Safety Reminder

For anyone that makes the popular wax and sawdust fire starters, please remember to not mix the sawdust into the wax while it is still on the heat source. The sawdust may have water trapped inside it which will react with the wax and cause the pot to boil over.

I was just calling for the cats to come in when I heard the neighbors asking where my s-i-l went and another responding that they had a house fire they were trying to put out. I quickly grabbed the two extinguishers from the stove room and ran across the street. My brother was making fire starters and had the pan boil over when he added the sawdust.

The house was full of smoke and flames were rolling across the top of the stove, but were contained. He wanted to put it out the rest of the way with water, but I told him that would cause it to spread and advised salt or baking soda instead. I stood by with extinguishers while he got some salt and the fire quickly smothered out. He was lucky!

 

Scary, hopefully no one got burned

 

Gooder tip Adam.
I've had the sawdust slightly sizzle when I pour the wax into the egg carton.
Always proceed with caution.

 

Wow! I don't make them, but good info!

 

Very good reminder. I always remember Woodwidow mentioning safety and using a double boiler.

 

It smothers a grease fire and won't catch on fire itself.

 

Nicely done for sure! Like a lot of people I get basic fire safety training but it's so infrequent and rarely called upon so not sure I'd do it right.

 

Good job Griz...

 

Another thing to use is a lid to smother the flame. Wax should always be melted in a double boiler or in a pot in water. Never directly on the heat source.

and from direct experience, never pour liquid wax into a plastic container unless the container is in water.

 

Me too.

 

Glad to hear you are all alright and minimal damage. You got me wondering... I make the egg carton fire starters and melt down old candles in a metal can inside another pot with water in it on a burner. Then I pour the wax over the egg carton which is filled with sawdust. Is this dangerous? There is no heat source nearby, but the wax is hot of course.

 

freeburn , that's how I do it, except I appropriated a double boiler that hadn't been used for a long time.
The only issue I've noticed is that sometimes the wax/sawdust mixture will try to sort of boil over out of the carton. I just pour slow and stop if it looks like that'll happen.
I also put down parchment paper on the counter to catch the wax that runs through the carton.

 

I don't mix my sawdust with the wax, I pour the over the top of the carton that's full of sawdust. It sticks together well enough. It's a bit more dusty when tearing off the carton, but I don't have to use as much wax. I love them as fire starters though. Almost like breaking off a tab to start a fire.