Pleasant Ridge
ArboristSite Lurker
I started my boiler on September 28. I can't recall exactly how I did it....
Why do some twist newsprint? Knowing some do, a while back I tried it instead of crumpled up newsballs. Took more time and didn't seem to work any better.
This could go in Woodbooga's philosophical ax thread, but if there's enough coals you just use your normal firewood, you're not starting a fire. And it's the same fire. Heck, even if use paper & kindling, if I don't strike a match or lighter it's still the same fire, not starting one!
dinger--me thinks his bil--has neither $$$ nor sense----not much for brain-but plenty of mouth--people like that,aint got a clue........... i dont have to keep restarting my woodstove--soooooooooo. once lit in fall,dont shut off till warm out--Couple sheets of twisted up newspaper, a handfull of twigs, a Handfull of thumb sized squaw wood, and a couple chunks of wrist sized squaw wood.
Let it go for about 10Min, and toss in small splits of Sassafrass with the regular splits.
I also use table saw scraps when available.
2x4 ends kick things off real nice.
Walt,
Your BIL obviously has more $$$$ than sense.
Go easy on him. He dosn't know Chainsaws have a safe lifespan of 3 years... ya read it in consumers report magazine.
Stay safe!
Dingeryote
Don't tell him about my wax soaked sawdust cakes... he'll likely call these guys on me. --Ian
fat lighter for me, newpaper, some twigs.
Extended families are a constant source of PITA's as well as amusement...
+1 on the top down method. I do not use kindling anymore as I tried Blue Ridges Wax produce boxes trick( everyone rep him for that) a year ago and it works so good.For my wood stoves I've become a big believer in top-down fire building. I probably heard about it 10 years ago but boy scout training dies hard. Establishes draft much better, much less start-up smoke. I also bought a box of firestarters this year thinking that they might help my wife build fires when I'm gone. She's used them some, but I find no improvement over regular kindling. I build from splits to wrist-sized to finger-sized and light the top with a propane torch. Lumber scraps, pallet scraps, that's good kindling too. Maybe it's a regional thing, but seems to me that newsprint smokes a lot and brown packing paper is even worse, I go with straight wood anymore.
Jack
The alcohol I buy has a foil cover over the opening when you remove the cap. I take a ballpoint pen and make a tiny hole in the foil. Then when I squeeze the plastic bottle, a tiny stream shoots out. Thus I can use just a little and the bottle lasts longer.
Please write us WHEN that foil seal fails and you squeeze 1/2 a bottle into your stove - keep a camera handy too
Seriously though, would it be too hard to put it in a squirt bottle, the kind with a trigger that can shoot a stream?
The good news is that alcohol is very volatile and will evaporate quickly, in the event of an overdose give it a few minutes and alls well.
Diesel fuel is much less volatile and but more aromatic.
Spray directly on the wood and let soak for a minute or two. I light a piece of rolled up newspaper and shut the door.
Works well
For years, I have used scrap cutoffs from the jobsite to start fires. Usually it is the ends of 2x12's from rafters, I hatchet them into sticks and they work fine.
The debate started today when my BIL said that they will cause an unsafe buildup on the chimney walls. Now I wanted to tell him the only buildup was in his bowels but, due to the holiday season I bit my tongue. He insists that he only uses firestarters and the use of anything else is just crazy, I guess he should know best because he has at least four fires a year and I use about twelve cords a season. I am curious what everyone else uses to start up.
For my wood stoves I've become a big believer in top-down fire building. I probably heard about it 10 years ago but boy scout training dies hard.
Walt41--- Is your BIL related to Clark Griswold's Cousin-in-Law on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...... just thought there might be a correlation there!
Hilarious quote form CV----I can just imagine you saying this to your BIL on his visit------
Clark: Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?
Eddie: Naw, I'm doing just fine, Clark.
.:bang:
.
Kerosene soaked socks...hmmm
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