dura flame fire starters vs super cedar

Cost.

Not sure about the DuraFlame, but I am expecting my new Super Cedars tomorrow! I bought a pack last year and am down to my last two. Breaking in half is usually enough to start a good fire (even in quarters works with the right wood/kindling). I like them. I have 72 of the unwrapped ones coming that I store in a sealed container.

do a search & you'll see lots of raves about super cedars on here. They are awesome.
I tried duraflame a couple times. Didn't like them, and they work out to be spendy unless you can cut them up

I like fatwood too but you need real dry wood for it to be effective. Supers are just that...super!

I've got a buddy that uses duraflames all the time to start his outdoor fire pit. Next time I'm over I plan on giving him a few squares of Rutland Firestarter squares (which I assume are about the same as super cedars). I think they start a fire just as easily, at just a fraction of the cost of duraflames. After picking up a box at Home Depot I don't have to make tinder or kindling anymore.

Again, my $0.02, I just use whatever I can buy the cheapest. If you are burning adequately seasoned wood it shouldn't make a difference what you use. The wood should take immediately regardless.

I've got Super Cedars on my Christmas wish list. Now if I could just get off the naughtly list....

Jags said:

Not - even - close.
I know of no other product on the market (and I have tried many) that starts as easy, produces as strong of flame and last as long (when lit) as a SC. I have no affiliation to the company but I will state - THOSE THINGS ROCK.

They are the crack of the hearth industry.

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Maybe I'll try some one day, but I have a hard time believing it gets better. I can throw in nothing but 5" rounds or 7" splits and one Rutland square lights them in minutes. I haven't tried larger wood but those squares burn well enough that I'd say it'd do larger logs as well.

Rutland Vs. SC - used both extensively. Bought a big box of Ruts before ever hearing of SC's. Read so many posts here about the SC product I was sucked in by osmosis and ended up giving 1/2 box of Ruts away.

Do they work, sure. Like SC's not even close.

On top of that they are a sponsor here and made in the USA. That would sway me even if they were equal.

I use small bits and could get 6 or more starts easily with one SC - without kindling. Just BIG 6-8" splits and rounds. If it takes 1/2 a puck you wood isn't dry.

Just got my SC sample and used a quarter today. Since I actually like making kindling (throw away pallet slats cut into 8 inch pieces and split), I find no benefit of SC over the Rutland (24 for %1.99 at TSC - cheaper per/piece than box of 144 for $12.98 at TSC). I also use top down starting method so no need for the extra BTU for starting larger stuff. But, with the free sample and the near cult like following for SC here, thought I should at least take a sip of the cool aid

Got my delivery of Super Cedars today. My 2nd year....I won't look elsewhere. (Ordered Sunday night, got today..ground from WA to MD. Not bad at all.) Stay warm everybody!

I'll google them, but for the sake of conversation.... are they just something you light and they ignite quickly and burn hot? I get free HD 2x4's from work i cut up and split into kindling.... they ignite quick with a small ball of paper..and get whatever I place on top going in no time. will a SC be even easier?

Cornflakes said:

I'll google them, but for the sake of conversation.... are they just something you light and they ignite quickly and burn hot? I get free HD 2x4's from work i cut up and split into kindling.... they ignite quick with a small ball of paper..and get whatever I place on top going in no time. will a SC be even easier?

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Funny, I have the same thermo as your moniker on top of our stove. Yes, very easy. They are compressed cedar saw dust and (maybe) a paraffin wax? They light very easily and burn very hot. I'll break one in half, and sometimes quarters, to start a fire. A 72pk is good for AT LEAST 144 fires. I think they may still send samples off their website. What area of MD?

TooColdHere said:

Funny, I have the same thermo as your moniker on top of our stove. Yes, very easy. They are compressed cedar saw dust and (maybe) a paraffin wax? They light very easily and burn very hot. I'll break one in half, and sometimes quarters, to start a fire. A 72pk is good for AT LEAST 144 fires. I think they may still send samples off their website. What area of MD?

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I'll have to give them a try. I'm from around Hagerstown - western-ish MD. You?

Cornflakes said:

I'll have to give them a try. I'm from around Hagerstown - western-ish MD. You?

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I think you'll like them. I'm on Kent Island and was going to offer a few if nearby. Do check with them for samples. They also used to give a discount for Hearth members. I think I got 10% for a Facebook "like" or something.

Made my own out of sawdust and wax. Simple to make, work better than anything else I've tried and they cost absolutely nothing.

Jags said:

Don't get me wrong. I am in no way suggesting that the Rutlands don't work - or even work well. They just don't work AS well.

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Agree 100 percent . . . the Rutlands work, but Super Cedars work better.

I've tried them both and also made my own.

I've found that the Duraflames can a be a workhorse since they are cheaper, I break them into 1/3's. I've noticed they do not burn as hot or catch as quickly as the super cedars. You sometimes have to be finicky with them. Not with the super cedars, they catch immediately and burn very well. They are no hassle at all.

I decided to make my own from melting down all of the old candles we had laying around and so far my home made jobs have out done both the super cedars and the duraflames. They catch immediately because of the wax and last very long.

Yep, finally the wife's spent candles have a use. I use fine sawdust from the miter saw. Press into an ice cube tray, freeze them and pop them out. One fire-ice cube does the job.

I would certainly end up in catastrophe if I made them on the wood stove.