Instead of paying big bucks for "Fatwood" or Super Cedars, or whatever, I make my own hot burning kindling using a three rail cedar fence post. I like to use end posts because the rail holes do not go all the way through. Plus, end posts seem to be a lot fatter. The one I just bought measured 77 inches. It cost just under $10.00 so it's up a little over the past couple of years. I cut the post into seven 11 inch pieces. Then split it up using a hammer and a wedge. The wood is so dry (about five percent MC) that splitting right along the grains is a snap. I got a little over a hundred 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick sticks out of each 11 inch long section of post. That means close to 700 'fatwood' sticks for less than ten dollars. Five or six sticks mixed with four or five newspaper knots are perfect for my top down fire start. Three or four sticks stuck into hot coals will quickly get a load going in the morning after an overnight burn. I'll get at least two years out of one fence post. It takes just a few minutes to split up one section of post. A double handful wrapped in a festive ribbon makes a nice Host/hostess gift for you to take to a winter party. Cheaper than a bottle of wine, too!
First two Pics: The cedar post section easily splits along the grain into thin slabs.
Below: I split the slabs into the cedar sticks by just jabbing the wedge into the slab. No hammer needed here. Gloves highly suggested. (don't ask how I know this)
Two eleven inch post sections give me enough cedar sticks to fill a basket I keep near our stove.
First two Pics: The cedar post section easily splits along the grain into thin slabs.
Below: I split the slabs into the cedar sticks by just jabbing the wedge into the slab. No hammer needed here. Gloves highly suggested. (don't ask how I know this)
Two eleven inch post sections give me enough cedar sticks to fill a basket I keep near our stove.