Whoa... this stuff is the bomb for cold starts

[thisoldgoat]

Pack firebox. Plop a chunk of this on top. Touch a match to it and away we go.

 

[BillBurns]

What is that? Shredded up cardboard? Looks like it would work really well.

 

[thisoldgoat]

What is that? Shredded up cardboard? Looks like it would work really well.

It's a cushioning material found in parcels received... a non-corrugated cardboard mesh. While I'm too tight to buy this stuff, it's easy enough to save it throughout the year.

 

[Nick Mystic]

You need to be cautious when you use something that burns extremely fast as a fire starter. Many chimney fires happen on Christmas day when uninformed wood burners decide to light a fire in their mostly unused fireplace and then decide to dispose of their Christmas presents wrapping paper by burning it in the fireplace. It incinerates in an instant, shooting up the flue, snagging on some creosote and then the entire chimney is on fire! Using a fast burning paper product like in your photo might react in a similar fashion. Also, during this time of year some roofs might still have a lot of dry leaves sitting on them if the owners haven't cleared them from the roof (if there are a lot of big trees around like on our property). LIght weight paper materials that send large pieces up the flue can escape the chimney, even with a screen on the cap, and even a small ember can quickly ignite a pile of dry leaves.

 

[Eman85]

Can't say I've ever gotten packages with that stuff. We do eat a lot of eggs though and a nice paper egg carton and some papers that we would normally shred or burn do a good job starting a fire. Usually use some kiln dried hardwood scraps from a cabinet shop also.

 

[Nick Mystic]

My wife drinks a lot of milk packaged in half gallon cartons that are made of waxed or plasticized paper product. I cut them up (cut off top and bottom and then cut lengthwise into inch and half wide strips) and use them as fire starters. They burn at a nice pace and just a few strips will usually start a fire with decent kindling.

 

[Pinesmoke]

I got hooked on fat wood years back. A couple of sticks under the kindling and it goes.

 

[Fod01]

Yeah - that stuff is great, though I havent seen any in a while. Usually those plastic air-pillows these days.

 

[Kevin Weis]

I'm using the Rutland Starting Squares in the top down method. Box of 144 squares will last the season.

 

[Caw]

I got hooked on fat wood years back. A couple of sticks under the kindling and it goes.

+1 fatwood. I use the top down method. 2 sticks on top of the kindling, a quick light with the blow torch, and it's off to the races.

 

[guylavoie]

I did some renovation work for a woman in a 100 year old victorian house, with walls made of lath and plaster. I demolishing some walls, I saved bags full of lath. Great for starting fires in the stove. It's 100 years old, so dry enough!

 

[mpaul]

I’m all about the super cedars. 1/4 puck with just some smaller logs and I’m good. Only use kindling when restarting a fire from hot coals.

 

[Shrewboy]

I did some renovation work for a woman in a 100 year old victorian house, with walls made of lath and plaster. I demolishing some walls, I saved bags full of lath. Great for starting fires in the stove. It's 100 years old, so dry enough!

I did the same thing, it crackles when it burns for some reason. It was so desiccated that even a match next to it will light it on fire. I am worried now because the walls of my house are made with it 😳😂

 

[Slimdusty]

I have a small pile of cedar shingles leftover from a job, I take and split them down into small strips with a hatchet, just a few strips per start, works well for me. The pile of shingles will last me years.