Fat Wood
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I keep some on hand along with my Super Cedars. Not really sure why because the Super Cedars work great. Just something about Fat Wood that I like, although you do get some black sooty smoke from them. I have always heard that quality of Fat Wood varies. I have always bought mine from (broken link removed to http://www.plowhearth.com/resin-rich-easy-start-fatwood-kindling_p64.html). Never had any quality issues with them.
I used to buy it from Menards whenever it went on sale. If I recall correctly they sell by the 4lb bag & it goes on for $4.
The quality does vary I'd say. Sometimes it's a bit harder to light.
I switched to Super Cedars and/or Lightning Nuggets which both work better for me (I usually light without kindling). I wasn't saving anything with the Fatwood as I used 3-4 sticks per lighting.
Edit: oh, and you probably won't find it at Menards this time of year. Seasonal only.
The quality does vary I'd say. Sometimes it's a bit harder to light.
I switched to Super Cedars and/or Lightning Nuggets which both work better for me (I usually light without kindling). I wasn't saving anything with the Fatwood as I used 3-4 sticks per lighting.
Edit: oh, and you probably won't find it at Menards this time of year. Seasonal only.
Buy Super Cedars and NEVER need kindling again!?! 
I have used Fatwwod. It works, but after SC's? I got spoiled.....
I have used Fatwwod. It works, but after SC's? I got spoiled.....
On days that my back is too tight to split, i sit and listen to some Coltrane, Parker, Nina or Billie in the backyard and make kindling for a few hours, no need for super cedars or fatwood here. havent had the need yet.
I agree DD. Before Super Cedars, I always had my wood in a copper tub beside the hearth and a coal shuttle full of kindling. Now that I use Super Cedars, I don't use kindling very often but can't undue 40 years of habit, so I still have the coal shuttle with kindling in it and always some Fat Wood in there too. As good as Super Cedars work, they just don't look quite right on the hearthBuy Super Cedars and NEVER need kindling again!?!
I have used Fatwwod. It works, but after SC's? I got spoiled.....
I keep mine in a small round container my wife didn't want anymore.![[Hearth.com] Fat Wood](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/98/98417-c0b96437b3a3c7a5814eabcd90de142f.jpg?hash=ZzG-WyFFaO "[Hearth.com] Fat Wood")
![[Hearth.com] Fat Wood](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/98/98419-36cfb778244fc84816a37c35e49eba78.jpg?hash=LI6NtbT5vU "[Hearth.com] Fat Wood")
![[Hearth.com] Fat Wood](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/98/98418-8f8e5bf436ccd336a6fda62b957fd26e.jpg?hash=87KXId1lVg "[Hearth.com] Fat Wood")
Super cedars seem expensive $68 for 100 piecesBuy Super Cedars and NEVER need kindling again!?!
I have used Fatwwod. It works, but after SC's? I got spoiled.....
Sawdust wit wax, I'm sure not as good is $31 for a 100
And I saw fat wood 35# for about $40
Just the info I was able to gather up just now
I bust them in 1/4's..... So I get 400 for that price. Just because its 1 full circle doesn't mean it has to be used whole.
Most here break them into Quarters. Just sayin.
If your gonna burn 24/7 you won't need much anyways. I'm n year 2 of my order of 100. Still have enough for most of next year.
Pine kindling damn near starts with a match. Nina??
These work well, and the squares can be scored and broken smaller. They're like a dime a square for the small box.
(broken link removed to http://www.meecomfg.com/products.php#page=11)
Sure but what is a "piece" and how many to make a fire? For me it's 1/4 or 1/3 of a Super Cedar, 1 Lightning Nugget or 3-5 sticks of Fatwood.
I just split a thick fat wood, seems like personal preference now.
Does fat wood create creosote because it is pine?
Don't fire up a piece near the glass. I did that and it hazed the glass with goo. Burned off later, but still...
Pine is fine to burn in your stove. Thats an old Wives tale that it starts Chimney fires.
It starts chimney fires because Oak is burned within a month of splitting by most burners (should be split for 2-3 yrs before burning) and they Clog there chimney with Creosote. Then, they throw a few splits of Pine, that seasons much faster than Oak, and they leave there air setting at the same setting to burn wet Oak. The stove and chimney reach operating temps and lights the nasties off.
Season your Pine and it will be fine
Ask most people in the Pacific Northwest or in Canada where its MUCH colder. They ONLY have softwoods. Wives tale, myth, urban legend, etc... Pine gets a bad rep. I burn it and like it
We were given some for Christmas one year, I would never buy them. I never liked the black smoke they gave off.
jdp1152
Minister of Fire
Price of super cedars vs other compressed fire starters when you split them accordingly is the same. Actually, the generic fire starters are cheaper, at least around here. I've only used two super cedars from the promotion however. In theory, my preference when using a starter would be fat sticks. Two sticks and the fire starts faster and more complete than using others. I mostly do cold starts and all things being equal, would use fat sticks above all. In practice, I rarely use any of the above now. Just spend some time with the leftover shorts and a fiskars x7 and make my own kindling that starts with a newspaper knot. That being said, Super Cedars sponsors the site and helps keep all of this valuable content free and in the end, there are a ton of people that benefit from the safety advice giving. There's certainly something to be said for that. In my opinion, it's not even worth debate. What's best for one person might not be/seem the best to another. Find a starting method you like and run with it.
jdp1152
Minister of Fire
We use the Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starters, gives us a faster start than the Fat Wood we had.
jdp1152
Minister of Fire
No problem with you using those at all, friend. I use something very similar for my Big Green Egg. I only like fat sticks because they light easy and span 12 inches when using two. I fully support people buying super cedars because they work. It wasn't my intent to bash them at all. I even posted in the last thread about them that I'd be more inclined to buy them if they were manufactured in stick form. Seemed like a few others shared that sentiment. I think it would be a pretty worthwhile venture for them to consider. After all, the name of the game is getting the fire as hot as you can as soon as you can. Surface area the fire should not be neglected.
ArsenalDon
Minister of Fire
Fortunate here to have REAL red cedar. Season that for a year, it splits so easily into thin strips and it lights off almost without any newspaper under it....just one page of paper and it takes right off.
Yellow birch bark from a dead down punky tree.
Some times all that is left is the bark.
It's free just pick it up.
It lights easy and burns hot.
Some times all that is left is the bark.
It's free just pick it up.
It lights easy and burns hot.
Years ago we used some fatwood. Wife seemed to like them but I never did. Too many times it took several matches just to get them started. I could just do that with dry kindling wood if I wanted. When we learned of the Super Cedars and Thomas' generous offer of some free samples, we sent for some. We broke them into quarters (they are scored) so got 8 starts from the samples. Since then that is all we've used for starting fires.
For those who have catalysts: Do not use fatwood!
For those who have catalysts: Do not use fatwood!
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