Trouble starting, help!

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Mettlemickey

Mettlemickey

Member
Mar 5, 2014
106
UK, Warwickshire
Hi, I seem to behaving a bit of trouble getting my fire started. If I use a fire lighter I'm generally ok, but I'm trying to get the hang of doing it with just news paper and kindling. I'm a bit of a purist and you never know when that might be all you have!

I've been building top down fires, two large logs running east/west (as that's the orientation of my firebox) with 3 or 4 smaller logs on top running north/south. Then 2 or 3 bits of newspaper, generally screwed up but not too tight, then a handful of kindling on top. This doesn't leave much space between the top of the fire and roof of the fire box.

My problem is that I light the newspaper and it smoulders and burns a bit but doesn't really get burning properly. So my kindling doesn't light and the fire fails. I try another match at it and the same happens again. I've tried leaving the hoot ajar, and all the vents are wide open.

If I pop a fire lighter in, bingo it lights nicely, great top down fire. But without it I can't get the paper to burn fiercely enough to light the kindling. The papers dry of course and so is the kindling.

I must be doing something wrong?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
Newspaper that does not burn? :oops: Maybe switch to a different one?
 
Maybe I should use the Daily Mail?

Seriously if I just take it out and light a sheet, whoosh it burns. I'm thinking I'm doing it wrong, either scrunching it too tight, or not tight enough. I tried making knots with it tonight, but no difference.

Help...?
 
I use three knots. Seems to work for me. In fact, it's the only thing our local paper is really useful for.
 
I am a bit at a loss but maybe you have a major downdraft that snuffs out the fire? Do you feel cold air coming down the flue? I would try this:
Build your wood/kindling/paper like before. Then, before lighting, take a hairdryer and blow for several minutes hot air up the flue. Right after that light the paper and see how it goes. If it works now, you have a strong downdraft that you need to overcome before/when lighting the newspaper.
 
How bout putting your newspaper on top of kindling without cord wood under it. This would give you more space for air to circulate and then you could put your splits on once the kindling is blazing good.
 
torch.jpg
This ^

Don't waste time with matches or butane liters.
 
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Maybe you aren't using enough kindling? My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I would probably describe how much kindling I use as about three handfuls for a cold start. She thinks it's too much but I think it is key to starting a low-smoke fire. And I'm the one who makes sure we have it, so she can't complain too much.
 
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I use (*saved) dryer lint soaked with 2 cycle oil. Only need one small "cotton ball" sized piece on TOP of a medium sized spilt. Then kindling on top of that. Immediate fire!!!
 
Am I missing something here ? Why even use paper? I'm using propane torch and it does magic in no time .Is it not safe?
 
Everyone has their own system. Propane torch is not a bad idea. I prefer a quick match and close the door. My ADT fire alarm is too sensitive for me to let any smoke out! Don't ask how I know :) *ha!
 
A tiny bit of paper or cardboard works for me. Usually don't even need any kindling although it helps speed things up.

But some people need a little extra help.
03292013_weapons_flame_thrower.jpg
 
Last edited:
Lumber-jack, your image was funny! My lint-ball routine will burn HOT for about 5 mins. Realistically, I'm not even sure I need kindling but, my splitter remnants need to go somewhere :)
My mother in law uses diesel fuel... then again, she has a entirely different setup.
 
Thanks Grisu, I will try the hairdryer thing, I haven't noticed cold air coming down but its worth investigating.

Propane looks like fun, but I'm trying to master it the basic way. Next time the paper snuffs out ill probably be screaming for some though!
 
Your stove manufacturer (and many forum members here) will not recommend this, but the easiest way to get a fire going in a stove with an ashpan is to BRIEFLY open the ashpan door to create a few moments of excessive draft. (Bearing in mind, the easiest way to get an OVERfire and/or excessive flue temps is to NOT BRIEFLY open the ashpan door, but to accidentally LEAVE it open, to create dangerously excessive draft.) Talk about a mini blast furnace... the extra air is like pouring an accelerant on the fire.

Alternatively, if top-down fire starting is not working out, try bottom-up fire starting
 
thermitegrenade.jpg
 
so tonight I tried something a bit different. 3 very small thin splits with some scrunched up paper the way Prezes said. With a few bit of kindling on top...

Bingo, paper burnt a treat the small splits took and fire burning nicely inside 20mins.

lets see if the same method works tomorrow or if it was just a fluke!
 
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