Homemade fire starters...on the cheap.

I’ve tried pine cones a couple times and wasn’t impressed. But they were picked up and used immediately, not gathered and then dried and stored. Perhaps the result would have been different.
To each their own

 

They definitely have to be dry and opened up.

They should burn like this.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mnSPd8VMxAc

 

another vote for the cones. Dried, brown, and stored in a dry location.
I can use 2 or 3, under a few pieces of smaller (not quite kindling) splits.
I'll still stock and use firestarters, but pinecones are cheap, easy to store (the bulk of them are outdoors in boxes) and easy to use.
Fire starters cost wax (till I find it for free) and time to build, and require pine noodles or other coarse shavings.
Pine cones, just find and collect, and store.

 

Miss July took the bucket of pine cones and threw them in the woods.
I'm out of the pine cone firestarter business.

 

I should start boxing pinecones and sell them. The city folk would gobble that up rightly quick

 

A 10 pack of 3-4" cones is around $11-$12 on Amazon. I could bag a hundred of them in about 5 minutes

 

unless one can point to the cones exclusively (reclusively) as the source, maybe the cones can be re-collected. They could be stored in a sealed bucket, or just outside the door outside.

I put the bulk of mine outdoors, with a smaller bucket in the pantry for day to day use.

I think we have more critters coming in on the cordwood, 24 hours worth, by the stove...

 

buZZsaw BRAD : I hadn't quit at the time Brad, But I did Dec 22 2023. As a habit, I'm done. Moderation was not my MO.
I've had a couple since quitting, and don't have a desire anymore.
17 years, on and off, a pack a day on some days.
most times I don't miss smoking.

 

Thats great Dave.

 

Found some wax for 3 bucks a box. Bought what they had should be enough for this years stash.

 

Warner Do you have any craft stores near you, like Hobby Lobby? They have 10 lb blocks of wax for candle making that is much cheaper than Gulf Wax.

 

The closest one that I know of is about an hour away, I’ll check it out next time I’m out that way. Thanks for the heads up!

 

One off 89 Exit 6 in Vermont

 

I’m on the second batch of a new version of the Dixie cup variant. This is now my favorite firestarter because it works very well and utilizes mostly “waste” products. I like to keep several quarts of coconut oil on the shelf in the pantry as a shelf stable fat source. Once it’s a couple years out of date, it becomes the hydrocarbon portion of my firestarters. I use shredded paper for the carbon component. The kids pack the cups and I pour them. This time I cut the flaps off of several flat-ish Amazon boxes and had them put the packed cups in the boxes in a single layer. That keeps the mess to a minimum when pouring them. Smell nice too ;-)

 

Had some free laborers today so it’s fire starter day! Thanks Erik B for the hobby lobby tip!

 

Maybe already mentioned.

The kids tried something a few years ago. They mix the noodles, dust and wax in the pot then get the mix into a pringles tube. After it’s dry and solid cut into pucks the quarter or more the pucks. Makes a couple nice edges and corners for lighting on each one. I think they like making empty pringles tube too.

Not home made. If you can find the big boxes of the Diamond strike a fires on super cheap sale. Break each one into 5 or 6 pieces and you’ll be into each starter about 2 or 3 pennies.


Owl

 

Well, they're not home made but.....

I get these for just under 14 cents a piece. Then, cut them in half so they end up being less than 7 cents.

I know, I know, its the idea of making your own and spending the time and all that.

I used to make my own. Saved cardboard egg cartons.....picked up wax candles from goodwill type stores/rummage sales. Used clean sawdust from log pile/wood working. Got an old pan/pot for melting wax (on top of wood stove, of course). Poured melted wax into sawdust lined egg carton-very carefully! Cleaned up mess when job was completed.

Now-a-days, I'll have the fire starters delivered right to my door. Just open the box and unzip the sip lock bag, cut them in half and all set for making fires. No running around looking for wax.....not a single egg carton laying around.....got rid of the wax melting pot/pan.....no real time involved in the prep of them either. They are great for starter fires in the pit!

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