Bulldog, I also keep my in emergency kits when out, in my vehicles, you never know when you will need one. I like your take on it, I will have to make a batch your way.
great video! these would make great gifts. I have two wood fireplaces and sometimes I can't get the fire going very well. this will be my next project. my husband likes to do wood working also and there is always sawdust to use. thanks
Cyrilturner, during my burn time testing. the firestarters burned an average of 15 minutes. which is more then plenty of time to start a fire. look for a burn time of about 8 - 15 minutes depending on your mixture of wax vs sawdust and the species of sawdust used. in this video I used cedar.
dang this is a good idea...I have an abundance of sawdust created by woodturning and woodworking projects....I have been throwing it away in thirty gallon trash bags. Right now in my shop I have about ten bags of sawdust to clean up...this might be a way to do it ...thanks.
Tommy I still haven't had a chance to make a new batch and try the waterproofing method I mentioned below.. but as soon as I do, I will let you know how it worked or if it worked.. in the mean time if you try it with a batch. let me know your results.. I'm thinking of putting together a new video and testing the waterproofing method...just have to fit it into the schedule.
Well Good question.. hmm I will have to experiment. I would think once the blocks are done, cut to size, if you dipped them in melted wax completely coating them, the way may make them waterproof.. but you would have to scrape the wax away to expose some of the sawdust when it comes time to use them... Don't quote me just yet, I will give it a try and see if it works.. stay tuned.
Thanks. That's pretty good. It compares favourably with hexamine. I note that one guy gets 30 or so minutes with waxed cotton wool, but a lot would probably depend on the presence/absence of wind. Keep up the good work!
Galen, all good questions. On my firestarters I get an average burn time of about 15 minutes.. Ranging anywhere between 8 - 15 minutes depending on your mixture of wood/wax. Either way, plenty of time to start a fire, as far as primitive methods, I would try crumbling up a portion of the fire starter and adding it to your kindling when using magnesium fire starters, bow Drill, Hand drill.. It would be interesting to know the results.. If you run a test, be sure to let me know the results. Thanks
Great idea it looks like it burns pretty clean and starts easy. I think I'll make a few boxes for my fire place and bar-b-que grill. Thanks for the idea.
Great Video! Sorry for chiming in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you heard about - Proutklarton Incredible Match Plan (do a google search)? It is an awesome one of a kind product for getting an understanding of how to survive in a disaster and make your own survival food without the hard work. Ive heard some decent things about it and my mate finally got great success with it.
Ok TehLivingDeath sorry it took so long to get back to you on this.. The INSIDE dimensions of the mold are 10" long 5 1/2" wide and 1 1/8" deep the lid fits into the mold so make it accordingly.. my lid is 3/4 thick 9 - 15/16 long and 5 1/2" wide.. I hope that helps..
I make mine with dryer lint mixed in and they work fantastic and stay together longer. 40% lint to 60% sawdust seems to work best for me. You can even twist a wick if needed. Used em' all over the world during my 32 year military career. Dryer lint and petroleum jelly work as well... keep mine in small ziplock bags and use as needed.
Thanks TheeFirewoodGuy, just to help you along.. In the video I tell you the size i cut my fire starters. I individually wrap them in wax paper and sell them in packages of 6. I sell a package of 6 for $5.00 or individually for $1.00 a piece... thought I would share that with you, to give you an idea of how you may price the ones you sell.
I buy a block of wax from a hobby store called Hobby Lobby.. For the block I buy, I think it run around $14.00 if I'm not mistaken.. it's a 10 pound block..
I love the firestarters....... Best one i have seen by far. How much burntime do you have on these firestarters. and I want to check out some varied lighting methods on these Firestarters yeah they light good with a bic or zippo but how well do they lite with say primitive methods, Fire steel and Flint, Ferrocerium rod, hand Drill, Bow drill. but great video, i subbed to ya.
It sounds like you may have to much wax to sawdust ration, try using less wax on your next batch and see how it does.. I use my chop saw or table saw to cut the blocks neatly, its sawdust and wax, so no harm doing it that way... you can even use a bandsaw if you have one.
I use smaller starters for the wood stove made in egg cartons using the same wax and pine needles or dryer lint. I'll be making a batch for this winter and I'll give some sawdust a try although most of my wood is already cut and split.
Great video! I make the same things except I use the cardboard tube from toilet paper or paper towel rolls...seal off one end with tissue paper and stuff (press) the wax/sawdust mixture down into them. When dry you can leave them as is or remove the paper roll. I like to cut them into tablets to make carrying easier.
Mostly use cedar, and I don't work with treated wood, I used to when i did construction, but haven't had a need to with my woodworking. So Short answer, untreated.
I don't see a reason why they would not be safe. I would recommend regular maintenance cleaning of the wood stove over time to clean any wax residue build up if any. Since these fire starters are made with sawdust and wax.
Laney, That is an excellent video. I have a source of hardwood sawdust at a saw mill nearby. Anyway, What do you think about instead of a solid bottom making a frame and two lids? That way you can push the finished product all the way through the mold.
I would use a 1:1 mixture (1 part wax / 1 part sawust) if you put a little to much wax in it should be ok, it just effects the burn time and starting. but if you put way to much it may not work very well. or have very poor burn / fire starting qualities
Hey Laney: Someone suggested to me that you could make these in a crock-pot. Which would make sense, because I could make them in the shop whilst I work without worrying about starting the place on fire with a hot-plate. What's your opinion?
does cutting them with your miter saw do damage the blade at all? Great video tutorial by the way - gonna try it out this weekend! How long does that size burn for?
Hey outta curiosity how deep is the inside of your mold I was thinking if I want a half in thick slab would I shoot for a 3/4 in deep mold to allow for when I compress them?
Love your mould (my hubby HAS to make me one of those :) i currently use the egg carton method, but your are much neater, i like that thanks for sharing this idea
SgtOli I added a link in the discription of the video to my main website, when you go there, go to the "Contact Us" page using the menu at the top of the page. my contact information is on that page.
Yeah, that makes sense. I've never seen a double-boiler in action, so I was a bit out of my element. I have a 2 6-quart crock pots. One has a timer, a "warm" setting, and the other doesn't. So the "other" will become the shop crock pot, once I blow the 10 inches of dust of it...
Laney, one more thing: what are the dimensions of your mold? Looks to be the perfect size to me, so I'd be eternally grateful if you'd take out the guesswork...
You can buy an old crock pot at goodwill and dedicate it to this purpose or use crock pot liners that can be thrown away. You can line the mold with waxed paper.
I came up with a great way to speed up the melting of the wax...get a cheese grater and grate the wax into the pot..it melts almost as soon as it hits the pot.
Well basically, the big post I use is like a crock pot, The water heats up, which melts the wax in the floating pan, and then I add my mixture.. So my opinion, I think it will work... but Dont use your wife's, girlfriend's or your mother's crockpot. because it wont be much good for anything other then making the fire starters..lol
great idea thanks. I'm moving to N.H from Mass. and my new workshop will be heated with only a wood stove. do you think the wax will be an issue with the stove?
