ThirdHand ~ ThreeFinger ~ Wiggle Rods ~ Stainless Steel BBQ Tools ~ designed by thirdeye

 

 

 

 

As I cruise around on barbecue forums, I just hate to see threads with a title something like "Help!!! My Fire Went Out". A wiggle rod is kind of an ash maintenance tool. Mine are fabricated from 5/32" diameter stainless steel rod. Wiggling your charcoal can help a stubborn fire get going, promote even burning, and is a little insurance during an all night cook when you want to catch some ZZZZZ's.

The most popular style is the T-Handle Wiggle Rod. They have a "L" on one end and my version has a "T" handle on the other. The "L" reaches up through the charcoal grate on ceramic cookers, or up through the bottom of the charcoal basket on drum cookers to stimulate air flow, and dislodge ash. The overall length and the "L" length are sized to your specific cooker. I'll need to know what you're cooking on.  T-Handle wiggle rods come in 7 standard sizes, to fit everything from mini ceramic cookers all the way to a 25" model for vertical drum cookers.  The mini wiggle rods are also useful when used from above as a fire poker to arrange charcoal without removing the grate.

The new Double-L wiggle rods are 14-1/2" in length and have an "L" on each end, but the "L's" are custom cut to different lengths for different cookers. Perfect if you have a pair of cookers in your backyard. You just hold one of the L's in your hand in a pistol grip fashion while wiggling the lump with the other L.  Some folks with only one cooker purchase the Double-L with a 1-1/2" L on one end so they can position wood chips or dig around in the lump from above.  They use the other end to wiggle the lump from below.  

 

 

 

A Wiggle Rod enters a cooker through the lower air vent, then reaches up into the fire box or charcoal basket during the cook. A gentle back and forth wiggle will dislodge ash and create some positive air flow. It's best to experiment with a partial load of fresh un-lit charcoal. Fill your cooker about 1/3 full, then insert the Wiggle Rod, grip the "T" handle or the "L" bend in your fist, then pay close attention to the effect that wiggling has on the charcoal. It does not take much motion to do the job. In actual use, you can wiggle in several spots. I generally wiggle my charcoal about 10 minutes after lighting, then maybe once more after several hours into a long cook. I always give the coals a wiggle if my pit temperature drops unexpectedly, or before napping during an overnight cook.