Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 2648 Location: Maine
Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 2:32 pm Post subject: Campfire starters made in a Westy
A friend of mine had made some fire starters out of wax and sawdust poured in a muffin tin.
I was about to do the same, but while at the store to buy Gulf wax the clerk told me about how
she made hers.
She used an Egg Carton in much the same way as a muffin tin. This was a great idea I thought!
Just break off what you need when you need it. I used shavings from my thickness planer but
you can easily use sawdust or shredded paper. Another great tip was to buy up large used candles
at flea markets or yard sales and turn them into your fire starters.
I think the size qualifies as space saver too, I keep my bag of them under the rear seat.
Joined: January 15, 2012 Posts: 206 Location: MA, Boston Strong
Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 2:39 pm Post subject:
I'll bet the dust created by my thickness sander would be perfect! Thanks for the tip!! _________________ '85 Wolfsburg Edition Westfalia Weekender, Zetec #36, w/ Peloquin TBD
'83.5 Westfalia, full camper (we'll never forget you)
Last edited by BoneMachine on Sun May 06, 2012 5:56 am; edited 1 time in total
Joined: March 05, 2011 Posts: 1341 Location: Tucson
Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 8:23 pm Post subject:
While at home, I prefer to use my old 20% nitro fuel.
It gives off an awesome purple glow for the first minute. _________________ "In case I don't see you, good afternoon , good evening, and goodnight."
Joined: March 19, 2004 Posts: 2044 Location: fort collins, CO
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:12 am Post subject:
I use petroleum jelly kneaded into cotton balls - lightweight, easy to make, and very effective at starting damp kindling _________________ Wish List:
1967 Wesfalia SO-42 Parts Needed: Kitchenette, Cot Poles
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 5358 Location: Syracuse, NY
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 11:57 am Post subject:
Hand sanitizer (at the 1$ stores) is the gelled firestarter of choice for pellet stove owners..
I use the cedar underlay shingles ($6/bundle) for my woodstove and camper, they stack very thin and neat. they light with 1 match and smell nice
and most of all they don't leak (gelled fuel or melted parifn candle) when the package is compromised or heated.
Joined: October 10, 2006 Posts: 1263 Location: Jefferson, GA
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 12:57 pm Post subject:
marklaken wrote:
I use petroleum jelly kneaded into cotton balls - lightweight, easy to make, and very effective at starting damp kindling
Yep, it works great. I keep them in old plastic medicine bottles with screw on lids in my Baja. I also keep candles and an "Out of fluid" Bic lighter for flint and steel.
Marvin
Joined: October 10, 2006 Posts: 1263 Location: Jefferson, GA
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 11:10 am Post subject:
VDubTech wrote:
GA_Boy wrote:
I keep an "Out of fluid" Bic lighter for flint and steel.
Why not keep a "new" Bic lighter instead? They make fire.
You can't trust a Bic, or any other gas lighter, to not leak and besides I don't want a filled lighter stored when the vehicle gets hot from the sun.
Book matches dipped in wax also make an emergency lighting source.
Since I don't smoke, I don't carry a lighter so it may be a long time before I need one. Lightly rolled paper and a 12 volt vehicle lighter can produce fire if you gently blow on the paper while holding it to the hot car lighter.
To each, his own. All of the above ideas can help someone sometimes.
Marvin
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7446 Location: Greater Toronto Area
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 5:24 pm Post subject:
Be VERY careful with Paraffin when you are making them. Now that I've heard other resources, I'd prefer not to use paraffin. It is very combustable when you're making your fire starters. _________________ 83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 97 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (for sale)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)
Mental Health issues affect us all. Ignorance is not bliss. It's up to each of us to educate ourselves.
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