| Project by itsme_timd | posted 232 days ago | 1057 views | 6 times favorited | 17 comments |  |
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I posted a blog entry on making these and naturally someone asked for pics. I decided to post this as a project with instructions and pics. Hope this is useful to someone!
SUPPLIES LIST:- Wax (old candles work great)
- Sawdust
- Something to melt wax in (double-boiler method is best and safest)
- Something to mold them in (paper cups, paper egg carton, cupcake cups)
- Craft paper and string if you want to wrap them.
1) Here are the materials I used. Since my wife makes candles we’ve got plenty of wax around the house – I’m using a few melting tarts, an old jar candle and some various scraps. I also have a melting/pouring pot and some votive cup molds.
2) Next, it’s time to melt the wax. NOTE: Wax is flammable (duh…) so it’s best to use a double-boiler if possible. Otherwise use low heat and keep a close watch on the wax until it’s melted.
3) After the wax is fully melted it’s time to add the sawdust, mix enough in to make a heavy sludge. It should pretty thick when mixed together.
NOTE: Pouring these can be very messy, it’s probably best to let the mixture cool down some and thicken. Then when pouring you can use a spoon or stick to make the process a little neater. I prefer to have a lot of sawdust and enough wax to bind everything together.
4) Now it’s time to mold the starters, simply pour or scoop them into whatever your molding into.
5) After a couple of hours these will setup, if you’ve used a metal mold you can pop them out now – if they stick a little you can put them in the fridge for a few minutes and they should come right out.
6) Now you can finish these if you want to. I like wrapping them in brown paper and tying the ends. You can stack these by the fire and they look nice.
7) Now when you’re ready to get a fire going just drop one of these below the wood pile. Light both ends and the center and it should burn for 15 minutes or more – plenty of time to get the fire going!
-- Tim D. - Woodstock, GA
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17 comments so far
Brad_Nailor
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632 posts in 363 days
posted 232 days ago
Thanks for the how to! I wanted to make some of these for my fire pit after I read your first post.
-- Women love me.....trees fear me
David
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1802 posts in 545 days
posted 232 days ago
Tim -
Great idea!
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
RobS
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1025 posts in 712 days
posted 232 days ago
Thanks for the pics, Tom will be happy now….ha. They look great.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
RobS
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1025 posts in 712 days
posted 232 days ago
..and I guess that there would be some saw dust you would not want to use, like maybe treated lumber dust for example? Any others?
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
scrollsaw
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129 posts in 260 days
posted 232 days ago
Great idea!I am going to make some,so when I go hiking overnight or camping I will have something to start camp fire with.
-- Todd from KY
MsDebbieP
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11043 posts in 567 days
posted 232 days ago
how wonderful of you to do this and get pictures!!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Betsy
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1603 posts in 302 days
posted 232 days ago
Excellent, excellent, excellent. These will be great by the fireplace and to boot, you can make little gifts of them for people you know. Thanks for sharing.
-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle
itsme_timd
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315 posts in 237 days
posted 232 days ago
Rob, I can bet there are several types of wood that would not be well suited for this. If anyone has some info as what we’d want to stay away from I’d appreciate it!
-- Tim D. - Woodstock, GA
mot
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4830 posts in 442 days
posted 232 days ago
Nice!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Karson
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12002 posts in 806 days
posted 232 days ago
Nice job.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
SPalm
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674 posts in 288 days
posted 232 days ago
Wow, blast from the past. My sisters and I used to make these and sell them door to door when we were little (back in the Stone Age). We would plane down cedar planks that my Dad got for us and mix the shavings with old melted candles. We used muffin tins for molds, and included the wick. I still remember trying to say “Wanna buy some Cedar Scented Fire Starters” while shivering during a Minnesota winter. Thanks for the memories. I’ve got to call Sis tonight.
Steve
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
jockmike2
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3890 posts in 652 days
posted 232 days ago
Great Idea. I got to make some for my wood burner in my shop. That and a blowtorch and would really do the trick in a short time. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Keen1
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67 posts in 252 days
posted 231 days ago
Would these work on a grill? I’m curious about the wax. Would it just end up all over the bottom of my grill or does it burn up?
-- Dad to 5, Son of The One
itsme_timd
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315 posts in 237 days
posted 231 days ago
Keen-
When these first start to burn they do make a ‘melt pool’, however if the mix includes a lot of sawdust with enough wax to bind them then the pool will be fully consumed during burning – about 15-20 minutes in my experience.
-- Tim D. - Woodstock, GA
Mike Shea
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70 posts in 400 days
posted 230 days ago
probably would not be good to use any dust from MDf, Particle Board, or certain exotic woods that have natural oils that are toxic when inhailed. but nice idea i have never heard of that im gonna have to try that for when i go camping
-- i can do all things through christ who strengthens me
scottb
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2782 posts in 733 days
posted 162 days ago
I knew you could make these with dryer lint and paper egg cartons. I’m impressed to learn that these sawdust ones will burn for 15 minutes.
Oh I have a shopvac full of christmas presents in waiting!
-- The opposite of war isn't peace. It's creation. -- Wood T's: http://www.printfection.com/snbcreative
ryno101
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62 posts in 70 days
posted 51 days ago
Just came across this… Love it!
I’ve made these in the little paper cups you put cupcakes in as well… instant mold and instant place to light to get ‘em going.
Nice!
-- Ryno