ok so how do YOU guys start your fires
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well i have the sample coming in so it should be here by the time the stove is done and i have to burn it in and we will see how it goes
I cut each half of a Super Cedar into 3 pieces with a knife. One of these, 1/6 of a SC, is all I need. Onto this I put some small splits and then some medium splits. Light it, shut the door, and 20 minutes later I can throw big splits on. 10 minutes later I can fire off the cat.
Starterloggs, available at Wally, BJ's, Lowes just about everywhere. I think i got a kickin deal last time when i bought them at Bj's, something like $21 for a box of 48. Plus, i only use a half of one. Then i break up that half and put one on each side of the stacked logs. I dont really use kinding either, just smaller logs. I would say i use about a 2" cross section. If i have dry wood, i use any size. I never had an issue getting a fire started.
I make my own firestarters from paraffin and sawdust. But when I run out, or don't use them I light the furnace with a top down fire. A few medium splits on the bottom, a couple smalls on top then kindling and some newspaper bows on top. Light the top, crack the door and within 10 minutes its raging.
I use gas lots and lots of gas and one match. Just kidding I make fire starters. Buy little paper dixie cups at Sam's, bars of parrifin wax from Hobby Lobby and use left over sawdust.
Starting a fire, I use crumpled newspaper under the splits. Might use some small kindling or splitting scraps. Bark is good for a quick warm up of the stove.
If there are no coals at all, I use a very small ball of newspaper and fine (matchstick size) kindling, right in front of the air intake. I light the paper, then when it gets going I start to add progressively larger kindling until I get to about small split size (1- 1 1/2"). I put three small splits criss-crossed on the fire and close it down for a minute. When I hear it take off (I don't have glass in my stove to see the fire), I open the door and add two more splits about 2-3" in diameter. Then I come back in five minutes or so and fill the stove. Takes maybe ten minutes out of my life.
I will be trying the top-down method for cold starts this year. I was initially very skeptical, but I tried it and am now a convert. Starts great and burns clean from the get-go. It is practically foolproof on an open fire, I can only imagine it will be better inside the confines of an enclosed firebox.
I will be trying the top-down method for cold starts this year. I was initially very skeptical, but I tried it and am now a convert. Starts great and burns clean from the get-go. It is practically foolproof on an open fire, I can only imagine it will be better inside the confines of an enclosed firebox.
no man said:
The sad thing is that every year we hear of some one (often a teen) who tries to light a fire in the woodstove by using gasoline, Coleman fuel, etc. and gets severely burned. . . .
Wow. You'd think somewhere between thinking up the idea of that and kneeling in front of the wood stove getting ready to strike the match. A light
bulb would come on and they would say. I'm about to ignite highly flamable liquid in a confined space maybe not a good idea. I wonder if those
are the same people who burned the hair off their head because they put to much lighter fluid in the grill and stood a foot away from it when they lit it?
bulb would come on and they would say. I'm about to ignite highly flamable liquid in a confined space maybe not a good idea. I wonder if those
are the same people who burned the hair off their head because they put to much lighter fluid in the grill and stood a foot away from it when they lit it?
I make my own by dunking double walled cardboard in melted candle wax. They work wonderfully well, and are cheap, almost free.
Failing this, I cut up waxed cardboard boxes (fruit boxes) into 2x3" squares and do the same.
Two usually get the fire going along with some very dry kindling, 2 or 3 pieces.
My two cents worth.
Failing this, I cut up waxed cardboard boxes (fruit boxes) into 2x3" squares and do the same.
Two usually get the fire going along with some very dry kindling, 2 or 3 pieces.
My two cents worth.
firefighterjake said:
Thirty years ago my wife came home shaking her head. The husband of a woman she worked with had gotten fired that day and came home and started drinking. Decided he wanted a fire in the fireplace to drown his sorrow and used gasoline to start it. Burned the whole end off of a beautiful new house.
Top down method. Nothing paid for. Splinters from splitting , pieces of 2X4's split down to 1/4 in. and under that small splits
in log cabin layers. One newspaper page crumpled on top plus a match. 20 minutes later it's ready for the real wood.
in log cabin layers. One newspaper page crumpled on top plus a match. 20 minutes later it's ready for the real wood.
Gark said:
Do true top down and four or five hours later it would be ready for more wood. Varying based on firebox size. You be just making a coal bed.
I use dryer lint and egg cartons, pour a little wax over them. One egg starts a fire. I will make 2 dozen at a time and make 2 dozen fires. Once you starting burning all day you do not have to restart as often. Paper and a little brown cardboard works good. Also if you have some extra pallets you can cut them up for kindling. I usually just use splitting scraps for the kindling.
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