[Seldom Seen]

Here's an oldie but some still might find it useful. I start my fires in my fireplace with these all the time. You need lint from your dryer,an egg carton and half a pound of canning wax. First cram as much lint into each cup of the egg carton as you can. Next melt your 1/2# of wax on the stove using a double boiler or low heat(remember paraffin wax burns,you don't want to use high heat and get a flash fire). Put the egg carton on an old piece of cardboard(for spills),then just pour the wax into the cups. Let it dry for 30 minutes or so and you're done.

When ready to start a fire just strike a match to one cup that you've broken off and it will burn for about 10 minutes. When I use these in the fireplace I don't even bother with kindling anymore,they burn long enough for bigger wood to catch afire. Cuts down on the ash in the fireplace too as I'm not using paper to start fires with. I always bring along a brick of 12 whenever I go camping. Less work on those cold mornings.

[Delta Lady]

Shall I assume that you are using a cardboard egg crate?

[Seldom Seen]

Oh yeah. I never buy the styrofoam ones. Thanks for the catch.

[Summerthyme]

You can do the same thing with sawdust, if you've got a source for it. I've also made firestarters out of paper muffin cups, leftover wax (when my votive or other container candles burn down too far and burn out, I melt the wax in them by putting them in an inch or so of water in a kettle on the stove) and a leftover birthday candle stuck in the middle (for a wick). Those "you can't blow them out" trick candles work REALLY well.

Another firestarter that is messy but excellent for camping or BOB's are the petroleum jelly and cotton balls. Melt the jelly in the microwave (takes a LOT longer than you'd think, and don't pour it on yourself, you don't need a bad burn). Lay out a bunch of cotton balls on waxed paper or aluminum foil (I prefer the paper, I just tear it apart and wrap the balls in it when I'm finished- less mess) and pour the melted vaseline over them. Let them harden... well, cool... they don't get "hard". Either scrape them off the foil and into a sealable container, or wrap them in waxed paper, and stash them in something that won't leak. Heavy duty ziplock bags work fine, but I had a bunch of small flat tupperware containers that I didn't use for food anymore, and they are full of these firestarters.

These will generally burn long and hot enough to start even the wettest wood.

Summerthyme

[Seldom Seen]

Summerthyme,sounds like another good use for vitimin or pill bottles.

I had heard about the sawdust bit,guess it lasts even longer than lint. I don't have any sawdust tho,but I do have almost 10 gallons of lint(I wash windows for a living so I use a lot of towels). I just finished up making a gross of firestarters so I don't think I have that much lint anymore.

[Azure Tab]

vaseline and lint works well too.

[SmartAZ]

Uh, that would be cotton lint, not just any random fiber.

I've known a few people who used the vaseline and cotton balls. Not one of them ever melted the vaseline. They just work some in and scrape out as much as possible. That leaves a flat thing that stacks very nicely in any small container. It has to be fluffed up before use.

[linttrap]

And if anybody needs some lint...I have some.

In fact, I have a lot.

I am the wellspring of all lint!

I'll give you a good price. Really. ;)

Linttrap

[Ought Six]

I save the cotton wadding they put in vitamin bottles, and use block parafin. I just heat the parafin in an old kitchen pot on a tabletop electric burner (so I can do it outside, for safety), dip in wads of cotton, and set them on a cheapo nonstick cookie sheet to set. I make a supercharged version by sprinkling it with powdered magnesium right after dipping. Those will light *anything*, and are bright enough to use for signalling as well.

[Seldom Seen]

O6 where do you get the powdered magnesium?

[Ought Six]

I bought it at a Soldier of Fortune show in Las Vegas, a few years ago when I lived there.

[MzJag]

starter for dummies question.............does the parafin leave melted wax in your fireplace over extended use?

[Seldom Seen]

I've been using them for quite awhile now and no they don't. Even a mild fire burns hot enough to totally consume them.

[Fartacus]

Here's what you don't want to do:

Bonfire Blast Burns 5 People
Provided By: The Associated Press
Last Modified: 12/13/2004 3:50:42 PM


ABBEVILLE, Ga. (AP) -- Five people, including two young children, were burned over the weekend, when a plastic bottle containing diesel fuel exploded while they were gathered around a bonfire, officials said.

The victims, all with first- and second-degree burns, were rushed to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, where the three adults were listed in serious condition Monday and the two children were critical, spokeswoman Beth Frits said.

Sheriff Stacy Bloodsworth said Greg Keene, 38, was hosting a party for a family at his Abbeville farm Saturday evening when they piled up wood for a bonfire and started a small fire.

"They set a plastic container with a small amount of diesel fuel on top of the wood, thinking it would melt and saturate the wood. But it exploded," Bloodsworth said.

In addition to Keene, the burn victims were identified as Jason and Kim Smith and their two children, Jason Jr., 5, and Kelsie, 3, of nearby Rochelle.

"Greg is real compassionate and has a real big heart," said the sheriff. "He loves children and he's beating himself up pretty bad. It was just a freak accident."

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, who is also the state safety fire commissioner, said many Georgians are burned each year trying to ignite outdoor fires with gasoline or diesel fuel.

"It's common for people to use gasoline or diesel to get outdoor fires going, but it's extremely dangerous," he said. "Diesel is extremely flammable. We see diesel used quite often in arson fires."

Oxendine said gasoline or diesel fuel can ignite "like a bomb" under the right conditions and should not be used improperly.

"Fire is a tool," he said. "Fire is not to be entertainment. You don't play with a hammer and a saw, and you don't play with fire."

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=56048

[Potemkin]

Uh, that would be cotton lint, not just any random fiber.

The ones I made had all kinds of fibers. Cotton, synthetic, heck it even had a good percentage of dog hair. (As does everything else around here.) :rofl:

I guess pure cotton would work better but the ones I made were fine.

If the wood is fairly dry to can use 1/2 to 1/4 of one to get things going.

You can also make a #10 can stove with vents on the bottom and set a small cup or pot on top. They heat and boil small amounts of water or heat food.

[window2watcher]

AFter reading this thread I went out and bought block parafin and a big bag of dixie cups---the smallest size--3 oz I think. I got sawdust with the last load of mill ends (4 wheel barrels full--- :mad: ) and so I melted the wax stirred in the sawdust (after drying it on a cookie sheet) and poured in the sawdust until I had the consistency of stiff cookie dough. filled the dixie cups 1/2 full and was totally surprised when it started a fire right off. Then I went out and bought candles from the junk stores---broken pieces, whatever. for aLOT cheaper amount--melted it down and then discovered I CAN"T STAND the smell of the sented ones. I opened up the house and continued the process. I am storing them outside the house until I get the nerve to use them--now I know to give each candle the sniff test before I purchase them. I doubt that I will ever go back to kindliing unless I run out of small change to purchase broken candles---must put this on my garage sale list!

[SmartAZ]

Well, ok. If you're using paraffin, you are basically making a candle, and conditions are pretty good in an inside fireplace. For camping it's a little different and you really want everything in your favor, so it would be quite a bit more important to use pure cotton fiber and vaseline. There is a chemical thing about the cellulose and petro jelly, and that can be important when you are flicking your ferrocerium to start a fire in a breeze, and possibly a drizzle too! (In a drizzle you put your little bomb on a piece of bicycle inner tube so the water doesn't put the fire out.)

For camping I always advise a Bic lighter (not any other brand), and ferrocerium as a backup.

[window2watcher]

My next experiment in making fire starters is to use the cardboard inside the toilet roll. cut it into about 3-4 sections, set on wax paper and stuff 1/2 full with sawdust/candle mix. That way I can use those things which seem to breed around the house----they are also good for keeping cords organized--just bundle the cord up and shove em in---if there is anything that drives me nuts is that blasted tangle of cords in the shop area.

[Potemkin]

My next experiment in making fire starters is to use the cardboard inside the toilet roll. cut it into about 3-4 sections, set on wax paper and stuff 1/2 full with sawdust/candle mix.

You can also use paper cupcake cups. Big ones are a little large unless you cut them in half, small ones are the right size.

Uniform size and cheap enough.

[FrmlyZ]

When I lived in Colorado, Montana and Washington and was doing a lot of backpacking, I used magnesium shavings. You can buy small blocks of the metal. Back then you could get only get them at outdoor stores. Now even Walmart sells them. Shave off a bit of the block and it will start a fire in all weather.

It has the advantage of being cheap, small and light and doesn't melt in your pack during the heat of the day. :)

Of course when I was using a flint and steel [just to see if I could], I collected punk. This was in the eastern mountains.

Best Wishes,,,,,

Z

[Potemkin]

Of course when I was using a flint and steel [just to see if I could], I collected punk.

Pine tree knots or pine tree "fat wood" kicks.

Pick them up in the woods from any well rotted pine tree. After lighting one you know why you shouldn't burn pine wood in the stove or fireplace.

[Delta Lady]

Try a couple of pine cones. Incredible.

[FrmlyZ]

Pine tree knots or pine tree "fat wood" kicks.

Pick them up in the woods from any well rotted pine tree. After lighting one you know why you shouldn't burn pine wood in the stove or fireplace.

And I don't, although Doug fir isn't too bad. In the east, if you are in a river valley, you can find punk inside rotted sycamore. That is the best. It will start easily with flint and steel. At higher altitude, it is harder and your suggestion of pine is good. Actually, I just did this for a while to prove I could do it. I go with a bic now-a-days. :)

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

[Seldom Seen]

Instead of egg cartons(for those who don't eat eggs or those who may buy eggs in styrofoam)you can always use those little paper ketchup cups at fast food restaurants. They are a good size and cheap.