Is there any safety issue with using homemade fire starters made from old candles, saw dust, and egg cartons? Should you only use paraffin wax? Can some wax build up in your chimney and cause a problem with creosote?
Fire Starters for Efficient EPA Phase II Wood Stoves
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No problems. It is far more important that you run your stove like it should be run and use good, dry fuel. Wax will not survive the temps in the stack if you are burning hot enough.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Many people do this and there should be no problems. One member of this forum also sells Super Cedars. You can even get some free samples if you wish. Someone else check me if I am wrong but I believe his forum name is NW_fuels.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
To late to edit my previous post. Do a search for NWfuel. Or you can also Google Super Cedars or even do a seach on here for Super Cedars.
Yep, its NWfuel. Thomas has a top notch product and will send out a sample upon request to forum members. His is the gold standard - the ones I make are the mud standard.
Yep, its NWfuel. Thomas has a top notch product and will send out a sample upon request to forum members. His is the gold standard - the ones I make are the mud standard.
Agreed.
I still make homemade ones because the 2 and 4 year old like helping. I use them when I start the fire. However, if I'm not home and the wife needs to do it, she goes for the super cedars as they are better than my pistachio shell / saw dust / paraffin in an egg carton blend so it's easier for her.
pen
Village Idiot
Burning Hunk
If I ever get to the point where I run out of free supplies for making wax, sawdust, and egg carton fire starters I will go the Super Cedars route. As for the kind of wax to use, any wax is ok for me. Last time the kids and I did a run, we melted down all their old crayon pieces.
I had a thought not too long ago. I'm building a house and have a crap load of cedar shims for shimming door jambs and whatnot. Tried lighting one and it took pretty good. Just a match at the skinny end. Can get a good sized bundle of them for pretty cheap at any home improvement store.
Dakotas Dad
Minister of Fire
Reminds me... SC has a sale going on and I need to reorder.. been 3 years.
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