"Brian" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi again, folks.
>
> Thanks for all the great insights. The steam bursting through the
> concrete makes total sense. I like the idea of removing the grate
> in
> the chimney starter so I could just lift it up. I get nervous
> dumping
> those blazing coals in. Just like Alton Brown recommended, I bought
> a
> galvanized bucket to turn upside down and set the chimney on it.
> But I
> read someone in this group wrote about how poisonous chemicals are
> released when those buckets are heated up so I don't use it.
>
> Brian
>

Its the zinc on the galvanized bucket that *can* be poisonous. *BUT*
that's only if the zinc is burnt and it's notvery likely that you will
burn enough to make you sick, even if you do happen to get the chimney
hot enough to burn the zinc.

One of these days, I'll go and check to see if the cautions for
*welding* galvanized metal (yes, the zinc does burn when galvanized
metal is welded) are still the same as they were about 20 years ago
when I was welding galvanized.
Breathing the fumes would possibly make you sick to your stomach, and
the prevention/cure was to drink cold milk during the work period.
Then there was always the one person who swore that beer worked better
for him/her.

BOB