Just about a year ago I publicly thanked my good friend Jennifer. Jennifer, whom I've never met, introduced me to firestarters by way of an email. I will forever be indebted to my most beloved friend in the world, Jennifer (whose name I now think may have been Joyce) for getting me started on these little packages of flaming wonders.
As a thank you to Jackie, I did a post on the easiest way to make homemade firestarters.
So it is now, with shame and regret, I have to admit ... it wasn't actually the easiest way. I'm so sorry Cathy. I mislead you.
I've spent the past week or so figuring out an even easier way to make firestarters using the same materials in the original firestarters.
Egg cartons, dryer lint and candle wax.
I was forced to do this when I ran out of my regular homemade firestarters but couldn't be bothered to make anymore.
If you read my original post you'll see making the original homemade firestarters involved shoving some dryer lint into an egg carton and pouring melted wax over it.
This new and IMPROVED version takes out the melting of the wax step. As seen in this handy, step by step guide, lovingly created by me, for my friend Gertrude.
As you can see, you don't need to melt the wax. Just putting a candle stub in the centre of the egg carton and surrounding it with lint works just fine.
In fact, just using a small hunk of wax in the centre works fine. If you have any leftover bits of wax just sprinkle them on top.
I did a test between a variety of different firestarters to test their burning time.
These are the results ...
So I've taken all the guess work out. No more need for experiments. Instead of lint you can use wood shavings or sawdust but I figured everyone has dryer lint, so it's probably the most accessible for all involved.
The 6 minutes and 30 seconds is definitely a long enough burn time to get a fire going. The advantage to using the original firestarters that have melted wax is you can make them in advance and throw them in a bucket. The ones without melted wax have to be placed on a shelf or something so they don't tip over, otherwise all their guts will fall out.
Finally, I would like to take this last moment to again apologize for originally misleading my good friend 李秀英.
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If you use one of those wax melt-y scented things, that was is super as a wax source for fire starters. And, Bonus, it's already melted. When I don't have egg crates, I use small Dixie drinking cups. these are also a waxy paper, burn great, and stow in a bog bag for camping trips, and fires outside. We don't even have a fireplace and I knew there had to be something I could do with the leftover melted scent wax.
But, I'd never use good beeswax for fire starters, That stuff is precious and better used for making waxed fabric. Everyone I know wants me to wax their aprons. No more wet tummies from the sink.
You must not come across too many egg cartons these days...you know, having your own chickens and all. I've seen these made with muffin liners too...though I think using your garbage method is better.
I actually have a friend who saves them and give them to me. :) I have enough to last me the winter already! ~ karen
No need to melt wax to keep it together--just wrap each little cup in a twist of newspaper.
Hi Karen,
(Late post here) I make these too, the only real difference is that I don't use whole candles. I use the scraps of wax from old candles and cheap ones from the thrift store.
Optional: Sometimes I can pick up 40 incense cones for a buck and some dated potpourri (sp) at the dollar store and tuck those in the middle but that does take away from the "free" concept.
My friends love'en them and love'en me for the gifts.
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/fragrant-fire-starters-for-free
This site is not mine but I post stuff here as Ravens Trove for fun.
Would these be harmful in a wood burning stove? My sister has one, but I wouldn't want to gunk up her flue with wax.
Thanks!
Hi Miriam! I can only speak for my own self and my own fireplace, but I get my fireplace cleaned every fall and I've asked the guys cleaning it if there's any problem with them and they haven't seen any ill effects. ~ karen!
Although I don't have a wood burning fireplace I so enjoyed this post! Even though I'am reading it rather late in the day! I WILL be making these for our camping trips this summer. SO glad that you and your J named BFF figured it all out!
hm, wonder if wood shavings from my daughters constantly sharpening pencils would work. OH and those little paper doohickies (yeah, that's a word) that fall all over the place from your hole puncher too??
That was supposed to be *wash* a whole lot of red fuzzy stuff :) I am not very good at proof reading ny comments before I post, I need to work on that.
You must was a whole lot of red fuzzy stuff, your lint is always red :) I too am a girlscout from waaaaay back and we made them with the melted wax version and i still make them that way to this day, because I can toss them all in a basket and when we get ready for an outside fire n the fire pit, I can just grab one and not have to worry about the guts spilling all over, I also put some shredded paper in mine, Gotta do something with all that shredded paper that the mail insists on bringing to my mail box every single day :)
Love fires and have plenty of lint I am almost there.
Paraffin -- maybe left from canning at this time of year. Stove. Pan. Melt paraffin. Dip dry pinecones -- plentiful at this time of the year -- indeed, they're all over everywhere. Add sparkles for fun and beauty, if desired. Can make piles of these ahead of time. Enjoy starting fire while sitting back with a good merlot and luxuriating.
I've actually tried that method Larraine and found well ... it didn't really work. Perhaps I didn't drink enough merlot to be fooled into thinking the fire was actually burning. :) ~ karen!
I'm amazed at how many responses an article on fire starters can generate in the 21st Century. My heat comes on magically all by itself with little input from me. (Said in jest because I actually heat my 1950s Cape Cod with a beautiful Jotul wood stove and Jasmin's original fire starters are lifesavers!)
Do you think these would work good for us country dwellers who burn our trash too?? Just toss one in the barrel with the trash and fire it up! Thanks to you & Marsha!!
Hi Lisa! - I think for barrel burning you'd be better off with my original firestarter, where it's going to stay all together if it moves or tumbles bit in the barrel. ~ karen!
Thanks Shirley!!