They have them on Amazon but they seem a little pricey there if you have to pay shipping... Amazon.com: Frontier Brand Tumbleweeds Firestarters - Value Pack: Home & Kitchen KaptJaq
Last I checked those would not be cheaper than Super Cedars, so long as you buy by the case. No doubt they are good but some of us like to support Thomas too.
When I use a super cedar I split it into 1/4's. So one disc makes four fire starters for me. A box of 100 might as well be 400 starters. I did see those at tsc this week.
I agree and think most who buy them do the same. I have heard of some breaking them into 1/8 but that seems a bit small.
I use the Duraflame Quick Start. The ones I get locally cost about $15 a box. There are 4 starters per package, 6 packages per box. I break about an inch and a quarter off the starter and use that to get my fires going. That's five fires per starter since each are 6 inches in length, so figure 24 x 5 = 120 or $0.125 per fire. Because I'm a cheap azz and because they work well with or without kindling I'll continue using them until I find something that works equally as well at a an acceptable price point which means it would also have to be cheaper or extremely outstanding. One day I'll pick up an 8 pack of Super Cedars which are pre scored for quarters, to try and to compare the two. (8 pucks x 4 fires = 32) At a cost of $12.95 on Amazon, that's $0.404 per fire. If I were to purchase the 36 pack (144 fires) for $44.95 the price would drop to $0.312 per fire. (free shipping with prime or a purchase of $49 or more) Of course they don't have the FHC logo or any of the other good stuff on the label, but it is the same Super Cedar that can be found here in the Swag Shoppe ($28 + $12 shipping or $40) That calculates out to $0.277 per fire.
Are they safe to use with cat stoves? I also break my super cedars in 1/4 but I got caught in the whole soft/hard transition period. So now I'm stuck with years worth of crumbling fire starters that work well just make a mess. I'll definitely order the hard version next go around and I do support people who have good service and forum presence. That said I'll always try new products in the belief it keeps everyone on their toes and honest.
You have the cat bypassed when you are starting the fire, don't you ? It would be interesting to do a side by side comparison of cathedrals with one allowing candle burning and one not allowing candle burning and which one would have cleaner walls, ceilings, paintings, tiles and parishioners at the end of a decade or century.
Yes you do have the cat bypassed on start up, but I'd still rather have something that says cat safe. Super cedars have the green light from sud-chemie combustor manufacturer.
The DuraFlame QuickStarter's are made up of "wax with a blend of recycled and renewable biomass fibers" whatever that is, but they do appear to have pieces of wood in them. I would think they could be used with cat stoves since they are essentially the same as the super cedars in that it's wood and wax. The shape is different as each firestarter is 6 inches in length by one and an eighth by one and one eighth. I get 5 fire starts per full starter. I know some people don't care for them and have lost of negative to say just like any other product. Personally I like them which is also why I mentioned them here.
I appreciate anyone sharing thoughts and real life experiences. After all that's the best way to learn from experience.
I don't have a new stove (in my shop) so I make my own out of canning wax, saw dust from Lowe's (free for the asking), dryer lint and an egg crate. Seem to get 10mins of burn time from one that fills the egg crate about 3/4 full. What makes a starter approved for stove's with reburners? We have an OWB for the house so that's usually a once or twice a year deal.
