Fire starters

[Bobbie54]

Figured this is as good a place as any to post..

I've been saving egg cartons (because I'm a packrat) and a couple of days ago saw lovely wood (cedar) shavings where someone is building some breakwater groins. So I put out a call to my local friends for old candles and got a bundle- and now am making fire starters. These are my absolute favorite type.

Pack the egg carton egg spots full of wood shavings (I've also done shredded paper and sawdust but shavings are best), shorter than what I have is a bit better, though. Melt the wax over a double boiler (I put it in a can in a pot of water- that way no need to clean the can at the end) and pour wax over the shavings. You may need to pack them down and pour again. Let cool, break apart, and save for starting campfires and charcoal chimneys. Just light the corner of the egg carton material and off you go.

[UncleTim]

My favorite is Fatwood!

It is a natural wood that is full of resin. It keeps forever. It is easy to light and as a pyro, I love it!

There are lots of ways to make fire starter, and if you have a good one, use it!

I use Fatwood with my Solo stove (which I love) and it starts the fire easily. Plus I love that it's natural.

Thought you might like a look!

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by UncleTim

My favorite is Fatwood!

It is a natural wood that is full of resin. It keeps forever. It is easy to light and as a pyro, I love it!

There are lots of ways to make fire starter, and if you have a good one, use it!

I use Fatwood with my Solo stove (which I love) and it starts the fire easily. Plus I love that it's natural.

Thought you might like a look!

I like that, too, but it costs a little more.

[Farmgirl]

I use diesel fuel.

[mrpdk]

I keep a small jar of Vaseline and cotton balls. Also a small bag of candle ends. When you need a fire take a cotton ball and dip a good amount of Vaseline on it and place it at the bottom of the kindling with a candle bit next to it. Light the cotton ball and it works well the Vaseline gets the fire started the candle bit keeps it going. Also you have Vaseline when you need that.

[h2owmn]

Fuzz from your dryer filter can also be used with wax in egg cartons.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

Fuzz from your dryer filter can also be used with wax in egg cartons.

I've heard that. I did it with straw recently before I happened on these nice shavings.

[Gingerdog]

where to find free fat wood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7EoZBFi9xs

[Tom&Joan]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

Figured this is as good a place as any to post..

I've been saving egg cartons (because I'm a packrat) and a couple of days ago saw lovely wood (cedar) shavings where someone is building some breakwater groins. So I put out a call to my local friends for old candles and got a bundle- and now am making fire starters. These are my absolute favorite type.

Pack the egg carton egg spots full of wood shavings (I've also done shredded paper and sawdust but shavings are best), shorter than what I have is a bit better, though. Melt the wax over a double boiler (I put it in a can in a pot of water- that way no need to clean the can at the end) and pour wax over the shavings. You may need to pack them down and pour again. Let cool, break apart, and save for starting campfires and charcoal chimneys. Just light the corner of the egg carton material and off you go.

I have done a similar thing for years, except for using used cooking oil. Never had it fail, even without kindling. Sure fire!

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by Tom&Joan

I have done a similar thing for years, except for using used cooking oil. Never had it fail, even without kindling. Sure fire!

Do you just make it as needed? Or soak the carton with cooking oil and keep it for future use?

[Iowa Dave]

There are many good ways to start fires. In Scouts we showed the boys multiple methods and types of tinder. It was all part of earning the Fireman Chit. That and the Toten Chip and you could live the motto in comfort. In winter, as we hiked, I would casually remove a long abandoned bird’s nest from a low crotch in a plum thicket. When we got ready to start a cooking fire, I’d pull the nest out of my coat pocket along with my waterproof matchbox and proceed. Boys learned.
Iowa Dave

[Dcboyd]

I just use charcoal lighter fluid. I have all these other ways stuffed away in my survival gear, but until that time comes I believe in KISS.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

There are many good ways to start fires. In Scouts we showed the boys multiple methods and types of tinder. It was all part of earning the Fireman Chit. That and the Toten Chip and you could live the motto in comfort. In winter, as we hiked, I would casually remove a long abandoned bird’s nest from a low crotch in a plum thicket. When we got ready to start a cooking fire, I’d pull the nest out of my coat pocket along with my waterproof matchbox and proceed. Boys learned.
Iowa Dave

We learned in Girl Scouts, too- in wet Washington, without fire starters. Cedar or pine needles from near the base of a large tree were usually dry enough. But nowadays we aren't supposed to take that stuff, at least not in parks.

[camperwa]

We use Fatwood, easy to store, quick to ignite, light to carry

[RangerMan]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

Figured this is as good a place as any to post..

I've been saving egg cartons (because I'm a packrat) and a couple of days ago saw lovely wood (cedar) shavings where someone is building some breakwater groins. So I put out a call to my local friends for old candles and got a bundle- and now am making fire starters. These are my absolute favorite type.

Pack the egg carton egg spots full of wood shavings (I've also done shredded paper and sawdust but shavings are best), shorter than what I have is a bit better, though. Melt the wax over a double boiler (I put it in a can in a pot of water- that way no need to clean the can at the end) and pour wax over the shavings. You may need to pack them down and pour again. Let cool, break apart, and save for starting campfires and charcoal chimneys. Just light the corner of the egg carton material and off you go.

I gotta ask, What are 'breakwater groins.'?

[Vermilye]

I experimented with used dryer sheets stuffed into empty toilet paper rolls. Works pretty well, although my old standby is a torch head for my one pound propane tanks. Never fails!

[UncleTim]

Try one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-910...df_B01MT0ATY1/

[Jim Bennett]

Has anyone considered a wooden match? This is what I use with a piece of paper and kindling. It has worked good for me many, many hundreds of times. Sometimes I cheat and use a gas lighter too.

[UncleTim]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Has anyone considered a wooden match? This is what I use with a piece of paper and kindling. It has worked good for me many, many hundreds of times. Sometimes I cheat and use a gas lighter too.

What are those?

[skiman]

I buy fireplace logs and keep one in a pastic bag in the storage box. I hack a couple of chunks off and use at the base of a fire. They appear to be made sawdust and wax. One log lasts a couple of years.