Do you blow on your fire?!?

[ArsenalDon]

Reach into the can I keep the Super Cedar pieces in, pick up a handful of the pixie dust in the bottom, toss it on the coals and close the door. Off to the races.

The other day tried this for the first time and it really worked....took an empty toilet paper roll...twisted one end shut...put in super cedar dust and threw that on the low coal bed...magic!

 

[CT Pellet]

My lovely wife got me a nice bellows for Christmas. Every morning, if the stove is not still "cooking", I will throw some Envi Blocks in the stove and use the bellows to get them to flame up. It's become an obsession of mine to hold my breath and try and get a fire going before I can take another breath. Weird, I know. But from the time that I get it going until the time that the kids get up, I sit on the couch by myself just gazing into the flame and sipping the first cup of coffee. There quite a bit of satisfaction in seeing the fire grow. Oh, the beauty of quiet!

 

[mfglickman]

I use this tool called a Blow Poke (go ahead, laugh). Keeps your eyebrows intact, concentrates the air where you want it, and has a handy little fork at the end for raking coals and such. The most useful tool I have.

Yep, I'm laughing.

HOWEVER, I do occasionally blow once or twice on reload - NOT to the point of light headedness, though. One or two breaths usually catches the bottom splits and then I shut the door. That is, if I'm too impatient to just shut the door and walk away for a few minutes.

 

[gyrfalcon]

Reach into the can I keep the Super Cedar pieces in, pick up a handful of the pixie dust in the bottom, toss it on the coals and close the door. Off to the races.

That's what I do. Also, small stuff that's smoldering can usually be made to light up when you put some flame to it, either a long match or one of those barbecue grill lighters with the long nose.

 

[firefighterjake]

Large coals: Toss on some small splits followed by large splits. Air open all the way. Door left ajar . . . and away we go. No added air needed.

Small coals: Toss on some kindling followed by small splits and larger splits. Air open all the way. Door left ajar . . . and away we go. No added air needed.

No coals: Top down fire. Supercedar with kindling on top. Air open all the way. Door left ajar . . . and away we go. No added air needed.

 

[Pallet Pete]

We only need to open it from a cold start after the coal bed is established loader up turn up the air and close the door. The stove should take off quickly assuming you have good dry wood and good draft. Leaving the door open scares me a bit given gas pockets and sparks so I only do it on a cold start.

Pete

 

[ColdNH]

Large coals: Toss on some small splits followed by large splits. Air open all the way. Door left ajar . . . and away we go. No added air needed.

Small coals: Toss on some kindling followed by small splits and larger splits. Air open all the way. Door left ajar . . . and away we go. No added air needed.

No coals: Top down fire. Supercedar with kindling on top. Air open all the way. Door left ajar . . . and away we go. No added air needed.

same exact method here, but the same stove as well

 

[ddahlgren]

fatwood is 5.95 a bundle at HD.. why stick your head in the stove??

 

[northwinds]

If the coals need a jump start, I'll throw a page of crumpled newspaper or a cardboard egg carton on top of the load, light it, and it's off to the races.

 

[corey21]

If the coals need a jump start, I'll throw a page of crumpled newspaper or a cardboard egg carton on top of the load, light it, and it's off to the races.

That is what i do put a peace of newspaper on the coals sometimes.

 

[rideau]

Unless I have let the stove get cold for one reason or another, just add wood and close the door.

 

[Butcher]

A good shot of Yukon Jack and 1 breath and we is off to the races.
Sheesh.

 

[ddahlgren]

A good shot of Yukon Jack and 1 breath and we is off to the races.
Sheesh.

Only if out of tequila..LOL In my food groups margaritas are a serving of vegetables...

 

[claybe]

Large coals: Toss on some small splits followed by large splits. Air open all the way. Door left ajar . . . and away we go. No added air needed.

Small coals: Toss on some kindling followed by small splits and larger splits. Air open all the way. Door left ajar . . . and away we go. No added air needed.

No coals: Top down fire. Supercedar with kindling on top. Air open all the way. Door left ajar . . . and away we go. No added air needed.

I guess that is what I am missing. I have not been using any kindling when I don't have a lot of coals I am way too cheap to pay for super cedars or any thing else to start the fire...looks like the wife will start saving egg cartons and lint

 

[Hearth Mistress]

Harbor Freight sells cheap cans of compressed air which are great for starting a fire with kindling on minimum coals.

Agghhhh! Don't do that Fluorocarbons are used now, and although they replaced the older more flammable hydrocarbons, such as butane, they can still combust relatively easily, especially near heat, i.e. by holding near a source of fire. They do, however, have a lower chance of exploding in a closed container by means of spontaneous combustion but my hubby works for a company that makes this stuff and they have had reports of consumers burning themselves or their homes using duster near heat or on "charged" equipment/running motors.

I can't speak for every brand but there is a clear warning on the can I have here about using near heat/fire - BE CAREFUL

 

[Hearth Mistress]

I use this tool called a Blow Poke (go ahead, laugh). Keeps your eyebrows intact, concentrates the air where you want it, and has a handy little fork at the end for raking coals and such. The most useful tool I have.

These are great tools, but As a glass blower, I can tell you from experience.....don't inhale

 

[Hearth Mistress]

I guess that is what I am missing. I have not been using any kindling when I don't have a lot of coals I am way too cheap to pay for super cedars or any thing else to start the fire...looks like the wife will start saving egg cartons and lint

Just get yourself a hatchet or camp ax and split your splits into smaller pieces. No need to buy kindling, just split what you have into smaller pieces i make frequent trips to a local lumber store too go get their "free pickins" all the bits they trim for folks is in a bin, free. I got 8 2x3 pieces in 4 ft sections last week but couldn't cut them up to burn. Instead i brought home a few pallets, screwed them to the runners and made a wood rack. I only got one made before i couldn't feel my fingers anymore from the cold but usually, if it's free, burn it!

 

[jdp1152]

I usually open the door, stirr the coals/ash around a bit to expose the coals. Before I put wood on, I just give the coals a few minutes to come to life--the extra air from the open door does this. I load it up and in a few minutes (or less) I have flames. I suspect that blowing on the coals may get old.

Sounds about like what I do. I might pseudo latch the door or push it a bit tighter so the current of air is more swift going in...same when trying spread the burn across the log length. That usually picks up the coal bed from hot to really hot quicker than just leaving a crack. I definitely will try to turn the coal bed, particularly the back where the burns are less complete with east/west loads

 

[firefighterjake]

I guess that is what I am missing. I have not been using any kindling when I don't have a lot of coals I am way too cheap to pay for super cedars or any thing else to start the fire...looks like the wife will start saving egg cartons and lint

I know some folks here seem as though they use very little kindling . . .me . . . I'm impatient . . . when I want a fire I want it now. I use a fair amount on the morning after reloads or when I come home to find small coals.

Kindling can be pretty easy to find though . . . as mentioned you can use scrap dimensional lumber such as 2 x 4s or pine boards left over from projects . . . sometimes I'll cut down a single cedar or softwood just to make kindling from it (or in the case of the basswood I accidentally cut down -- thought it was an ash originally -- that will become kindling) . . . or if you want to buy some relatively "cheap" kindling you can get some cedar shingles at the big box store.

 

[Mitch Newton]

If there aren't many coals left, and I'm looking to speed things up and ignite the kindling that I'd use on them, with the larger splits above, I have an old aluminum arrow shaft that I use to blow on the coals. This puts the air where I want it without having to put my head so close to the action, keeps from blowing ashes all around, and lets me use less wind.

pen

Tried the arrow tick this morning. Works great and quick. Thanks Pen