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Obsessed with bowhunting whitetails and running trail cams! Love fishing, 3D Archery, camping, and teaching hunter education. Been a member of the Mossy Oak ProStaff since 2008 and is excited to become a part of the team here at Victory Outdoors.

DIY Firestarters

20160213_125427It’s cold this weekend. As I lit a fire in the fireplace this morning, I realized I was running dangerously low on our DIY firestarters. We don’t have a lot going on right now, so I decided it would be a good time to replenish the supply. These are simple to make, easy to use, they store nicely, they work great, and the best part is they are basically free. We collect the supplies to make these as we acquire them, so we don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of stuff when it’s time to make them. We raise chickens and sell eggs, so we have a steady supply of egg cartons.

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We raise chickens and sell eggs, so we have a steady supply of egg cartons.

The cardboard style work the best. If we get any that are damaged or dirty, we just put them in the fire starter pile. The next thing you’ll need to make these is wax. We usually have a surplus of candles burning around the house, and when they burn out, the leftover wax goes in a coffee can to save for firestarters. The last thing you’ll need is fuel. We use sawdust, since we have access to plenty of it, but you could use whatever you have.

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As the wax melts, it will make your house smell like the mall on Christmas Eve.

I have seen these made with shredded paper or dryer lint which both seem to work very well. I just empty the sawdust bags from my miter saw and table saw, which give enough fuel to make hundreds of firestarters. I recommend keeping a small pot that is reserved for making these, as you’ll likely never get it clean enough to use for food again. I lay several layers of newspaper out to put the cartons on during the process, since the wax will bleed through and make a giant mess if you aren’t prepared. After the cartons are filled with sawdust and arranged on the newspaper, it’s time to melt the wax. Do not put the sawdust in the pot with the wax, as it will make a giant foamy mess and set your stove on fire.

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When the wax is completely melted, carefully pour it into the cartons filled with sawdust.

Don’t ask how I know this, please just trust me on this one and put the sawdust in the egg cartons. As the wax melts, it will make your house smell like the mall on Christmas Eve. This smell can trigger fits of terror as you flash back to the last minute shopping you do every single year, no matter how many times you swear you’ll never do it again. When the wax is completely melted, carefully pour it into the cartons filled with sawdust.

... just break one pod off and light the waxy cardboard.

… just break one pod off and light the waxy cardboard.

The little pan I use will hold enough melted wax to fill two cartons. After the wax cools and sets up, close the cartons and put them in a cool storage area. We keep a carton by our fireplace and a couple in our camper. When you’re ready to use them, just break one pod off and light the waxy cardboard. Each pod will burn for three to five minutes, so you can generally start twelve fires from each carton.

 

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