On another forum I visit a lot there is a thread going on about fire starter s and I thought that I would share my favorite fire starter here.
Mine are made from ceiling tiles. I get them from work as they are constantly replacing them. I run them through the band saw into small 1” x 1” squares. You can cut them with a utility knife or hand saw but having access to a band saw makes it go real fast. A 2” square will burn for 15 minutes.
Next step is I take a large can and make a double boiler by placing it into a pot of boiling water and add a block of paraffin and let it all melt. Drop in the ceiling tile blocks and keep them in the paraffin until they will not soak any more up. I then stick them with my knife, pull them out, and let them dry on newspaper.
To use take them and make several splits on the end and light. They have never failed me.
One of the maintenance men at work says they are treated with flame retardant, but if you take one and pour water on it will flare up and burn even hotter. You can drown them out if needed.
They can also be used to start charcoal chimneys.
Easy to carry in your pocket or pack with no mess, and less work than using egg cartons, pine cones/needles, or dryer lint.
I learned how to make these from my scoutmaster over thirty five years ago. I have a feeling that he learned it at his Woodbadge class back in the late 60’s.
Mine are made from ceiling tiles. I get them from work as they are constantly replacing them. I run them through the band saw into small 1” x 1” squares. You can cut them with a utility knife or hand saw but having access to a band saw makes it go real fast. A 2” square will burn for 15 minutes.
Next step is I take a large can and make a double boiler by placing it into a pot of boiling water and add a block of paraffin and let it all melt. Drop in the ceiling tile blocks and keep them in the paraffin until they will not soak any more up. I then stick them with my knife, pull them out, and let them dry on newspaper.
To use take them and make several splits on the end and light. They have never failed me.
One of the maintenance men at work says they are treated with flame retardant, but if you take one and pour water on it will flare up and burn even hotter. You can drown them out if needed.
They can also be used to start charcoal chimneys.
Easy to carry in your pocket or pack with no mess, and less work than using egg cartons, pine cones/needles, or dryer lint.
I learned how to make these from my scoutmaster over thirty five years ago. I have a feeling that he learned it at his Woodbadge class back in the late 60’s.