Fireplace "Kit" for Christmas Presents

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WarmGuy

WarmGuy

Minister of Fire
Jan 30, 2006
519
Far Northern Calif. Coast
To my three sisters, I'm putting together the following kit as presents:

Welding Gloves
Fatwood
Dixie cups
Paper towel
Instructions
Home-made Firestarters (cosmetic pads soaked in paraffin)
Blower
Big Ikea Bag (log carrier)

The blower is my patented .5 in ID PVC tube with a smaller steel extension for blowing on embers.

The dixie cups + Paper Towel + Instructions refer to my preferred starting system (1 TBS oil in cup, add paper towel, light.

I'd like to include matches or lighter and oil, but those things can't be mailed.

I was going to make a home-made log carrier with canvas or rope, but I think the Ikea bag, although less aesthetic, would work best.

Any other ideas for things to include?

Thanks,

Al
 
Burning Dixie cups and oil in a wood stove sounds like a terrible idea to me.
 
how about a hearth.com account
 
Forgo the Dixie cups and order up some Super Cedars. Your sisters will love you for it.
 
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The oil in the cup works great (1 tablespoon of oil). Clean burning, no odor, no smoke, no residue. I've been doing it for at least 15 years. I buy big containers of oil at Costco, and little cups at the restaurant supply store. Very inexpensive.

Super cedars are great, however...

I have to start about two fires per day for at least 300 days per year (some years I have to burn year-round). That would cost me $414 per year if I used one super cedar per fire. Even if if cut them in two, it would be several hundred bucks/year. More than I spend on firewood.
 
I am assuming you have an open fireplace rather than an insert or stove. Though I would be leary of using oil myself, for the record you only need a quarter of a Supercedar to start any fire. That being said, how about some pinecone starters, or ColorCones? You can make your own with those Kwikshot tubes.
 
I actually get 6 or 8 starts from a super cedar
 
glennm said:
I actually get 6 or 8 starts from a super cedar
Click to expand...
How do you break them up that small without reducing them to crumbs?
 
WarmGuy said:
The oil in the cup works great (1 tablespoon of oil). Clean burning, no odor, no smoke, no residue. I've been doing it for at least 15 years. I buy big containers of oil at Costco, and little cups at the restaurant supply store. Very inexpensive.

Super cedars are great, however...

I have to start about two fires per day for at least 300 days per year (some years I have to burn year-round). That would cost me $414 per year if I used one super cedar per fire. Even if if cut them in two, it would be several hundred bucks/year. More than I spend on firewood.
Click to expand...

I'm always looking for new labor and cost saving idea's. Cheep, easy fire starters have been discussed here before. I to start quite a few fires every year. Been using sawdust / wax firestarters for years. 50 in a box for $10 at Lowes. So I guess your using vegetable oil in a cup with a piece of paper towel. Do you make a bunch of these up and store them?
 
+1 for the Ikea bag.... I think they are still $1 apiece and they carry a bunch o' wood easily.
 
xman23 said:
I'm always looking for new labor and cost saving idea's. Cheep, easy fire starters have been discussed here before. I to start quite a few fires every year. Been using sawdust / wax firestarters for years. 50 in a box for $10 at Lowes. So I guess your using vegetable oil in a cup with a piece of paper towel. Do you make a bunch of these up and store them?
Click to expand...

No, I just pour the oil into the cup and add paper towel.

I do have a sealed fireplace (Regency Warm Hearth). I see no reason to be concerned about the oil. It is all burned up by the time I close the door. The is no flare up.
 
Adopt me.
 
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firebroad said:
How do you break them up that small without reducing them to crumbs?
Click to expand...
I do the same thing here. I score them while in the package with a utility knife.. Usually 1/6 or 1/8 of a Super Cedar is enough to start a fire..

Ray
 
No offense but if someone gave me a gift of Dixie cups, paper towels and a bunch of PVC tube I wouldn't be overly excited . . . could just be me being ungrateful though.
 
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WarmGuy said:
To my three sisters, I'm putting together the following kit as presents:

Welding Gloves
Fatwood
Dixie cups
Paper towel
Instructions
Home-made Firestarters (cosmetic pads soaked in paraffin)
Blower
Big Ikea Bag (log carrier)

The blower is my patented .5 in ID PVC tube with a smaller steel extension for blowing on embers.

The dixie cups + Paper Towel + Instructions refer to my preferred starting system (1 TBS oil in cup, add paper towel, light.

I'd like to include matches or lighter and oil, but those things can't be mailed.

I was going to make a home-made log carrier with canvas or rope, but I think the Ikea bag, although less aesthetic, would work best.

Any other ideas for things to include?

Thanks,

Al
Click to expand...
I bought a "house cooling" gift for my brother and sister-in-law which was 2 Chimfex (one for each stove) and hope they never need it.. Fire extinguisher and smoke detectors are great too if they need them.. I am a Super Cedar fan too but wax paper cups will work OK too.. I'd skip the fatwood firestarters as Super Cedar is all you need to start a fire. A good metal ash can with tight fitting lid is another great safety item and also would serve to contain the other items you're giving them..

Ray
 
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firefighterjake said:
No offense but if someone gave me a gift of Dixie cups, paper towels and a bunch of PVC tube I wouldn't be overly excited . . . could just be me being ungrateful though.
Click to expand...
What if a Whoopie pie was part of the gift ensemble? ;)

Ray
 
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WarmGuy said:
I have to start about two fires per day for at least 300 days per year (some years I have to burn year-round). That would cost me $414 per year if I used one super cedar per fire. Even if if cut them in two, it would be several hundred bucks/year. More than I spend on firewood.
Click to expand...

Huh? Two boxes of a hundred would be $140. Cut'em in half and you have four hundred starts. Since you only need 1/4 of one that would give you eight hundred starts.

Or just one box and you have four hundred starts for seventy bucks.
 
I also have two cheap brushes in my "fireplace kit". A small 1 inch one to clean the fan blades and a 2.5" one to sweep the ash lip and other hard to reach places. I have found that easier than using a broom and shovel set or even using the tall broom that is usually part of fireplace sets.
 
I like cotton balls and Vaseline for firestarter, good stuff. I don't use it in the stove though, usually a camping item although I don't see it hurting a woodstove either.
 
Sprinter said:
Same here.
Click to expand...
Mine come loose, I buy in bulk. If I try to cut them in anything smaller than quarters, I get a lot of crumbs. I can press those together somewhat, though.
...But, maybe I am just showing my ignorance, but if you only need one-eighth of a Supercedar to start your stove, I'm kind of thinking you might not need a firestarter at all...:rolleyes:
 
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firebroad said:
Mine come loose, I buy in bulk. If I try to cut them in anything smaller than quarters, I get a lot of crumbs. I can press those together somewhat, though.
Click to expand...
Mine are unwrapped too. I do get crumbs, but I collect them in a bag and use a small handful of them now and then to help start a fire. For amusement, throw a handful on a small fire. They flare up nicely. ;) I haven't been scoring them with a utility knife before, though. I think I'll try that.
 
firebroad said:
Mine come loose, I buy in bulk. If I try to cut them in anything smaller than quarters, I get a lot of crumbs. I can press those together somewhat, though.
...But, maybe I am just showing my ignorance, but if you only need one-eighth of a Supercedar to start your stove, I'm kind of thinking you might not need a firestarter at all...:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
True but then I would need kindling .. SC's just make it easier ..

Ray
 
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BrotherBart said:
Huh? Two boxes of a hundred would be $140. Cut'em in half and you have four hundred starts. Since you only need 1/4 of one that would give you eight hundred starts.

Or just one box and you have four hundred starts for seventy bucks.
Click to expand...

We are in perfect mathematical agreement.

You: cut them in half and get 400 starts for $140 ($.35 per start).
Me: $207 for 600 starts when cut in half ($.35 per start).
 
I always use just a quarter SuperCedar so that would come out as $0.17.5 per start.
 
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