Light it

Light the charcoal

The 2024 manual's method.

1. Stir the old charcoal with the ash tool so loose ash falls through the fire grate.
2. Clear out the cold ash. The Joe Jr. has no ash drawer: see ash out.
3. Add charcoal, no more than 1.36 kg (3 lb), and light it with one or two firelighters.
4. Leave the dome and the draft door fully open for 10 minutes.
5. Close the dome.
6. Start closing both vents when you are within 10 °C (50 °F) of your target. Allow 20 to 60 minutes to settle.

The 2020 and 2021 manuals allow 20 to 40 minutes, up to an hour.