Fatwood or Lightning Nuggets

[Jags]

Somebody here called it "pixie dust"

That would be the infamous BrotherBart.

 

[Lyndenbrook Farm]

I gave in. Signed up for my free sample. The way you guys talk, there should be Supercedar reps hanging out a playgrounds. "Psst, kid, you wanna start a fire? Lemme show you what I got ..."

 

[spirilis]

That could work!!

 

[Lyndenbrook Farm]

So my SuperCedar samples arrived.
The samples came with the Hearth.com labels.

DW sniffed and said they smell good. I agree.

The good news is, we are looking at temps in the 40s-50s over the next week so the stove will go cold a few times and I have a chance to try them out for real.

 

[JayD]

The good news is, we are looking at temps in the 40s-50s over the next week

Same here sure am looking forward to that!! I scored a big mulberry from the neighbor lady across the street from me, She had a tree service remove it as it was over the house. They dumped it in my driveway, I want to buck and at least get it split and stacked as it's fresh cut.

 

[BobUrban]

The list of good fire starters goes as follows: 1. Super cedars 2. All others combined

I have used the Rutland squares, fat wood, no namers, home brew, etc.. SC far outweighs the others in performance for me. I buy them naked by the case and keep three or so near the stove in a Rubbermaid container. Crumbs stay in there and get poured into the stove when I use the last before a restock. A full one makes a great brush pile starter when needed or a night around the fire pit.

 

[NinjaTech]

+2 Propane pipe soldering torch.

 

[Lyndenbrook Farm]

I'm sold on the supercedars now. Just put in my order. I am a convert now.
Psst, kid, you wanna start a fire?

 

[xman23]

I always like hearing what every one is using to start there fires. I'm always looking for something better and cheaper. I have tried quite a few of them. For the last few years I've been using "Firestarter". It's 35 starters for $10 at home depot. This year I got a box of Rutland safelite fire starter squares. 144 squares for $10. They lite easy, and I need one to get the fire started.

 

[Hunker Down]

I make my own. Rolled up news paper in tp size rolls, i fill with saw dust and a couple of drops of isopropyl alcohol and cover with old candle wax. Takes 10 minutes to make 20. They work great. Cost $0

 

[WES999]

Wall Mart has these on sale for $5/box. If you cut them into 1" cubes you get about 300/ box.
The y work OK, best to light them with a propane torch.

 

[R'Lee]

I ordered via email my Hearth.com free sample about a month or two back and nothing has arrived yet so, I don't have an opinion. I currently use dryer-lint that I stuff into a bottle and let 2 cycle chainsaw oil absorb into it. A small piece about the size of a 1/2 cotton ball on top of a dry split will create an inferno. One match, one shot and the job is done. Although I can start a fire with just about anything, I needed something supersimple & safe for the wife. I keep this recipe in a corked bottle specially for her. If I had a super ceder, I would definitely have her try one.

 

[NWfuel]

I ordered via email my Hearth.com free sample about a month or two back and nothing has arrived yet so, I don't have an opinion. I currently use dryer-lint that I stuff into a bottle and let 2 cycle chainsaw oil absorb into it. A small piece about the size of a 1/2 cotton ball on top of a dry split will create an inferno. One match, one shot and the job is done. Although I can start a fire with just about anything, I needed something supersimple & safe for the wife. I keep this recipe in a corked bottle specially for her. If I had a super ceder, I would definitely have her try one.

R Lee,
Once in awhile we get samples returned to us by the USPS as non deliverable. As you can imagine this is a waste of our time and money. We go back and check that we sent it to correct address and that is the end of our efforts. Please email us directly at info @supercedar.com. If you or any others do not receive your samples within 2 weeks maximum then contact us to clarify our issues.

Thank you
Thomas

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

I use fatwood even though the sample of super cedars that I got sent to me worked much better......I always say super cedars are better....

 

[NYCPrincess]

I understand you have to use fatwood sparingly due to the creosote build-up it generates. Is this true? Would that be the same for super cedars?

 

[spirilis]

I seriously doubt it makes much creosote given the tiny quantity of it you're using. Sounds like a tall tale to me.

Au contrare, the rapid increase in firebox temps given by these products when they ignite the Gates of Hell with your kindling should help reduce the net creosote produced by your firewood load. SuperCedar has a study on their website showing how their product helps light the catalyst in catalytic woodstoves faster resulting in clean burns quicker. The same thing should apply to non-catalytic woodstoves as well.

 

[Seanm]

I understand you have to use fatwood sparingly due to the creosote build-up it generates. Is this true? Would that be the same for super cedars?

I wonder where that comes from? Are you referring to the old wives tale that burning pine causes chimney fires? Lots of people here burn lots of pine including myself. I also use fatwood. I like to split them in half so they last me twice as long. I haven't been using them much lately as the fire doesn't go out much this time of year.

 

[gyrfalcon]

R Lee,
Once in awhile we get samples returned to us by the USPS as non deliverable. As you can imagine this is a waste of our time and money. We go back and check that we sent it to correct address and that is the end of our efforts. Please email us directly at info @supercedar.com. If you or any others do not receive your samples within 2 weeks maximum then contact us to clarify our issues.

Thank you
Thomas

My samples arrived in less than a week, and my subsequent orders not much longer. You guys don't mess around with shipping.

 

[Tom703]

I have been using "fatwood" for many years. However, not the commercial variety as it is naturally occurring anywhere there is a pine forest. Locally, there are Ponderosa Pine forests, and Ponderosa Pine produces lots of pitch which becomes resin when it dries and is found in old stumps. Locally, we call the stuff "pitch wood." Not all pine trees leave a resin saturated stump. I have heard speculation that this has to do with the time of year the tree was cut or died, specifically if the pitch was up, as during the summer, or down as it is in the fall and winter. Around here, if you find an old stump that has not rotted away, this is probably because that stump is saturated with resin. Once you learn what to look for, you can go out and harvest enough to last for four or five years in a couple hours - and make a nice outing out of the trip.

I have never had a problem with fatwood causing creosote build-up. Yes, mine gives off a black smoke, but the resulting fire is hot enough to burn up any residue. The most plentiful firewood in this area is Lodgepole Pine, which burns fairly clean. I also burn a lot of Juniper, which looks like cedar and smells like cedar, but is a different tree. It burns hot, fast, and clean. This stuff definitely produces a hot enough fire to clean out any residue left from starting the fire.

 

[mayfly-1970]

Super Cedars are so easy, I wouldn't consider anything else. I have not split kindling since I received my first sample. I put in 3-4 split logs. One log in the back running the length of the fireplace (I usually tilt it so it cantilevers over a portion of S.C). then I place the other logs at an angle and propped up on rear log for ventilation. Add 1/4 Super Cedar underneath (keep the propped logs low and close to S.C.)- two second touch from a lighter, sit back and drink a cup of coffee and watch the fire build. Yep, it is that easy.

I used to use fat wood, and I disagree with some of the other opinions- for one very good reason. My fireplace is not a primary heat source. It could be, but it is not practical for our lifestyle. During the week when I wake up early I will start a small fire and work on my laptop. It does not always get heated up well and after a year of this cycle with fat wood- I did notice buildup. Yes, I know the cool fires are a cause too. But when I see black smoke bellowing from the fat wood, I know it is having an impact. And, Since going to Super Cedars I do not see the black smoke and my chimney was cleaner upon inspection this season then it was last year before starting to use the S.C.s. YMMV.

BTW, I like them well enough that I am giving a box to my Father-in-law for Christmas. I say all this and if you look at my posts from last year around this time I was a bit skeptical of all the hype. All it took was to use the product and now I am a raving-fan.

 

[JTRock]

I bought a 24 count of Enviro Log. Firestarters from HD. Looks like a side cup you would get at a burger place for your ketchup. It's filled with wax.

1st and only fire starter I have used in my short burning life. It's does the trick. I do wanna try the SC though

 

[mass_burner]

Something I have done is buy 1 envirolog, the wax/cardboard log. Break the log into shreads and keep in the wood box. Just use a couple of shreds for each fire. One log will fill a whole shoe box, for 2-3 bucks.

 

[MJFlores]

Birch bark...it's free. If you have birch in your area, you can likely scrounge up weeks worth in a very short walk in the woods. Also, the dry dead limbs that hang off every hemlock tree work great too...and of course are free and very plentiful if you have those sorts of tree around your area. My son always brings a few twigs in when coming inside...I've taught him to always grab something on the way in and toss it in the kindling barrel. I cant get myself to spend money on kindling material when there's so much out there for free (at least around here there is).

 

[Lyndenbrook Farm]

My next problem is the storage issue. I need a nice container for the mantle that won't clash with the DW's gold deer head (please read with sarcasm).

I am thinking a nice ceramic jar with sealed lid. What do you other SC users do?

 

[firefighterjake]

My next problem is the storage issue. I need a nice container for the mantle that won't clash with the DW's gold deer head (please read with sarcasm).

I am thinking a nice ceramic jar with sealed lid. What do you other SC users do?

Leave most of them in the cardboard box they came in out in the garage . . . and have a few in my woodbox beside the stove.