Question about fire starter logs.

[MinivanFan]

We have been using those fire starter logs that are sold at walmart and they work great but I noticed there is a label on the box that says not for woodstoves, why is that? Is it something to do with the fact the logs are wax or something?

 

[Ductape]

Never noticed that. I use them in our stove. Actually, i just cut them into several pieces and use one small piece to start a fire. No need to use a whole one on a fire.

 

[MinivanFan]

Never noticed that. I use them in our stove. Actually, i just cut them into several pieces and use one small piece to start a fire. No need to use a whole one on a fire.

That's what we do, only really need 1/4 of one.

 

[pat_58]

i use the same ones! my pieces are only about a 1/2 inch cube, and it starts a fire every time. one box lasts the whole season. i really like them.

 

[Bowtie]

I guess Im old fashioned. I use newspaper, beer boxes and small sticks known as kindling to start my fires. I just have a problem with BUYING processed treated crap to start a fire when there are dead twigs laying everywhere.

 

[howellhandmade]

I guess Im old fashioned. I use newspaper, beer boxes and small sticks known as kindling to start my fires. I just have a problem with BUYING processed treated crap to start a fire when there are dead twigs laying everywhere.

I'm with you, with all the chips and swarf from splitting there's no need for firestarters. Three elements of success: top down fires, good kindling with a big handful of splitter trash on top, and propane torch to simultaneously get the tinder burning and establish the draft.

Jack

 

[Bowtie]

I'm with you, with all the chips and swarf from splitting there's no need for firestarters. Three elements of success: top down fires, good kindling with a big handful of splitter trash on top, and propane torch to simultaneously get the tinder burning and establish the draft.

Jack

Yep, the crap the splitter makes is excellent firestarter. And tinder and kindling is in no shortage when cutting firewood.

I guess one thing i didnt think about is if the OP buys firewood instead of cutting it. That would prove an absence of kindling of that natural variety.

 

[stihl sawing]

I use the fire starters, but don't usually use over two a year cause once the stove is going it stays that way. Never noticed that on the box. Probably wouldn't be a good idea too use only them to heat with. probably because of the wax and chemicals in them. Just to start a fire with, it won't hurt nothing. We've been usin them for years.

 

[unclemoustache]

I recently started recycling my used oil and older fuel mix. I combine them in a 5 gal bucket, and then have a couple smaller squirt bottles which I use to coat on my kindling. One quick snap of the MAPP gas torch and she's blazing away, and I don't have to find a way to get rid of the oil or gas.

 

[stihl sawing]

I recently started recycling my used oil and older fuel mix. I combine them in a 5 gal bucket, and then have a couple smaller squirt bottles which I use to coat on my kindling. One quick snap of the MAPP gas torch and she's blazing away, and I don't have to find a way to get rid of the oil or gas.

<a href="http://www.sweetim.com/s.asp?im=gen&lpver=3&ref=11" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.content.sweetim.com/sim/cpie/emoticons/0002014F.gif" border="0" title="Click to get more." ></a>

 

[flotek]

the warning is probably some disclaimer a lawyer made them add to the package for the fear of some bonehead who burns his house down from neglect ,no need for concern theres nothing in them that is going to hurt a thing,just some wax bond and sawdust particles .. i use them all the time only thing really unique about the starter loggs is the fact that when broken into pieces they last a ful l season and they are only 9.99 readily available at any walmart .

 

[outonalimbts]

Fah

Fuel Air Heat, as long as you have your proportions correct, you can burn anything.
I love River birch bark. it takes a match even soaking wet- burns hot as it has natural oils in it and it smells like cloves as it is burning.

 

[pucksaw]

The starter logs work great, just discovered them last spring, local Home depot was blowing out their inventory for half price, bought a couple of boxes, I am just getting to the end now. Will have to pick up twice as many this spring. It sure beats my old practise of competing with others to collect kindling.

 

[MarylandGuy]

My fire hasn't been out since late October, so I don't light many fires. But if I do need to re-light, I use some old cooled off embers that I saved from a previous fire.

I place a small stack of the charcoal in the front of the stove near the air inlet. Light an ember with a lighter and blow on it for a few seconds. Shut the door and open all the air up. I'm blazing away in ten minutes.

I was thinking about adding fuel oil to a one gallon paint can. Then storing a few dried wood chunks in the can. When I need to start a fire, grab a chunk and chuck it in the stove with some other small stuff. The only problem with that is my chimney is on an outer wall and doesn't draft well when cold. So some of the fumes could potentially come in the house until the fire warms the flu well enough. I guess I better just stick to my homemade charcoal.

 

[reaperman]

About now is the time to start looking for the firestarters on sale at department stores, for next years use. Although I didnt see the cases of the smaller size bricks on sale. I ran accross the 3lb logs on sale for $1.50 at kmart. I've always used pieces of the smaller bricks to start my fires with. But for the price, I though I would try a 3lb log and cut pieces from that to see how it works. So far so good, I'm sure that one log will last me the rest of the season.

 

[Bass]

i use these

they work awesome

 

[laynes69]

I would bet the warning is for catalytic stoves. Probably no good for the combustors. I can get paraffin wax for free by the 5 gallon buckets, so I make my own firestarters. Paraffin and sawdust. Mix, compress and thats it.

 

[TallElf]

I used to do the kindling/paper.beerbox thing, however I have found that for ease of use, 4 sticks of FATWOOD does the trick. Call me lazy, but when the missus wants a fire, no time to gather kindling.

 

[wampum]

Never used them to light a fire,in my stove. I always took a couple with me when I went deer hunting to make a quick,small,noiseless fire. They usually last about 4 hours and if you want you can add wood to them.(usually cut them in half)

 

[myzamboni]

About now is the time to start looking for the firestarters on sale at department stores, for next years use. Although I didnt see the cases of the smaller size bricks on sale. I ran accross the 3lb logs on sale for $1.50 at kmart. I've always used pieces of the smaller bricks to start my fires with. But for the price, I though I would try a 3lb log and cut pieces from that to see how it works. So far so good, I'm sure that one log will last me the rest of the season.

What're you cuttin' your 3lb logs with? I ended up with chunks of starter (which works, but was more messy that I was hoping for),