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Home Made Firestarters.
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2545 Posts
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July 14, 2013 - 9:51 pm
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I was putzing around in the house today and I finally decided to make my home made firestarters.  There are many ways to make Firestarters.  Personally, I use old candles, saw dust, and egg cartons.  I don't like using dryier lint because it smells like burning clothes. 

First I started melting the candles in a pan I picked up at a yard sale for $.25.  Then I put some saw dust in the egg cartons and poured the melted wax over them.  Sometimes I put more saw dust on top and or packed the saw dust down more.  Really I was just playing with the wax and having fun.

I lit one up and it burned for 15 minutes.  I was impressed.  I was thinking 5-7 minutes but 15  :rock:  If you can't get a fire going after 15 minutes, you shouldn't be playing with fire.

Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer.  Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.

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235 Posts
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July 14, 2013 - 10:48 pm
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Cool video, thanks for sharing.  Now I know how to make them.

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420 Posts
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July 15, 2013 - 8:05 am
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If you don't have an old pot or anything, I just use a food can cleaned out in a shallow pot of water like a double boiler. Than I just throw the can in recycling. Takes a little longer, but doesn't ruin a pot. I use pliers to lift the can to pour in the egg cartons.

Best Regards,
Norm

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306 Posts
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July 15, 2013 - 8:46 am
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I usually make these during the winter months. Some we use at home to start fires in the fireplace but then I stock up for the camping season as well. It's fun way to do something camping related in the off season.

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July 15, 2013 - 11:10 am
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Norm, why the double boiler?  That is how my Dad melted the wax when we did it as a kid.  I know when you melt butter you do that so it isn't on the direct heat and it won't burn, but wax?  I didn't see a double boiler at a garage sale, just the cheap frying pan so that is what I used. 

I have actually had the stuff to make these since the Winter.  I asked my FIL for some sawdust and he wrapped it up for my Christmas gift.  A huge box full  :omg:  It was a little more than I needed.

Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer.  Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.

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July 15, 2013 - 11:25 am
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I do it that way, so the can doesn't get too hot, I don't want a glowing red can. Reason why it takes a little longer.

Best Regards,
Norm

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600 Posts
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July 15, 2013 - 5:13 pm
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good stuffs!

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July 15, 2013 - 8:08 pm
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If parafin wax is exposed to a direct flame, it catches fire and could be hard to put out -- not with water! A double boiler or frying pan with water will protect the wax from the direct flame. (You should see how neat spilled wax goes up when spilled on a glass top oven! But I digress....)  😀

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July 15, 2013 - 8:41 pm
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Sounds like fun Judy  ;D

Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer.  Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.

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232 Posts
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July 16, 2013 - 6:20 pm
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a different homemade firestarter and probably not as good but  cheap & quick that we have used is toilet paper or paper towel tubes &  we stuff them with tissue paper or shredded paper (from the shredder bin)

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July 16, 2013 - 9:50 pm
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The TP tubes filled with dryer lint and scraps of paper were the magic formula for the kids' craft at our spring Southeastern Rally thanks to missnanc!

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827 Posts
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July 16, 2013 - 9:55 pm
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Those tp tube ones are great.  I have found that a squirt of baby oil into the tube before lighting is also very helpful.

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232 Posts
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July 17, 2013 - 12:18 am
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wow I'm glad to hear that others use tp tubes too -I'll have to try the dryer lint & baby oil trick

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July 17, 2013 - 8:42 pm
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That is a great idea and a great video Lone Lock.  We also use cotton balls with about half a teaspoon of petroleum jelly worked into them.  That will burn for about 5-10 minutes.
Judy, we have been saving tubes and lint since spring rally.  I hope you do your craft for the kids again.  They loved it.

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162 Posts
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August 26, 2013 - 6:19 pm
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And there's this!!

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2545 Posts
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August 26, 2013 - 6:47 pm
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Thanks Yak....I forgot about that video.  I will have to redo the battery and steel wool trick and actually start a fire that way.

Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer.  Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.

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August 26, 2013 - 9:00 pm
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[quote author=Jarhead71 link=topic=2603.msg24853#msg24853 date=1374108142]
...Judy, we have been saving tubes and lint since spring rally.  I hope you do your craft for the kids again.

Jarhead, missnanc did that craft with the kids last spring and she has some other kids' crafts ideas from what I've heard. I've been saving TP tubes and lint as well and will bring that just in case the kids need to do some again.

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235 Posts
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August 27, 2013 - 6:35 am
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Hahaha.... we had a bit of left over supplies from last year... and I'm not one to throw perfectly good [s]trash[/s], :whistle:... er, I mean craft materials away. So anyway, I planned on offering the firestarters also, aside from the other craft I've got planned. And it involves cotton balls!

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August 27, 2013 - 2:56 pm
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Cotton balls needed?  I can bring some for you if you like. Let me know.

Wizfisher's wife Barbara made some cool Halloween crafts last time we were at the "other" fall rally in Florida last year. One of them was Spooky Trees. Love kids' crafts. They get so into it!

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235 Posts
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August 28, 2013 - 6:38 am
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Judy, if you would like to bring some white cotton balls that would be great. Thank you!
😮 I can't believe all I have are purple and yellow ones!

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