What do you light your fire with?

[2fireplacesinSC]

super cedars. anything available to light them off works fine, including the last dying ember of a "possible almost maybe that's a coal" left in the bottom under ashes.

 

[Dustin]

1/4 super cedar, cheap dollar store BBQ lighter, and done.

 

[yooper08]

I've got a 30 foot, 8 inch flue that could suck a golf ball through a garden hose...from a dead cold start, 3 wads of newspaper packed in a firebox of full size splits yields a roaring fire within a minute. Amazing what a great draft and dry wood can do!

So you could probably just rub a stick between your hands on some bark then!

 

[georgepds]

My late father-in-law collected matchbooks. I have a gallon pickle jar full of them.

These last eight years I have used three books.

Uh oh.. you are literally burning through your inheritance

 

[savageactor7]

Spliter trash, smaller splits, spray bottle with diesel fuel.

 

[Dobish]

twigs, sticks, a propane torch, and a single piece of newspaper to get the draft going...

 

[jotul8e2]

Uh oh.. you are literally burning through your inheritance

I can afford to be profligate: I have at least 300 matchbooks left.

 

[jetsam]

Yesterday's fire.

 

[Alpine1]

Newspaper, splitter waste and pinecones ... once a month!

 

[firefighterjake]

I'm considering upgrading from the matches . . .

 

[Mark N MO]

I've got a 30 foot, 8 inch flue that could suck a golf ball through a garden hose...from a dead cold start, 3 wads of newspaper packed in a firebox of full size splits yields a roaring fire within a minute. Amazing what a great draft and dry wood can do!

Don't think mine is quite that capable, but close. A couple of rolled up newspaper pages, packed between a couple of splits, with a handful of red/white oak twigs, then smaller splits on top gives up the smoke with a single match. Bring the CAT up to temp, pack 'er up and cruise.

 

[Marshy]

View attachment 216985
This^ TS 800 heavy duty model. Sometimes I will use a fire starter and some kindling.
If I use small twigs and sticks, I can just use the torch to light the kindling. Nothing better IMO.
Also you can use the torch to preheat the flue to get the draft going if necessary.

The propane ones are cheap and work well. The map gas ones are expensive.

 

[begreen]

I use the Doors

 

[Alpine1]

I use the Doors

LOL

 

[toddnic]

Flint and steel....

 

[Knots]

BIC lighter and a pinecone or birch bark.

 

[SuperSpy]

View attachment 216985

I just chop up a half a dozen ~1" pieces and hit them with one of these torches screwed onto a bottle of camping gas for 30-60 seconds. I don't have a fireplace, but in my forced air boiler that does the trick 99% of the time.

 

[Zack R]

Propane torch, kindling and an egg carton.

 

[enchant]

I occasionally have trouble getting the fire lit before smoke starts coming out. I used to use the cheap bbq lighters, but they'd go out, or simply took too long. My final solution was the Calico Hot Shot lighter that I got from Walmart for $4. It's like a tiny propane torch. Stays lit, lights fast, door closed.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Calico-Hot-Shot-Wind-Resistant-Utility-Lighter/50036366

 

[sportbikerider78]

I know this is a cheap chinese site but i've been using these for years and they are great. You can get 3 of them for the price of a torch lighter at the hardware store. They make great stocking stuffers for cigar smokers or just family pyros.
$2 and they ship free.

http://www.dx.com/p/1300-centigrade...-transparent-silver-black-194587#.WilGekqnGUk

Bigger model
http://www.dx.com/p/jet-1300-c-butane-lighter-1320#.WilG-0qnGUk

 

[xman23]

I found a real good solution for lighting the firestarter. I found this camp torch $12 and small propane bottle at Walmart, sporting goods dept. It's a small version of the bernzomatic. Real nice quality. It's has a push button lighter, that works ever time.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Iv been using those flat one inch by 4 inch firestarters . Paid like $2 for a box of 50 or more and an end of season sale 5yrs ago ,still have most of em .I cut em up with a utility knife and get 8 quarter in by 2 in out of 1 starter. Quarter inch by 2 inches is enough to start the stove. Stand it up in the middle of some kindling.

 

[Shmudda]

I've got a 30 foot, 8 inch flue that could suck a golf ball through a garden hose...from a dead cold start, 3 wads of newspaper packed in a firebox of full size splits yields a roaring fire within a minute. Amazing what a great draft and dry wood can do!

This can be a blessing and a curse. I have somewhat the same, 35 foot chimney with a 6 inch stainless liner. She gets cookin if you are not careful. I use a propane torch to get things started

Craig

 

[kgrant]

A match. White spruce lights easy.

 

[St. Coemgen]

I am with the match crowd.

And do a top down burn.

A few twists of white paper to get the top twigs burning.

Tend to not use newspaper. Not because of some environmental issue, but I have to buy newspaper. And the white paper comes free in the mail. Often in the form of bills. Bills burn great.