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Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:24 pm
by mitch5252
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Where in the world can I buy paraffix wax to make some homemade first starters?
I thought it was always around the canning stuff?

Thanks.

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Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:40 pm
by Gentleladybear
Look in the craft stores now. They usually carry this stuff near the candle making supplies.

Nan

Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:44 pm
by mitch5252
Gentleladybear wrote:Look in the craft stores now. They usually carry this stuff near the candle making supplies.

Nan


Like Michael's or Hobby Lobby? I'll have to wait until my next trip to Paducah. :(

Thanks!

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Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:28 pm
by sunshinecruiserTN
Mitch, I just made about 24 of these and I used half burned candles. I put out a call at work and got some candles and heated it over a candle warmer. Worked great. Ran out of dryer lint but had plenty of tp cores. I went to the laundromat to get lint and they wouldn't give me any. So I have 24 and my friends are saving their lint and half used candles.

Last year after the fire season, I purchased several "logs" and my nephew cut them up into little cores to use with fires. I have used them all but a few.

Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:34 pm
by Cedar518
sunshinecruiserTN wrote: I went to the laundromat to get lint and they wouldn't give me any. So I have 24 and my friends are saving their lint and half used candles.



got a recipe for this? I can't figure out how you are going to turn wax and lint into fire starters,.... :D

Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:37 pm
by sunshinecruiserTN
Use the core from toilet paper or paper towels (these have to cut into), stuff lint & fabric softner sheets into the core, pour wax from candle/paraffin into both ends. To use, light the ends of the core and the wax melts onto the wood and the lint catches fire long enough to catch the wood on fire.

Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:38 pm
by mitch5252
Cedar518 wrote:
sunshinecruiserTN wrote: I went to the laundromat to get lint and they wouldn't give me any. So I have 24 and my friends are saving their lint and half used candles.



got a recipe for this? I can't figure out how you are going to turn wax and lint into fire starters,.... :D


You put the lint in a paper egg container and then pour wax in each of the 12 holes. Cool. Voila - cheap fire starters!

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Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:46 pm
by Sparkle
I have made firestarters for years by buying cheap candles from Thrift stores. I melt them in an empty can set in a pan of boiling water, then dip pinecones in and let them dry. A basket of red, white and green cones looks great. They are not only firestarters but if your fire is smoky toss in a few and somehow the smoke disappears.

Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:35 am
by asirimarco
Crap - this just logged me out!!! Anyway to repeat myself Ladies you never cease to amaze me. Such wonderful ideas - can't wait to try it. Of course you know that The Driver will be hunting you all down because now I have something else to mess with. I remember MANY LONG YEARS ago I was "into" decreative candle making. Ruined a few pans but had fun.

Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:42 am
by mitch5252
asirimarco wrote:Crap - this just logged me out!!! Anyway to repeat myself Ladies you never cease to amaze me. Such wonderful ideas - can't wait to try it. Of course you know that The Driver will be hunting you all down because now I have something else to mess with. I remember MANY LONG YEARS ago I was "into" decreative candle making. Ruined a few pans but had fun.


I just love how you call him THE DRIVER. That cracks me up every time I read it!
(me, too, on ruining pots making candles years ago when it was "in"...)

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Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:19 am
by Carolinagal
I learn something new on here all of the time. What a great topic. I like Sparkles idea best of all, it sounds easier and also prettier to have around until needed.

Thanks for all of the ideas. I have loads of candles, and more pinecones in my yard then any one person should have, :lol: , so will try her idea, one day soon(I hope)


Carol

Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:23 am
by mitch5252

Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:26 am
by OutandAbout
Mitch, Michaels has the wax, I saw some wax at Ace hardware last year with the canning supplies. Don't know about Lowes or HD can always call them. I'm going to try this too, sounds like fun. I have a 10 lb slab of wax left over from my candle making days. and some soy stuff for the smokeless candles. Since it will probably rain here this weekend, might as well have some fun. Linda

Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 1:31 pm
by mitch5252
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Thanks, Linda. Closest Michael's is Paducah, so it'll have to wait! I think we have an Ace in Union City somewhere, but that's about as far away as Paducah. Walmart is my world...

When my Dad had a woodburning stove, he used to soak newspaper (1/2 sheet per each starter) roll and crumble into a small log shape. Dry them. Dip them in wax. They worked great. I think I might try that, although the egg carton ones seem like less work.

Let me know how everyone's turns out, if ya make 'em.

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Re: Homemade Firestarters

PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:15 pm
by kelpie
You can also use crayons - stock up now while they are on sale for back to school. It does take a fair amount of time to peel off all the wrappers though.