Any one ever use duraflame logs for fire starters ?

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HDRock

Minister of Fire
Oct 25, 2012
2,239
Grand Blanc, Mi
I got a box of these for free ,If I cut these up , I think they would work good for fire starters, not sure what to use to cut em up
 
Yeah I tried them a few years ago when I was being the hold out when folks were using Super Cedars. Finally tried the Super Cedars and now the rest of the case of Duraflames are chunked up and used to start the firepit.

I can sit with a beer and wait for the firepit to start but the stove...
 
Cut'em with a hacksaw. They don't fall apart as bad as with a coarser blade.
 
Cut'em with a hacksaw. They don't fall apart as bad as with a coarser blade.
I was thinkin sawz all but maybe would make em fall apart
How big of chunks did U cut them into ?
 
I tried all sorts of different pattiy sizes.
 
thats what i use. i just used a chisel to break them up, real fast and easy. Dont use a bandsaw, it gums up the blade. I break them into about 1"-2" cubes. work just great for me. Super cedars are probably better, but i bought a box of these logs years ago and am not even half through it. Of course I burn a log so most of the time i dont need starters as there are still coals.

these work well enough for me. other stuff might work better. Not sure if you can argue the economy of it though.....
 
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For a "fire starter" they have no where near the heat of a super cedar (or even some other true "starters"). Remember that by design these things were designed to burn fairly slow and low. It doesn't mean they won't work, just saying that they probably won't work as well as something built or designed specifically for the job.
 
What Maverick said.
I had a friend slice them up on his band saw, not sure if it gummed up or not;em, then broke each one inch slice into quarters. Any that he didn't cut, I found they broke up easier with a screwdriver or chisel.
I prefer Supercedars as well, but what the heck--the logs were FREE.::-)
 
I got a box of these for free ,If I cut these up , I think they would work good for fire starters, not sure what to use to cut em up

I use my small axe and just cut them up on my chopping block into various size chunks. I found this works better than slices as it leaves thin edges on the chunks which make them much easier to light off. Tried supercedars and found these to be a LOT more cost effective (per lb/perstart) and started my fires just fine. Just a bit more work to whack 'em up.
 
I have a version of Homemade Fatwood I use. My mix is Kerosene and Used Motor Oil, Loose Kindling sits vertically in a sealed bucket in the garage, only about the bottom 10% of the wood is in the mix. Over time it wicks up to soak the whole piece but it isnt dripping wet, one piece and Bob is your uncle. All you really need is something that will catch the smaller stuff. Only time I really even think about it is during Shoulder Season, otherwise Im always starting from coals.
Here is where I got the idea.
 
Making your own, getting tools out, heating up/melting wax, killing a little pan, chopping wood, dipping it in, letting it cool down, cleaning up.... GREAT!

OR

www.SuperCedar.com Order a box of 72 for $50. Cut them in half, that gives you 144 firestarters @ 34 cents each. Light one up and you have a 10 minute mini-rocket in you stove to start whatever you put in there. Don't even need kindling anymore. Some people quarter them, so that is 288 firestarters @ 17 cents each.

Put the tools down, click on the website and buy a box already! Your welcome! ;)


.
 
www.SuperCedar.com Order a box of 72 for $50. Cut them in half, that gives you 144 firestarters @ 34 cents each. Light one up and you have a 10 minute mini-rocket in you stove to start whatever you put in there. Don't even need kindling anymore. Some people quarter them, so that is 288 firestarters @ 17 cents each.
GREAT!!

or

Get out bucket, dump 1 inch of K1 and Used Oil, Stuff full of kindling. Finish and take your $50 go buy Bourbon

Put your Credit card down, I just helped you enjoy your evening; Your welcome! >>

LOL
 
I thought duraflame type logs with various waxes/chemicals as well as homemade stuff with oils or kerosene was bad for CAT stoves and just stoves in general?
 
I thought duraflame type logs with various waxes/chemicals as well as homemade stuff with oils or kerosene was bad for CAT stoves and just stoves in general?

The only thing it could hurt is the CAT. If you have a bypass damper (all cat stoves do AFAIK) then you are usually in bypass mode while the non wood stuff is being burnt. It wont bother a secondary burn stove
 
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I used to be a duraflame log guy and would chop the log into golf ball sized chunks with a hatchet. That is fine so long as the log is warm.

Now I buy the 10 dollar box of firestarter logs from walmart and chunk them up into golf balls and they are much easier to cut. Perhaps built to ignite faster and are still super cheap. I have two coffee cans full of them near the hearth.

SuperCedars worked great and I like the smell plus the NW connection. Much much too much money for a starter.
 
Much much too much money for a starter.

My method uses scrap from cutting/splitting, used motor oil and $0.50 Kerosene per year
 
Good point about bypass on CAT stove. With this being my first burning year with the stove I hope to have hot coals at reload times and never need a firestarter. We shall see...
 
I just want to put these logs to use cuz I got em free , I will prolly just chop em up with the X7.
I had some samples of Super cedars, they work good, I like the Rutland squares, they are inexpensive ($13 for 144), used them last year and most of the time didn't use any kindling
 
Get out bucket, dump 1 inch of K1 and Used Oil, Stuff full of kindling. Finish and take your $50 go buy Bourbon

Put your Credit card down, I just helped you enjoy your evening; Your welcome! >>

LOL

What's a guy "North of Canada" doing drinking Bourbon? Shouldn't you be drinking Canadian Whiskey? :)


SuperCedars worked great and I like the smell plus the NW connection. Much much too much money for a starter.

So 34 cents is putting you over the top? Not the 11 MPG (@ $4 per gallon) that "rediculous eff-three fiddy" your draggin around your $1,200 22 ton splitter with, huh? ;)


My method uses scrap from cutting/splitting, used motor oil and $0.50 Kerosene per year

Yeah, that, and hours of labor, a ruined pan, a tank of propane, and a couple of band aids to put over the burn on your hand you got from the hot wax. LOL! ;)
 
I just figure after 40 years of cutting down trees and bucking them and dragging them out of the woods and splitting and stacking, sticking a match to a piece of a Super Cedar under a cold stove load of splits and popping a brew is a little luxury I have earned.

And for the record I resisted it for six years. And kick myself in the ass for waiting so long.

The quote on the Super Cedar site is mine.

"After years of using other methods I finally gave the Super Cedars a try. I am sold. No need to try to keep a fire going when not needed just to have coals to restart. The Super Cedars are like finding a bed of hot coals in a cold stove."
 
Very well said! And I'm enjoying that beer right now! Too bad the stove is going to stay cold tonight though. ;)
 
What's a guy "North of Canada" doing drinking Bourbon? Shouldn't you be drinking Canadian Whiskey?

Find a map, I prefer Google Maps, Start in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. From Downtown head Directly North. Where is the first place you end up after crossing the Straits of Detroit?

That and I grew up in the Ozarks
Canadian whiskey is just colored vodka
So 34 cents is putting you over the top? Not the 11 MPG (@ $4 per gallon) that "rediculous eff-three fiddy" your draggin around your $1,200 22 ton splitter with, huh?
LOL My wood is dropped of my a tree service, not much oak but lots of Maple. And its free, dropped in my driveway cut into 18" lengths usually. I split for 30 min every morning for exercise by hand. $0.34 is for 6oz of Kerosene nothing else!lol

Yeah, that, and hours of labor, a ruined pan, a tank of propane, and a couple of band aids to put over the burn on your hand you got from the hot wax. LOL!

No wax involved!
 
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Find a map, I prefer Google Maps, Start in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. From Downtown head Directly North. Where is the first place you end up after crossing the Straits of Detroit?

I see Highlands as the first town just north of Windsor, Ontario! So then you should be drinking Scotch!

:)
 
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I see Highlands as the first town just north of Windsor, Ontario! So then you should be drinking Scotch!
:p
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And you mean Highland Park.....
 
I just figure after 40 years of cutting down trees and bucking them and dragging them out of the woods and splitting and stacking, sticking a match to a piece of a Super Cedar under a cold stove load of splits and popping a brew is a little luxury I have earned.

And for the record I resisted it for six years. And kick myself in the ass for waiting so long.

The quote on the Super Cedar site is mine.

"After years of using other methods I finally gave the Super Cedars a try. I am sold. No need to try to keep a fire going when not needed just to have coals to restart. The Super Cedars are like finding a bed of hot coals in a cold stove."
Huh? No kindling? I may have to revisit these. I get the generic knock off log for about 3 bucks. Cut it into 1 inch discs with my 12 inch miter saw and break the discs into quarters. I also like to make my own with wax and noodles. I melt the wax outside on the grill in a $1.50 thrift store pan.
 
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