I've used a mixture of lumber scraps and pine cut into 3-4 inch pieces for the last few years. I have a cedar that was removed from my yard laying in the woods that I need to get rid of anyway that will become kindling for the next few years.
Favourite Wood for Kindling...
- Thread starter Happy Stacker
- Start date
-
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.
bfitz3
Feeling the Heat
I print pissing-match forum posts to start my fires. 
RandyBoBandy
Minister of Fire
Now start a thread on BK vs. any other stove and you will have a lifetime supply of kindling.I print pissing-match forum posts to start my fires.
CincyBurner
Minister of Fire
As others have posted I don't use much kindling during the 24/ 7 burning season, but use a lot more during shoulder season.
I use up my scraps & ends from firewood processing - Osage, oak, etc. I like a mix of kindling.
I was fortunate one year and used the ash edge trimmings from a Wood-mizer sawmill. They worked great ! Nice and dry, squared off edges, so they laid-up well, and stored conveniently (kept in in boxes). They and lasted ~3 years.
I'm using branch wood from a spruce removal in my yard. It burns hot, but is messier and doesn't store as easily. But it was free.
I use up my scraps & ends from firewood processing - Osage, oak, etc. I like a mix of kindling.
I was fortunate one year and used the ash edge trimmings from a Wood-mizer sawmill. They worked great ! Nice and dry, squared off edges, so they laid-up well, and stored conveniently (kept in in boxes). They and lasted ~3 years.
I'm using branch wood from a spruce removal in my yard. It burns hot, but is messier and doesn't store as easily. But it was free.
kennyp2339
Minister of Fire
I like using maple and oak split real thin, I use kindling when I start a fire, I just lay it all in criss cross then take my torch and light it up. Oak and strait maple splits the easiest in my opinion and lights off fairly easy, I don't go out of my way to make a kindling pile, I just take a bigger split and re-split it as needed.
Woody Stover
Minister of Fire
Soft or hard Maple? The soft Maple I get here (Red or Silver) burns pretty vigorously. I like Red a little more..a bit harder and splits better.
Really dry Tulip poplar or Hemlock. The Hemlock gets hot as hell and starts my locust just nice
Some time ago, a buddy of mine got me a section of cedar telephone pole that had been taken down (like 20'). I cut it into lengths about 8" long and I split them up into small kindling pieces. One round lasts me about a month depending upon usage. It starts great and burns well enough to light everything else on fire. It is super dry. Most of it is very know free, so it can be split to any size that I want.
edyit
Minister of Fire
i don't really use a lot of kindling after the initial start of burning season, coals are more than enough to get it going again in the AM, but when i do use kindling to get a fire started in the back yard, i love me some dry white pine.
That's right, manly burners, not kids with training-wheels thermostat stoves!
I don't see much difference between running a stone stove, or a stove with steel sheets inside the box, preventing the heat from getting out.
I don't think I'm sending all that much heat up the flue once the stone is warm. That load in the pic, that I'm burning now, has the air set at 1 on a scale of 4, and the flue meter is reading right at 300. That's a meter lying on top of the stainless tee snout, about 6" behind the rear flue exit. Gotta be hotter there than it would 18" up a vertical connector pipe, I think.
It would be interesting to see what a probe at 12-18" up the liner would read. I'd need a thermocouple for that. I may do that some day, and hook one up for the cat exhaust as well. The hole provided on the back of the stove requires an 8" probe, and that's too long to accurately transfer actual cat temps all the way to the dial. Or I could drill a hole in the top of the stove and drop in a shorter probe over the cat, as Todd did..
Since my name has been invoked, I suppose it is incumbent upon me to embellish this thread. As for kindling, it is my understanding that is something camp fire girls used back when they were allowed to go camping. When I was coming up through the ranks of wood burning, we would rub two rounds together until flame burst out. It was difficult, but quite manly. These days I use the tried and true method of the campfire girls, using the shavings and scrap from splitting. We let it dry well then store it in 5 gallon plastic pails. Mrs. Manly is a real kindling gobbler. Using a Jotul 3cb I suppose we send a bit more heat up the flue than some of the newer stoves, but it has served us well for 20 years and is as good a shape as new. After a couple of years I did install a heavy single wall flue pipe inside to allow more radiant heat before entering the double wall at the ceiling. Made a difference. In the final analysis, burn whatever works best for you. Not everyone needs to be, nor can everyone be manly. Manly
There's an infinite supply. Enough to use for a primary fuel.I print pissing-match forum posts to start my fires.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
White cedar, white pine, hemlock, spruce, fir . . . pretty much any softwood that is in my way or comes down in a windstorm becomes kindling . . . I have a lot of kindling.
My preferred kindling wood is super-dry black cherry. Burns easy, smells good if the smoke comes back in due to poor draft.
Really, anything cut small enough will work. If you've got a tire and some straight-grained ash rounds, making kindling with a splitting axe is easy and fun.
Really, anything cut small enough will work. If you've got a tire and some straight-grained ash rounds, making kindling with a splitting axe is easy and fun.
electrathon
Minister of Fire
I use a propane torch. Put in normal firewood, start the torch. In a few minutes I turn off the torch. A few more minutes and I shut the door.
brazilbl
Burning Hunk
I use just 3 Popsicle sticks, the last match from a 1950's Chesterfield matchbook. Throw them in the BK and they burn for about 8-12 hours before I have to throw another Popsicle stick.
Oh - sorry about that I was dreaming about having a BK and can report such stories like this!
Oh - sorry about that I was dreaming about having a BK and can report such stories like this!
Brazil Bill, I would suggest you stop dreaming, man up, and get that BK. Feed your inner manly self. I for one don't have a large BK. I have a small box Jotul 3cb. I used to dream about a big stove, even possibly a BK. But then, after extensive therapy, I became very comfortable with my manliness and realized I was just fine with the jotul 3cb. Sure it's small, but I am large and manly. I not quite sure what this has to do with kindling, but I hope it makes sense to you. I think I have to go nap now. Manly
Woody Stover
Minister of Fire
Admitting that you need a nap is definitely manly, Manly.I think I have to go nap now. Manly
I need a nap but I'm not gonna get one right now.. 
KindredSpiritzz
Minister of Fire
Woody5506
Minister of Fire
pallet wood. I do a lot of dumpster diving for it at work, whether it's pine, cherry, oak....it's my go-to kindling.
weatherguy
Minister of Fire
I get 3 foot 1 x 1s that a local company puts out back with broken pallets. One truck load every couple years keeps me ass deep in kindling, I think it's pine or fir.
Woody Stover
Minister of Fire
I think they make pallets from Tulip Poplar as well..have you gotten any of that? I split either Tulip or Pine..both flame up pretty easily for a quick start.
blacktail
Minister of Fire
I restart my little insert quite a bit but never use kindling. Just criss cross splits with a sawdust & wax fire starter. The only kindling I use is any small pieces of bark or wood that may have fallen on the floor around the hearth.
Simonkenton
Minister of Fire
Birch bark. We don't have that here in North Carolina.
Isn't that what Hiawatha made his canoe from?
Isn't that what Hiawatha made his canoe from?
Similar threads
