BILL MINCE

Like many others, Bill started using a charcoal chimney to eliminate the odor of lighter fluid. The newspaper did not always stay lit and pouring out the coals was dangerous as they bounced into and sometimes out of the grill. Also, newspaper ashes blew around the yard.

 

Inspiration came to Bill one time as he lifted his chimney and the hot coals slid through the bottom because the wire grate in the bottom was rusted out. This struck him as a safer way to unload hot coals. He imagined replacing the wire grate with a support that would be consumed during the lighting process. Trial and error with various materials for the next three years led to this safer and eco-friendly chimney.