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Fire Starter Project

By Bob Sherman

Fire Starters are a great way to use up small scraps of leftover wax, used candle remains, drippings, etc... Wax is never garbage and can always be re melted until it is finally consumed by flames.

I use these extensively in my campfires, wood burning stove, and fireplace. They burn very hot with a large flame for 10 to 15 minutes. One is usually enough to light wet wood or hardwood without kindling.

DO NOT CONFUSE THESE WITH CANDLES! - Although made with wax they are not designed to burn in a controlled manner and should only be used in a suitable place such as a fire pit, fireplace, or wood burning stove.

These are basic fire starters - there are several other styles I will discuss in future articles.

PLEASE NOTE!! - Candle making can be dangerous if proper safety procedures are not followed. Please read these Safety Rules before attempting any candle making projects. If you are new to candle making our free Introduction To Candle Making Course will explain the basics and allow you to make these safely.

Making these may be a bit messy, so protect the floor and surrounding work surfaces.

WAX FORMULA

Any paraffin wax you have laying around works well for these - no special formula is needed.

Step By Step Instructions


1. These are most economical when made with recycled wax.	2. Optional - Adding sawdust or wood shavings will provide a longer burn time. Some folks like to use dryer lint for this.

3. My preferred method is to use paper / cardboard egg crates to make these with 100% recycled materials. Some bakeries will save you their commercial egg crates which are approximately 12 inches square and work great. If using sawdust fill each cavity approximately half way.	4. Paper baking cups are an alternate to egg crates. These work best if placed in a muffin pan.

5. Fill the cavities with melted wax. Temperature is not critical as long as it is within a safe working range.	5b. Same except in baking cups.

6. Allow to cool and you are done.	6b. Same.

Variants

Make these in small paper cups like the one shown at the top of this page.
Substitute wood shavings for sawdust (commonly sold as animal bedding by pet stores).

Usage

You may have noticed there is no wick on these - that's because a wick would provide a much smaller flame than we desire for lighting a fire. Since these are made in paper, we can use the entire top edge as a wick. Simply break off a piece of egg crate and light the torn edge. In the case of cups, tear the edge slightly before lighting. The torn edge will catch fire much more readily. Position the wood 1 to 3 inches above the fire starter.

Cautions

Do not use these in any areas unsuitable for a fire - they will burn uncontrollably.
These are not candles - do not attempt to use them as candles.
Flame size may vary, but flame heights of 15 inches are not uncommon.
Fire starter containing sawdust from softwoods (such as construction lumber) should not be used indoors because it may cause creosote buildup in your flue. I use only paraffin wax in fire starters for my home.

Candle Making Supplies

The following candle making supplies and other materials were used to make this candle. Clicking on the item name will bring you to that item's page with a full description and ordering information.

Item

Scrap Wax

Sawdust or Wood Shavings - optional

Paper Egg Crates or Paper Cups

Disclaimer: The information presented here is accurate to the best of my knowledge and common candle making practices as of the time of this writing - March 2006. The author and the publisher accept no liability for the use or misuse of any of the information presented in this article. This article is presented for informational purposes and is used at your own risk.

Author: Bob Sherman

Publisher: Bobby's Craft Boutique Inc.

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