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Mountain_Mama's avatar
Mountain_Mama
Explorer
Jun 06, 2013

Fire Starters from RV Travel tips question

"Fire starter tip
Need fire starters? Reader S. Fox sends us a suggestion from The Old Farmer's Almanac: Start with dried pine cones. Melt old candle stubs in a double-boiler. Dip the pine cones into the hot wax. Let dry, perhaps on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Store when dry. The wax helps the pine cones burn long enough to help get your fire going. For special effects, soak the dried pine cones for 24 hours in a solution of 1 pound Epsom salts to 1 gallon water. The treated dried cones produce a myriad of colors in the campfire.'


I just read the above on the daily RV Tips from rvtravel.com. Has anyone tried soaking the pine cones in the epsom salt & water? If so, is it best to soak them before dipping in melted wax after they've dried, or after, or does it matter? :h TIA!
Seeking Advice
  • deleted-2's avatar
    deleted-2
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2013
    Been using inexpensive citronella oil poured on rolled newspaper whoom!
    (not really a whoom it just stays burning long enough to get dry wood going good)
    Diesel fuel works too... @ 4 bucks a gallon.

    :C
  • CincyGus's avatar
    CincyGus
    Explorer II
    Jun 06, 2013
    I have used the corn chip method once to impress someone and it worked pretty well. They say it's the cooking oil that soaked in the chips. After I tried it, I understood why they make you fat, lol.
    I generally cheat and put about 4 or 5 charcoal briquettes down, light them then start building my teepee of logs around it. It takes less fanning and I get less smoke in the eyes.
  • ctpres's avatar
    ctpres
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2013
    Try FRITOS corn chips as fire starter. Light ONE chip and you will be amazed at intensity of flame. I pretty much stopped eating Fritos after I burned a couple.
  • sljkansas's avatar
    sljkansas
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2013
    I get enough junk mail I don't need to buy any fire starters, but thanks for the idea. We don't see many pine cones here in Eastern Kansas. After thinking about it it's most all of Kansas.
  • Go_Dawgs1's avatar
    Go_Dawgs1
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2013
    Man I must be missing something. I just use kindling, paper, match, and dry firewood. Takes about 30 minutes for a great bed of coals and then were off.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Jun 06, 2013
    I have been using these Diamond brand STRIKE A FIRE sticks for years. Will start any fire for me...





    Coleman sells the same thing under their name as well

    I light these with a standard propane lighter


    For some reason these are more readily available during the winter months at the local stores like WALMART or LOWES so I buy the case of 24 Strike A FIRE sticks and keep my individual boxes of eight sticks stocked for use.

    You can order these from AMAZON as well

    I see these dudes out there faning and blowing and cussing under the breath all the time. One of these stick with twigs and leaves or whatever on top of it starts a fire in seconds.

    Wouldn't leave home with them...

    Just my thoughts
    Roy Ken
  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2013
    You do not need to dip a pine cone in wax to get a horrific hot fire going. Just add more pine cones. Been using pine cones from my yard to start campfires for years. When you pick these dang things up by the bushel basket everyday you find uses for them.
  • MPI_Mallard's avatar
    MPI_Mallard
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2013
    That's pretty cool,i just keep a old dishsoap bottle full of paint thinner(kerosene) and an empty beer case,fire fast n' easy!
  • the_bear_II's avatar
    the_bear_II
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2013
    Raw pine cones soak in epsom salt water solution let dry and then dip in the wax.

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