Firestarters

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I experimented with making some firestarters last night. One thing I learned I thought would be worth mentioning is when I melted down peices of old candles I got about a cup of wax. I then added about a cup tiki torch fuel the citronella kind. I then added the mix to drier lint, 3/8" cotton wicks, and sawdust. The wax still hardened sufficiently for the starters. I would think this will really extend burn time. I will be testing some out and will let you know what I find.

[Rick]

That surprises me. I sure thought the fuel would be a problem getting the wax to harden. I look forward to your test results.

Thanks for the update!!

[Ken]

Betcha' they smell elegant! :innocent:

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

It worked well, only thing the look on my wifes face when adding the fuel to the stove - priceless!

[crashdive123]

It worked well, only thing the look on my wifes face when adding the fuel to the stove - priceless!

That's why my wife usually head the other way when I start a new project. She'll check in from time to time to make sure I don't blow myself up, or cut off a limb.

[Ken]

That's why my wife usually head the other way when I start a new project. She'll check in from time to time to make sure I don't blow myself up, or cut off a limb.

She's probably just out increasing your life insurance coverage. :innocent:

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Heres a tip! Start projects late in the evening having several silver bullets on hand. Works for me every time my wife just goes quietly to bed!

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x86/arabmagic/DSCN0728.jpg

Here is the cake of firestarter made with drier lint, sawdust, old candles, Tiki torch oil, and styrofaom plates.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x86/arabmagic/CopyofDSCN0725.jpg

These are wicks soaked and dried in the same mix.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x86/arabmagic/DSCN0731.jpg

(Rick)

These candles were made with the same solution of wax and lamp oil hmmm! it did seperate. I am calling them gas candles!!! NEAT!

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x86/arabmagic/DSCN0736.jpg

Made another lamp with some of the wick!

[panch0]

I would have never thought of combining all those different things. Great ideas. Will the cake catch firewith sparks from a ferro rod? That would be sweet. I tried to spark up some fat wood shavings but could'nt get it to light up.

[Rick]

Another type of fire starter is a bottle cap starter. You can melt wax into a bottle cap, add a wick and you have a fire starter.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Poncho,

I haven't tried lighting it yet, it is a little slow to dry with all the fuel. I will be cutting it into smaller sizes and then we'll see how well it lights...

[panch0]

I guess its the same concept as my bbq brick starter that I do when I cook out. I cut a soda can and use the bottom 1/3. I pour in vegestable oil and get a napkin roll it up like a cinamon roll and leave a bit out of the oil. I set that on fire and pile charcoal on top and before you know the fire is going strong.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Thats a handy tip there Poncho!

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I like the bottle cap idea too Rick! It would be a good use for the small amount of wax that i had left over.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I cut off a chunk of the earlier posted pie tonight rolled it into as close to a 1" ball as i could it lit easily and burned hot for an easy 2hrs. I set it atop a peice of green and wet oak. I split the oak just prior into 2 in. sections no kindling was used. The wax and fuel deposited in the bottom oak plank and burned long enought to dry the wet wood. I will take the rest and roll into 1" balls and flour them to prevent melting. I am very pleased witht the outcome. HAven't tried firesteel yet. I need to order one I will update this post when I have one.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x86/arabmagic/DSCN0751.jpg

[crashdive123]

Wow! I would never have guessed you would get that kind of burn time. Nicely done.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Wow! I would never have guessed you would get that kind of burn time. Nicely done.

Well it helps when you have your post to reference! I just did what I could to improve on what I saw. This mixture is very dense it is loaded with sawdust and lint and cut slivers of styrofoam plates all immersed in the mixture of lamp fuel and wax. I think the lamp fuel was the key to extended burn time.

[panch0]

Very cool, I am gonna have to try that one of these days.

[Rick]

I have some old lamp oil around here that's a zillion years old. That might be a good use for it.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I wound up with all kinds of firestarter!

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x86/arabmagic/DSCN0766.jpg

[crashdive123]

Since they burn so long, I wonder if you could take one that you have wrapped in foil - poke a small hole in it and insert a section of one of the wicks that you made and use it as a candle?

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Crash, I'll try and let you know if it'll work.

[bulrush]

Neat ideas here. Used motor oil can be used as a fire starter, even on wet wood, but it takes a flame and some time to get started. It seems to require more heat to make it burn. So motor oil will not catch a spark.

[hoosierarcher]

The problem with motor oil is it's toxic.

[Rick]

Yep. Motor oil will mess up any area you pour it on. Worse, anything left can float off in the rain.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Yep. Motor oil will mess up any area you pour it on. Worse, anything left can float off in the rain.

that isnt too good to use motor oil . it only burns well on a well seated fire wiuth deep coals, and the sooty black smoke is laden with unburned petrolium

[chimpac]

Waxed cardboard, found in grocery store dumpsters, works great, already

to burn just cut into strips.

[crashdive123]

Waxed cardboard, found in grocery store dumpsters, works great, already

to burn just cut into strips.

Good idea. Just a word of caution though. The items that were originally in those boxes, although in a plastic bag (meat, chicken, etc,) - if that bag leaked into the box at all the box could now be contaminated with bacteria.