I emptied my paper shredder at the office and tightly packed 3 oz Dixie cups half full with the shredded paper. I melted candles I picked up cheap at the local Good Will using a double boiler and put about 1.5 oz in each cup. They are ridiculously easy to light and burn about ten minutes. On a cold start I just use old scrap 2X4s cut into 8 to 10 inch length for "kindling" with these fire starters. I put one split on the bottom, one of these fire starters next to it, and lean the 2x4s against the split over the fire starter. Works great. The fire starters are completely burned up before I engage my cat.
Starting fire without kindling?
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I emptied my paper shredder at the office and tightly packed 3 oz Dixie cups half full with the shredded paper. I melted candles I picked up cheap at the local Good Will using a double boiler and put about 1.5 oz in each cup. They are ridiculously easy to light and burn about ten minutes. On a cold start I just use old scrap 2X4s cut into 8 to 10 inch length for "kindling" with these fire starters. I put one split on the bottom, one of these fire starters next to it, and lean the 2x4s against the split over the fire starter. Works great. The fire starters are completely burned up before I engage my cat.
Supercedars are great for sure but if you just want something quick without waiting Home Depot sells Rutland fire starters that work really well. They come in a box of about 140 starters and they are squares made of some kind of compressed cardboard with wax or something on them. I usually stick 1 or 2 of these in the stove with a full load of wood, light them and that's it. If I happen to have a bag of "fat wood" (also can buy at Home Depot) I'll add a couple sticks of that as well and the combination of the two works great.
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
When you get them, you only need to use 1/4 of one for a fire (or even less). They are scored to make it fairly easy to break by hand. Break them over a container to catch the crumbs ("Pixie Dust" - save them). Light the top of the chunk. I actually break the 1/4 in half and use them in two places. They burn hot and last a few minutes. Your kindling doesn't have to be very small, but should be nice and dry.
Stella
Burning Hunk
Don't see any problem with kindling. I use pine cones, sawdust, newspaper, dried palm leaves and leylandi and the magic ingredient a little bit of olive oil. Works fine for me and takes very little time!
Machria
Minister of Fire
I ordered the free Super Cedar sample a on here a few weeks ago. Got a couple in the mail a few days later, had never herd of them prior. After trying them, I ordered a box and will use them for ever now. LOVE THEM.
I split them in half, and started a few fires with them. I put a large split in the back of the stove (east west load), and another one in the front of the stove. I then drop 1/2 or 1/4 of a super cedar in the middle of the two splits on the floor of the stove. I then put 1 small peice of wood or kindling (1 strip of a 12" peice of 2x4 split into 6 to 10 strips) across the super cedar in the middle, and then stack whatever I want on top of that (2 more splits on top if I want a decent load, or nothing if I want a small fire...). Light the super cedar with a BBQ grill lighter or long fireplace match, shut the door, and 5 minutes later it's full blast in there.
I split them in half, and started a few fires with them. I put a large split in the back of the stove (east west load), and another one in the front of the stove. I then drop 1/2 or 1/4 of a super cedar in the middle of the two splits on the floor of the stove. I then put 1 small peice of wood or kindling (1 strip of a 12" peice of 2x4 split into 6 to 10 strips) across the super cedar in the middle, and then stack whatever I want on top of that (2 more splits on top if I want a decent load, or nothing if I want a small fire...). Light the super cedar with a BBQ grill lighter or long fireplace match, shut the door, and 5 minutes later it's full blast in there.
Well I'm glad I'm not the only one that has that problem.
I use a firestarter I got from Wallmart call "Strike-A-Fire" http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-4878911018-48-ct-STRIKE-A-FIRE/dp/B006H5VLJ6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Box of 48 costs $10. I break them up in 3 pieces so a box makes 144. Works out to about $0.07 each.
I just light with a lighter and stick in between a few splits. I don't use kindling or anything like that.
The Super Cedars work great as well, just with the shipping to up here they are kind of pricey. Works out to about $0.23 each if you break up into 4 pieces (box of 54 makes 216 and costs $49.60)
In my home, the idea of a pot of liquid accelerant sitting next to a possible ignition source would bother me, because my dogs are big and dumb with tails that double as clubs..I also know lots of people who leave/set cups of coffee on their "coffee tables".. that doesn't happen here either. LOL
I use a firestarter I got from Wallmart call "Strike-A-Fire" http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-4878911018-48-ct-STRIKE-A-FIRE/dp/B006H5VLJ6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Box of 48 costs $10. I break them up in 3 pieces so a box makes 144. Works out to about $0.07 each.
I just light with a lighter and stick in between a few splits. I don't use kindling or anything like that.
The Super Cedars work great as well, just with the shipping to up here they are kind of pricey. Works out to about $0.23 each if you break up into 4 pieces (box of 54 makes 216 and costs $49.60)
These are what we get from the local Menards home store. They work great for us and are very reasonable.
Why would the super cedars be OK for a catalytic stove and a duraflame log not? The instructions for my new cat VC stove was pretty adament about not using starter logs like duraflame as they would poison the catalytic device and I should use nothing more than newspaper. It seems the supercedars are very close to the same thing yet their website says they're safe.
My guess is, because, unlike a whole duraflame log, the super cedar is burned up and gone by the time you engage the cat.
eclecticcottage
Minister of Fire
I use the rutland starters. We don't bother with kindling, just arrange properly and leave a little "nook" for the starter. Although this time of the year we don't usually need a starter, just put the splits on the coal bed and maybe leave the door cracked for a few minutes if there aren't many coals.
The Super Cedar is made from a highly refined paraffin, and uses a minimum amount therefore allowing extra oxygen to start faster, burn cleaner and hotter. Please see the Sud Chemie lab reports on our site www.supercedar.com The Super Cedar is the only wood firestarter approved for use with cats.
I like that Cape Cod Firestarter....looks very interesting. Also a very good idea for a few Christmas presents next year!
Don't like the idea of kerosene sitting on my hearth, or near it. Anything liquid can always spill. Accidents happen.
Don't like the idea of anything hot sitting on the hearth to cool. Accidents happen.
I try to keep hot things limited to the top of the stove (pots, soapstone slabs), and all possible hazards well away from the stove, where if someone or a pet bumps into any of them, no big deal.
Don't see the point to having a firestarter that can present any possibility of a problem, in any situation, when it isn't necessary. There are lots of totally safe methods that present no risk.
My 2 cents. Maybe my family and pets are more accident prone than others....
Don't like the idea of anything hot sitting on the hearth to cool. Accidents happen.
I try to keep hot things limited to the top of the stove (pots, soapstone slabs), and all possible hazards well away from the stove, where if someone or a pet bumps into any of them, no big deal.
Don't see the point to having a firestarter that can present any possibility of a problem, in any situation, when it isn't necessary. There are lots of totally safe methods that present no risk.
My 2 cents. Maybe my family and pets are more accident prone than others....
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