...we went for one stretch of about 6 weeks without having to start a fire from kindling, so it might be more trouble saving it all then it's worth...
Put me in the "more trouble than it's worth" camp.
I ain't gonna' rub two sticks together when I want or need a fire, that's for Cub Scouts... I earned the Merit Badge years ago.
This is 2014... real men use an accelerant and a Bic Lighter (the long ones reduce how far you have to bend over).
The furnace rarely "goes totally cold" and for less than 10 bucks I can buy a Bic Lighter with enough fire accelerant fluid (mix it with a little used oil) to last all season... squirt, flick, and slam the damn door, the draft blower handles everything from there.
In the fire pit I just lay one or two charcoal briquets (one bag usually lasts all season) in the bottom between a couple of pieces, squirt with the same mix, flick the Bic, and pile the wood on... done‼
I probably wouldn't need to mix in the used oil, but it burns hotter and longer with it... and I've always got some... and I gotta' get rid of it some way or another.
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