Super Cedar .......

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soupy1957

soupy1957

Minister of Fire
Jan 8, 2010
1,365
Connecticut
www.youtube.com
The shipment of 100 "Super Cedar" fire starters came in today..........will be letting you know in the next week or so, (maybe sooner, depending on the weather and the wife), how well they worked.

I gather that some of you in here have tried them already, and some of you have recommended them. We'll see how they work for us.

I only have about 20 sticks of Fatwood left, from last season, and I've put them aside and filled the bucket near the stove (about 2 feet away), with as many of the Super Cedar disks as would fill it. The rest went out to the garage.

-Soupy1957
 
Just don't put two at a time in. That could result in an overfire condition. %-P

I bet it doesn't take long and your figuring out how to break them in half. Inside of a zip top bag is a nice clean option.
 
Into quarters is even better. One usually does not need a big bunch of them for one whole season of burning. Just spring and fall; other times just keep the fire burning.
 
Backwoods Savage: EXCELLENT point, my friend!! I only need them for those "occasional fires" at THIS time in Late Summer, and for the start ups after being away. The rest of the time, I'm burning all the time. These should last me a LOOOOONNNNNGGG time!

I HAVE heard the recommendation to break them in half, or in quarters. I'm not intending to use newspaper or small kindling pieces, but rather, to use small normal splits with one.........does that change the "breaking" of them in any way, or will I be better off with a whole piece, for only smaller sized splits?

-Soupy1957
 
Look under the label. Mine are scored in quarters. I would have preferred the scoring on the opposite side, however. I've never used more than two quarters at a time. Might get away with one quarter per start this year as my wood is drier.
 
Soupy, with the properly dried wood that I think you have, you will not have a problem starting with a quarter. Try two quarters spaced across the fire the first time or two and see how it goes. I'm sure you'll see you could do it with one quarter. I did it all the time last year. No problem.

Steve
 
I got a couple of the free samples and was really pleased with them. Just a quarter and some smaller splits of regular wood worked great for me. Got my box of cedar biscuits today as well ;)
 
Got my free sample today!!! Looking forward to trying them out. Oddly enough the wife had a hard time lighting the stove today while I was at work, she was happy to see them in the mail.
 
Yeah, they do work great but I'd rather save the money and just buy a pkg of 3 fire logs at Menards for $5 and cut them up for starters, works just as well.
 
Before we had the insert, I used to use the 5 or 6 pound wax logs and cut them up into slices (usually with an old handsaw) and used them to start a fire in the fireplace. They always worked well and seemed to last a long time. I have some of the wax type fire starters, but they never seemed to catch quite as well. I am looking forward to trying my free Super Cedars in the next month or so. I also am excited to try the top down fire starting method I've read so much about. This year will be an experiment on many levels.
 
just put my first order in. also got the FREEBEE from the link here.still to warm for a try.
 
A lot of people chunk up the wax firelogs. I tried it and besides the mess of cutting them up the chunks were hard to light, smokey and never did get a fire started very fast. I was happy with the top down method but after holding out for four years I gave the Super Cedars a try. I ain't going back. The way those sucker's light off a stack of splits I don't even worry about not letting the stove go out anymore. I never want to jack with splitting kindling again. And have two cases of Pine Mountain Logs in the garage to get rid of starting barbecue fires until the remainder go into my estate sale.

I use too many of the Super Cedars and do not care. Two quarters under the splits and it off to the races. They have saved me wood from not keeping a fire going when it isn't really needed. And for those that think that is just the tropics of Virginia, it happened sometimes last winter with five feet of snow still on the ground.
 
BB,
You're right. Those wax logs do make a mess when you cut them up. So, no kindling needed with Super Cedars?
 
Treacherous said:
Todd said:
Yeah, they do work great but I'd rather save the money and just buy a pkg of 3 fire logs at Menards for $5 and cut them up for starters, works just as well.
Click to expand...

Do you slice them with a bandsaw?
Click to expand...

I bought the waxless logs and all you have to do is take a chisel down every inch of the log and you end up with a bunch of discs.
 
Ok, so..........this morning it's 40ºF as I write this, and the temp in the house is 69ºF. I'm sitting here thinking I'd like to start up the stove, but haven't quite decided yet. If Mama gets up and says "I'm cold" then THAT'S the trigger for me.

Sounds like a whole Super Cedar disc in the fire is going to flame up pretty dahg good. I'll try the whole piece, surrounded by splits and see just how much of an inferno I can induce.

Take the plastic off it?

And, speaking of breaking them up:



-Soupy1957
 
Todd said:
Treacherous said:
Todd said:
Yeah, they do work great but I'd rather save the money and just buy a pkg of 3 fire logs at Menards for $5 and cut them up for starters, works just as well.
Click to expand...

Do you slice them with a bandsaw?
Click to expand...

I bought the waxless logs and all you have to do is take a chisel down every inch of the log and you end up with a bunch of discs.
Click to expand...

What brand are those Todd? I haven't seen that type log.
 
5:15 this morning, I did a setup something like this: (Super Cedar started right off.........established flame in the wood only developed significantly, with the assistance 15 minutes later of some Fatwood sticks and some bark).
 

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soupy1957 said:
5:15 this morning, I did a setup something like this: (Super Cedar started right off.........established flame in the wood only developed significantly, with the assistance 15 minutes later of some Fatwood sticks and some bark).
Click to expand...
Had the same experiance this morning. Placed half a disk on a split and then put some very dry splits over top of it. I lit the disk and went to take a quick shower hoping to see a roaring fire when I was done. All I go was a bunch of smoke. Had to toss in Birch bark to get it going good. I will try again, but like anything new, it's gonna take time I guess.
 
You guys need to learn how to make a top down fire. With a Super Cedar in the fold...they work like magic. This is a
great product and is 10 times better than fatwood, and I have tried both. I also know that bark has a lot of moisture in it and
may not be the best alternative to kindling...UNLESS it is extremely dry. Super Cedars are a fantastic product...it just may be the
way you are using them that is not so perfect! ;-)
 
I had some samples from last year; I was still using birch bark and small sticks for a modified top down. I wish I discovered these Super Cedars earlier.

We have a Castine, so not the biggest fire box in the world. I start with two splits...bigger in the rear, and one up front. I put some leftover charcoal chunks under the front split to allow for airflow from the intake plate. I put a small bit of wood between the splits and the Super Cedar(half of one) on that. On top of the two splits, I lay some short splits north/south and build a very simple log cabin....with some kindling on top of that. I light off the Super Cedar, leave the door cracked and wait. I'm able to shut the door once a good flame gets going and that doesn't take too long.

I have to say, I was impressed. I'm using dry wood, so that's half the battle right there. Upon start up, there's a bit of smoke from the chimney, but that goes away in short order. I had the stove up to 400F in about 20-30 minutes. That's not bad given the temps were in the low 60's/upper 50's.

This has been somewhat of a "breakthrough" for me. This is our weekend house and when we arrive on Friday nights in the winter, the first order of business is getting the stove going. I used to have to babysit the thing with my old way of getting it going. If this works the same way during burning season, my life will get a lot easier in regards to the stove lighting procedure.

Oh, I ordered a pack of 30 last Saturday night.
 
yanksforever said:
You guys need to learn how to make a top down fire. With a Super Cedar in the fold...they work like magic. This is a
great product and is 10 times better than fatwood, and I have tried both. I also know that bark has a lot of moisture in it and
may not be the best alternative to kindling...UNLESS it is extremely dry. Super Cedars are a fantastic product...it just may be the
way you are using them that is not so perfect! ;-)
Click to expand...
Feel free to enlighten me. I am the first to admit, the Summit is a Bit*H to get going. But once it is going, I just open the door and I get an instant shave has it burns the hairs clean of my face.
 
soupy1957 said:
5:15 this morning, I did a setup something like this: (Super Cedar started right off.........established flame in the wood only developed significantly, with the assistance 15 minutes later of some Fatwood sticks and some bark).
Click to expand...

Soupy,
When using Super Cedar DO NOT smother it with any other fuel sources. Give it air and stack around it with your big splits. Don't make me come out there!
Thomas
 
Common Soupy - thats not how you make a fire in an EPA stove.

For east/west burning stoves:
One stick going N-S to bridge the firewood off of the floor/ash. 3 or more going E/W - place the starter in the FRONT, next to the N/S stick but a little under the E/W FRONT stick.

Use SPLITS not rounds for starting.

Try that and tell me you don't like the Super Cedars. ;-)
 
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