Charcoal Starter Fan — Lights Charcoal in 10 Minutes | Cordless Variable Speed Fire Blower for Grills, Smokers, Fire Pits, Fireplaces & Campfires

This is my husband's new favorite toy. He uses it to light our Kamado grill and finds it very effective when lighting charcoal chunks. While running, it quickly lights the chunks and makes them burn hotter.

I've never used lighter fluid because it tastes awful. I've always used charcoal because it tastes amazing! This is a great tool, I just wish the chimney was more durably designed to use with this (rust after 1 use) and you can only use it for 3 minutes per chimney instructions. I got the XL (chimney) to light lots of charcoal, but can't get a great ember for the whole chimney, (it does say to not over load it). Perhaps I just need to go back to more time and my paraffin and sawdust starters. I will try again at some point and will update if there's improvement or a different system proves more successful.

***Update**** Updating from 2 stars to 5 stars for great customer service. I contacted customer service and told them about the problem my dad and I had with the fan. They responded to me the same day and I had a tracking number for the two replacements by the next day. I have already received the new fans and am very happy with how they backed their product. Thank you for restoring my faith in your company. I am glad to have the new fans because I really like the concept and it speeds up my charcoal lighting process so much. The fan also really helps with re-lighting the leftover coals I have from previous cooks. I really liked this fan and used it with the BBQ dragon chimney. Unfortunately, after only using it a few times, the plastic switch broke and it would not turn off unless I took out the batteries. I had purchased the fan and chimney for my father as well. On a recent visit, he told me that his plastic switch broke and had the same issue. I really like the convenience of starting my charcoal quickly, but the quality of the construction is not quite there yet. We'll see if customer service does anything for me or not.

Essentially, it's a battery powered turbine-style fan. I suspect the folks who own the company don't allow feedback on their website because of potentially negative comments. Likewise, their Infomercial-style YouTube Video also does not allow comments. Perhaps for the same reason? While the product is probably okay, I really don't like using lighter fluid on my briquettes. Unfortunately, you really need an accelerant to use this product. I've used a chimney-starter ever since I got one... and I believe that's still the way to go if you want to light briquettes without the lighter fluid flavor on your food. This is direct rebuttal to the Informercial-style YouTube Video entitled "BBQ Dragon Vs. Lighter Fluid Vs. Charcoal Chimney" where the representative states "...now I don't actually use a charcoal chimney, a lot of people like this because you can use newspaper instead of lighter fluid. I don't buy into that argument, lighter fluid is fine..." Well, sorry, but lighter fluid is not fine... because you can taste it on your food. So, I'm sorry... but I don't buy into your argument. So let's agree to disagree. I really wanted to like this product, which is the reason I bought it on Amazon. If I could have bought it at Costco, I would have (for easier returns). The build quality is not bad, but it chews batteries pretty quick... just like another reviewer here on Amazon had mentioned. Another reviewer mentioned theirs melted (I guess it was left unattended). In either case, there are quite a few drawbacks with this device. Going back to the YouTube video, I'd have to disagree with the results. Not the ones with the lighter fluid, but the chimney starter results. Perhaps the chimney used wasn't that great. I did my own version of the experiment (I should have recorded it), using my Weber Chimney Starter. In my version after 9 minutes, the coals are plenty burned through and flames are visibly shooting out the top (similar results to YouTube Videos posted by others with the Weber) [I don't own stock in Weber, by the way... nor am I an employee]. Perhaps you didn't put enough newspapers on the bottom? Or used some wet charcoal? In either case, my results didn't quite match the YouTube Video... but the representative did use a different brand of Chimney. On the BBQ Dragon YouTube video, the coals were still just "smoking" after 9 minutes. So, again, quoting the BBQ Dragon Rep "...I don't buy into that argument..." So, while it is probably a good tool... for $50-60, it's a bit pricey. For the money I would buy the chimney starter. If you really want something similar, you can probably get a blow dryer and do the same job (of course, you'll need an extension cord for that). In any case, I did give it a shot... but I don't recommend this product.

Let's just get this out of the way: YES - This is just an over-glorified blow-dryer merged with a mechanic's flex light arm and a clamp. BUT - By the time you bought a decent hair blow-dryer, a flex light, a clamp, duct tape, sawed off unnecessary parts and put it together... you've spent the $50 or more that this costs, and yours looks like crap. BONUS - This tool works like a dimmer switch for lighting; it's not just "High - Low - Off." It adjusts as you turn the knob, something I didn't realize till getting it. (Minor) Con: It's a little noisy. Again, like a hair blow-dryer. But you only need to use it for a couple of minutes, so not a big deal. I would like to see a quiet version though. That said; this tool is extremely useful for fire-starting and re-starting. Every BBQer (charcoal, not gas where you might as well be cooking inside with the oven and stovetop) has run into the situation where the fire has gotten cold and (s)he wants to get it going again without dumping on more coals and waiting. And waiting. Especially on a kettle... my BGE can build heat quick, but it peaks. What do you do to make a fire hot quicker? You blow on it. Let this blow for you. For the "she" segment, no pun intended. For those of you still (*GAG*) using lighter fluid, PLEASE STOP. Do you sniff the fumes from your gas tank when you go fill up? No? Then why cook your meat on it? Use an electric starter and this instead. I haven't used this on my fireplace (not the right time of year), but I imagine it'll help even better for that.

I was really excited about this product when I first saw it on Kickstarter and although I didn't invest (I've kicked myself for that numerous times) I decided I would purchase it when it became commercially available. I have found that the BBQ Dragon does an amazing job of fanning coals and firestarters to create a roaring blaze in very little time. I have used the Dragon on both a wood fireplace and in my lump charcoal grill and have been happy in both situations. The variable fan speed works well for situations where it is a small coal that needs to be carefully fanned all the way to stoking oak logs. There have been two situations however that did disappoint me about the dragon. * I have found that the dragon has difficulty in cold climates or situations. I have had issues with the fan operating in cold temperatures (living in MN and grilling during the winter) no matter which type of I chose to use. I know both NiMH batters and alkaline batteries can have issues in the cold, but it is dissapointing to leave the Dragon running and walk out 5 minutes later and have it barely blowing. I don't know if this has to do with the motor itself of if it is all related to batteries, but I would be shocked to find battery issues like this even at 40 degrees F. * I have had a similar issue as other reviewers with the battery door hatch breaking. One of the two little hooks that hold the battery door in-place has broken, forcing me to tape the door shut to actually use it. The Dragon has not seen rough use at all and I would have expected that piece to last longer than a year. I have been and still am satisfied with the product and have recommended it to numerous friends, but I hope these issues are ones that could be addressed in the future to alleviate the issue that I have had.

I’ve owned this product for 8 1/2 years now. It’s always worked great. I stopped using batteries because it does consume the batteries very quickly. Now I use a power bank and a USB cable to run the fan and that works perfectly . The only complaint I have is that it is loud. It rattles quite a bit. It’s easily adaptable to any grill so that is a plus. The size in the product is also a plus.

This statement: Summer Best Seller !!! Gets Your Grill Started in No Time. No More Lighter Fluid, No More Chimney Starter, Just Clean BBQ !!!Great Gift for the BBQ Enthusiast!!! Is totally false!!!! This is a blow dryer that blows cold air on your goals. You must have a fire starter or flame in order to increase the amount of fire in your barbecue pit. This is an item that is best to use with your fire is getting cold and need to increase this is a blow dryer that blows cold air on your goals. You must have a fire starter or flame in order to increase the amount of fire in your barbecue pit. This is an item that is best to use when your fire is getting cold and mean and needs air to increase the temperature. Based on the items description, I expected this to ignite the coals itself. It does not do that so do not be fooled.

Muy buen producto, no es indispensable para prender el fuego ni mucho menos, pero facilita y ayuda muchísimo a elevar rápido las temperaturas, muy recomendado.

Combined with the chimney of insanity, this will start your lump charcoal real quick, just a few minutes. I was told it was fast, it is faster than I imagined. Fiited mine with Jugee rechargeable lithium batteries.

うちわで仰ぐのも楽しいですが、この製品に任せると半分の時間でビール飲んで待ってるといいです。 頑丈そうなんで、何年も使えそうです。電池はエネループ使えば良いし。

This thing works really well, I use every time I fire up our charcoal grill. I was a little disappointed when I learned that the unit can recharge batteries (rechargeable only) but none are supplied with the unit though- just a heads up to others.

Geniales Teil!!! Vor allem wenn die Luftzirkulation beim Grill nicht optimal funktioniert.