Homemade Fire Starters

Tip: Homemade Fire Starters

Instead of buying those fire starters, make your own out of empty wine boxes. I fill with little pieces of paper and poke holes in both sides, and light up!

By nancyintx

Tip: Homemade Fire Starters

Fire starters for camping are easy to make with things you have around the house. All you need is a paper egg carton, dryer lint and wax. I use old candle wax. Fill each section of the egg crate with dryer lint, then pour melted wax over each section.

After the wax hardens, pack for your next camping trip. When ready to start the fire, break off a piece of the egg carton and light it up. It lights easy and burns long enough to get the rest of the fire started.

By Leslie

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

Another fire starter old newspapers.My uncle has a newspaper roller which he rolls the papers and uses them as starter material. Of course with our local newspaper that's about all its good for! (08/13/2008)

By DEBRADJ.

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

What would be a good way to make some for the indoors? Ideas? (08/13/2008)

By THATSKELLY

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

For safety's sake, please melt wax in a type of double boiler even if using a tin can. Do not melt directly over a flame. I learned this the hard and scary way. (08/18/2008)

By Angelina

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

I make firestarters for our fireplace by melting wax (very carefully!) and dipping pinecones in it. You can keep a basket of them near (not TOO near) the hearth and just toss a coupel in when needed. No need to cover the whole pinecone, just dip the top half. I've also used candles and grated them up, wrap some in newspapers, and put this on the bottom of the fire. I've kept a tin container (with lid) of grated wax close to the firepalce. (08/18/2008)

By Glenn'sMom

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

Back home we used to use birch bark rolled up in a can tight (short can)- and then poured melted wax over and let harden. This was also good and a good gift to your favorite camper - hunter - fisherman! (08/20/2008)

By 3-4-T

Request: Homemade Fire Starters

I would like to know how to make a homemade fire log starter.

By Susan from New Smyrna, FL

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

One thing we have done is to take wood chips about 2x2 inches and soak them in used oil or kerosene. Soak for 1 week then take out let dry and store in a 5 gallon bucket use a few to get a fire going.

Another thing is take newspaper and soak in water then wad it up, or get a press to press the water out and form into a brick. Let dry then keep stored and use when needed. (01/10/2010)

By cj06

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

There are lots and lots of ideas in the ThriftyFun archives below. Be sure to read them all but steer clear of using dryer lint or plastic egg crates because of lung dangers due to the burning toxins :-) (01/13/2010)

By Deeli

Request: Homemade Fire Starters

My husband has made fire starters for our wood burning stove by taking saw dust and wax from old candles and adding them together in egg shell cartons. Then he broke them a part in individual parts. When he wants to get the fire going, he puts one in with the wood and lights the egg carton. Works every time.

By Tiggerinoregon from Fairview, OR

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

Be sure to use cardboard egg cartons, "not" Styrofoam. (11/21/2009)

By Gray

Tip: Homemade Fire Starters

Save lint from dryer, "cardboard" egg cartons (not the styrofoam ones) and old candle pieces or crayons. Put lint in each egg cup. Melt the candle pieces in an old coffee can. Pour melted wax into egg cups. Let dry, break apart and use to start your fires!

By Beejay from Whittier, CA

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

I too make fire starters for camping this way. I have a plastic bag hanging not far from my dryer where I place the lint from my dryer. I also use the cardboard egg cartons, but instead of using old crayons or used wax from candles, I just purchase Gulf Wax paraffin blocks that I purchase in the grocery store. I use an old sauce pan to melt the wax. These starters are almost free, except for the paraffin that I purchase. We usually cook on our fires so I don't want the scent of candles in our fire. But that is just me. Glad someone else is into making these simple fire starters for camping. They get the fire started quickly, as the dryer lint, cardboard and wax are very flammable. (01/10/2007)

By Linda From PA

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

These sound like great ideas, however, if you're starting a fire indoors (needing a chimney) you do not want to use anything like crayons or wax that adds to the build up in the chimney. (01/13/2007)

By Debbie

RE: Homemade Fire Starters

Yes, yes, I'm certain it's a great idea. WARNING! Watch the temperature of the heating wax VERY carefully because it tends to melt quickly and FLARE UP FAST, which is how my 11 yr. old daughter caught our kitchen on fire years ago. Our kitchen has never been the same, and I ALMOST didn't hear her scream as she tossed WATER on it, the WORST POSSIBLE THING SHE COULD HAVE DONE IN HER PANIC. I was in the back bath with the exhaust fan on as she was yelling for HELP! By the grace of God she was not burned and our home didn't burn down.

I've been saving old egg cartons with plans to show my grandchild how to make paper from it since what I have are recycled paper cartons for brown eggs.

You've given me the great idea of using the egg cartons for holding/storing the medium small pine cones we plan to dip in paraffin for outdoor fire starters in our firepit rather than to toss all of those things. I just LOVE to recycle, don't you? God bless you. Thanks, too. : ) (01/26/2007)

By Lynda