Devil's Chimney - strategies for consistency?

[Johnnyman]

I'm a few hours in, and I really want to invest the time needed to complete the game. But if anything is going to dissuade me, it's the devil's chimney...

It's not that I'm stuck at the devil's chimney: I've gotten past it many times on my way back up the mountain. However, I've realized that, while I've become more skilled at all the other early parts of the mountain--to the point of being able to complete them in just a few tries--the devil's chimney ALWAYS takes me many, many, many tries.

Basically, it just seems totally random whether I can get through it or not, and it seems like I haven't become any more skilled at it over time. I pogo up into the chimney, but whether I can catch the lanterns or not seems totally random; most of the time my hammer just bounces off the stone sides and I fall back down. And even if I can catch the first lantern, it seems equally random whether I can catch the second.

So, I'm wondering if anyone has any strategies for making the chimney more consistent. I'm not sure I can keep playing if I have to pretty much roll the dice for 20 minutes every time I have to pass through this part of the mountain.

[GeneralVeers]

Mostly it's about moving the mouse up and down, and NOT swinging sideways. When you're reaching up to catch a lantern, you need to try to get the hammer to follow the chimney as closely as possible, to minimize the amount of hitting the sides.

[Lar Dass]

first time i did it it was devastating.. hated it so much, i fell at the grill and had to do it again, became waay easier. tip is to go slow after pishing yourself up high, control the mouse carefully up n down