on vent position, the WSM will get 5-8 hours of uninterrupted burn at a steady 250°
