HOW DO YOU LIGHT YOUR FIRE ???

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

r_d_gard

Member
Nov 9, 2009
124
Maryland - USA
www.cff.org
I was reading another thread when I read the following:

[quote author="woodchip" date="1291947236"]On cold days, getting that huge plug of air in the chimney moving upwards can take quite an effort........I've even known some people to open windows in the windward side of the house to assist draughting when lighting up![/quote]

Well...
I use a plumbers blow torch, you know the ones, it has a Piezo-electric ignition switch, you buy them from HomeDepot or Lowes and the package comes with a couple of Canisters of MAPP gas. I initially burn it for 60 seconds pointing the flame so that it passes straight through the damper of the VC 2550 to get the chimney sufficiently warm. As with "WoodChip" I too have found that cold plug of air to be, well, quite a plug. After the 60 second burn I then close the top grill door, close the left door and then ignite the paper. WHOOF. She's away. works rather effectively. I start a new fire each day I get home from work and still on the same canister of gas as last season.

Kids think it's great fun to watch Dad light the fire.

How do you start yours?

Ray
 
Stick lighter, chunk of fire starter, close door, open primary air to full, start up air to full. Fully engulfed in 15 min.
 
does nobody use thermite? sorta figured you would Jags, now i'm disappointed.
 
Delta-T said:
does nobody use thermite? sorta figured you would Jags, now i'm disappointed.

My fire starters are a 10% thermite mix, with a 5% magnesium kicker and the remaining is saw dust and wax so that I don't get in trouble with the feds.
 
From a cold stove start:

A few sections of non colored ink newspaper rolled into long pieces and placed N-S, 3 to 4 pieces of 8-10" 2' x 4' lumber split in half and placed tepee style over paper, a couple small splits, a little more newspaper rolled into balls, light match to the paper at the front, leave door cracked for a couple minutes, shut door and leave air intake open until fire is going good, load up the stove and wait until the cat thermometer reads 500 degrees to engage cat.

Rest of the year: Stir coals and add more wood.
 
I lite it once a yr. in about late October. then let her rip. 7/24 s till March.
 
Jags said:
My fire starters are a 10% thermite mix, with a 5% magnesium kicker and the remaining is saw dust and wax so that I don't get in trouble with the feds.

... or get harassed by the 9-11 conspiracy theorists. :roll:
 
From a dead cold start, paint stripper heat gun inside the stove for a couple of minutes while I assemble splits, kindling, newspaper and find a match.
 
In all my years of wood burning I've never had a problem where I had to heat the flue before lighting a fire.

Starting this year, we use 1/4 of a Super Cedar to light the fires. It works like a charm.
 
cptoneleg said:
I lite it once a yr. in about late October. then let her rip. 7/24 s till March.

I like that:) I don't have the stamina though. I light the woodstove with newspaper and Cedar or pine kindling. No probs yet.
 
I never had to worry about pre heating my flue. I use the top down method for cold starts. 3 medium splits on the bottom 2 or 3 small splits on top of them, then some kindling, I have a bunch of cedar that I split down to about one inch thick pieces which I use as my kindling, then 3 or 4 pieces of rolled up newspaper on top. One match is all I every need, works everytime. Learned that method from someone here, another fine bit of info I gleaned from this forum
 
Wood noodles/kindling/lighter.

No paper here.
 
Open pinecones dowsed in parafin wax. My wife makes 'em. 'Set one on top of the splits with a little kindling, and light with stick lighter. That, or a golf-ball sized chunk of dura flame log on top of the fire. Fully engulfed in 15-25 minutes.

Regards,
 
plumbers torch and a piece or two of VERY VERY VERY dry kindling that was dried in my kiln.
it gets rip roaring in 5-8 minutes.
 
Jim Morrison does it for me
 
Two small splits loaded N/S (w/ a 1/4 Super Cedar between them). Kindling across that, E/W. Two small splits on top of the kindling, N/S. Light the Super Cedar and enjoy.
 
I put about 1/4 cup of Coleman camping fuel in a ziplock baggy. Lay it in the middle of a pile of kindling. Light one corner, fuel begins to flow, instant fire. My chimney on the north side of the house can be unbelievably stubborn if it's cold. I've smoked up the house too many times using newspaper and other typical fire starters. Adding a handful of sawdust to the baggy will make the fire start much slower, but sometimes this isn't fast enough to push out the "plug" of cold air in the chimney. Been using this method for 10+ years, never a problem. Coleman camping fuel is commonly referred to as "white gas", not to be confused with gasoline which is explosive and can blow your head off. If you don't have strong downdraft issues, then newspaper will probably work just fine.
 
Hanko said:
Jim Morrison does it for me
Yeah I just ask my baby to do it
 
Using anything I have to buy seems like cheating so I don't. I alway split some red oak kindling from 3/4" square to 1 1/2" square. I place two splits in the fireplace, wide enough to fit the kindling between and then stack the kindling in a square log cabin fashon leaving a hole in the middle just big enough to support a pice of fat lighter. I light the fat lighter, drop it down the middle of my log cabin and then pile wood, smaller to larger on top. Never fails, is free, and you don't have to be ashamed to start a fire in front of your buddies.
 
ControlFreak said:
I put about 1/4 cup of Coleman camping fuel in a ziplock baggy.

Now there's one I never thought I would hear. :lol:

CAUTION: this is being performed by a trained professional. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.