We ordered a chord of wood and we got 4 bins worth of kindling. We are down to two. Not good. It's our first year and we are finally getting the hang of it. But we are obviously going to run out before January. Where do you get your kindling from?
where do you get your kindling?
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Construction scraps, resplit into smaller 1x2s works well. So do cabinetry and trim maker's scraps. Another source is unfinished flooring scraps.
I use pallets. Free and usually easy to cut up and split. (I don't take any that are painted or otherwise contaminated). I split the "slats" and use them for true kindling; cut up the 2 x 4 "runners" and use them to continue to heat up the stove before I throw on any splits. There are nails mixed up in the ashes, but that doesn't bother me.
Also, I've read a lot of good things about fire starters called Super Cedars. But have never tried them myself.
Also, I've read a lot of good things about fire starters called Super Cedars. But have never tried them myself.
No need for kindling at all if you wood is well seasoned. I simply put two splits side by side with a gap between them, then a couple of newspaper knots in the slot, light the knots, the splits catch the fire, another small split on top to trap the heat in the slot, when the fire is going well, add additional splits to maintain the fire temp as desired and the stove is on its way to a day or night of warming the house.
Wood left over from my construction projects ... soft wood I've split up as kindling ... softwood slabs ... and since replacing the cedar shakes on my house with vinyl siding -- a whole lot of cedar shingles.
I get mine from the wood pile. I only use 1-2 sticks per day so 2 chunks of wood splitter into kindling will last all week.
Many of us keep the stove going all winter so even in the morning there are enough coals left over to start a fire with smaller splits. No need for kindling once the winter sets in.
Warm_in_NH
Minister of Fire
As a carpenter, scraps supply kindling for, my neighbors, and friends. I give barrels of it away every fall. I burn it outside in the fire pit all summer because no one wants any when it's 80 degrees out, but right now everyone has their hand out.
A 12" chunk of 2 x 4 and a hatchet will provide enough kindling to light a few fires easily. Thinner 3/4 pi e splits much easier though, and I have some red cedar that nearly lights itself.
A 12" chunk of 2 x 4 and a hatchet will provide enough kindling to light a few fires easily. Thinner 3/4 pi e splits much easier though, and I have some red cedar that nearly lights itself.
As DougA wrote, if you will be burning 24/7 there will not be much need for kindling for the next 5 months.
But if you need lots of kindling invest in an axe. That's were kindling comes from! You can use it to re-split your cord wood that you already have, bust up pallets, split lumber scraps, etc.
But if you need lots of kindling invest in an axe. That's were kindling comes from! You can use it to re-split your cord wood that you already have, bust up pallets, split lumber scraps, etc.
Huntindog1
Minister of Fire
Many a way to skin this cat. For 61$ and change you can get about 4yrs worth of Super Cedars and forgo kindling pretty much altogether. I just ordered another box of 100 last night. Beyond that any of the above info will work and I also have a solid 24" oak round next to my 5 cord in the basement with a custom axe/hatchet stuck in it. If I need smaller stuff for a quick start of smaller, hot fire I make small from big and there ya go. I split big as it is real easy to get small from big but rather tough to go the other way.
Well I'm a newbie this year, so I may change up what I use for kindling in the future...for now I've been using all the limbs from the trees we cut for wood (these were dead and therefore the limbs were nice and dry). I don't use a chainsaw, so while hubby is bucking I am using either a little battery operated saw or my nippers to limb the trees and cut them into the right length for kindling. I've amassed quite a stack downstairs but will have to see how long that lasts me this winter. Learning curve...
I split my own. I have a mountain of cedar and access to more whenever I want. cut it to length, split. repeat as necessary...
M@dMinute
Member
I pretty much keep it going at this point so no need. Early in the year I get wood scraps from the shipping dept. where I work. We sell a lot of oversized items in crates, they are always throwing away wood scraps from building the crates. My company is always happy to get rid of scrap wood and pallets, it is like $600 for a large dumpster and they hate wasting that space on scrap wood and pallets.
There are quite a stove guys here. We have plenty of kindling but fought over the wood from our back lot when the power company came out and stared cutting down trees...
There are quite a stove guys here. We have plenty of kindling but fought over the wood from our back lot when the power company came out and stared cutting down trees...
I re-split short straight grained logs. Once the cold sets in, and you're running your stove harder, you'll seldom do a cold start. Load on coals, and maybe put in a piece of kindling or firestarter to help it light off.
Gabe
Gabe
Speaking of firestarters and such, are these ok to use in a cat stove? (broken link removed to http://www.duraflame.com/products/firestart-quickstart-logs) My wife bought a 24 pack the other day. We had a few left over in the garage and she has been using like 1/6 of one to start a fire in our H300. We are getting a progress hybrid in Jan, and was just curious if these would cause any issues with a cat. I prefer super cedars but well, my wife is addicted to coupons lol.
I use them, well actually an identical product from walmart, chopped up into little cubes smaller than a golfball. Lights with a match, starts the 8 pieces of kindling, kindling starts the wood. Like any boyscout, you need some form of tinder to start a fire with authority.
The little ball of wax is gone before the bypass is closed so the cat never knows that a firestarter was used.
From the yard, twigs and small branches, I have several bins in the basement I have collected.
Pallets, split into small pieces.
Pallets, split into small pieces.
tinman1
Member
Pallets ,just bust them up use a magnet to pick up the nails from the ashes.
eclecticcottage
Minister of Fire
I have acres of not so old white pine with most of the lower branches within reach quite dead and quite dry.
I just cut a bunch off and stomp on them into little bits or cut the larger ones.
If I get really ambitious I'll find a white pine that is dead, cut it up and make kindling from the not so knotty bits.
Don't really need much kindling, but smaller splits of pine are nice to get a nice hot fire going and heating up the stove quick in the A.M.
I just cut a bunch off and stomp on them into little bits or cut the larger ones.
If I get really ambitious I'll find a white pine that is dead, cut it up and make kindling from the not so knotty bits.
Don't really need much kindling, but smaller splits of pine are nice to get a nice hot fire going and heating up the stove quick in the A.M.
Sconnie Burner
Feeling the Heat
When I'm splitting soft woods I will take the smaller diameter branches and make kindling out of them about half wrist size up to wrist size. My dad works at a lumber yard and grabs all the pine lumber separator strips he can get his hands on for me.
Simonkenton
Minister of Fire
Pine is easy to come by, since it is sub-par firewood. I will look for somebody who has knocked down a pine tree and has it setting by the road. I show up with my chain saw and cut it 14 inches long, and load up the pickup.
I take it home and split it with the fierce Sotz Monster Maul, and store it under the porch.
One pickup load will last 2 years for kindling.
I take it home and split it with the fierce Sotz Monster Maul, and store it under the porch.
One pickup load will last 2 years for kindling.
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Dead fall, splitter trash (which includes bark falling off of firewood deliveries, etc), milled wood cut offs.
I collect them in milk crates, and set aside. They get enough air that way, and dry pretty quick.
Are you using the Black & Decker 18V chain saw?? I love mine !!
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