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.
Unwaxed but dry… 1 cone and a kiss from the propane torch got a cold stove to smokeless in under 10 mins last night.
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.
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!
