campfire

Depends, many times I have used a napkin, but I have bought Fire, (which is an Oxymoron as the word fire implies that it will burn), wood at a national park, in which case I used an Enviro-Log fire starter, after 3 hours, the only thing that had burnt was the starter log. :(

Used a Gel based fire starter for the first time this weekend. Worked really well but felt like cheating!

austinjenna wrote:

I only allow myself one sheet of newspaper. I have an ancient tool called a hatchet. I think a caveman invented it. I use that to make little wood out of the big wood I bring along in the tuck. I crumble up the newspaper and put it in the middle of the pit. Then I stack the little pieces of wood (some old-timers call this kindling) over top of the newspaper. Stack some more of the bigger wood around and over the little wood. I then use a fancy long handled lighter to reach in and light the paper. Works every time.

I too use this ancient method to start fires

+1 although I try to go without the newspaper.
Need to enjoy the journey not just the destination.

I only allow myself one sheet of newspaper. I have an ancient tool called a hatchet. I think a caveman invented it. I use that to make little wood out of the big wood I bring along in the tuck. I crumble up the newspaper and put it in the middle of the pit. Then I stack the little pieces of wood (some old-timers call this kindling) over top of the newspaper. Stack some more of the bigger wood around and over the little wood. I then use a fancy long handled lighter to reach in and light the paper. Works every time.

I too use this ancient method to start fires

I use several things, depending on what I have. The Weber starters are good. Sure Start Firelighting Squares - I have those in the house for my woodstove. I usually have a bag of self-lighting briquettes when I camp, so a couple of those will work as well. If I'm out of all of those things, then I use a sheet of newspaper, rolled diagonally then tied in a knot - 3 or 4 of those, plus some kindling. I'm not making a teepee of the firewood anymore either, rather doing the criss cross (like a hashtag) which seems to draw more air up through it and start the fire faster. In a pinch, graham crackers make a good fire starter!

I take the egg carton and take some Petroleum Jelly and mush them up with cotton balls. Form a wick at one end and place into egg carton.

Voila! Instant fire starter.

You guys making stuff from scratch to start camping fires have too much time on your hands!!

I'm retired .., but even so keeping up with way more important stuff like maintenance on the house, maintenance on the RV, and last but not least - taking RV trips - are togehter taking up as much or more time than work used to. I use a propane Weber BBQ at home, a propane Weber BBQ when camping, and a great propane hot brick fire pit when camping.

Keeping the difficult stuff from being too difficult is difficult enough without also making the easy stuff too difficult. :S

(Wow - the same word four times in one sentence.)

I have known two people who died starting their fires with something they threw on so I make my own with picture puzzle pieces, dryer lint and melted wax. If I do have have enough lint I use dry wood chips.I make them in paper cups. Last week I made 63 so I will have enough for the rest of the year and part of next year.

I melt the wax in a large slow cooker that I bought for almost nothing at Goodwill. Husband had helped me by throwing away the dryer lint bag so I had to use wood chips and puzzle pieces with a candle in each one. Candles come from Dollar Tree.

sgip2000 wrote:
I cheat. I use a propane torch.

Yup!

I've had good luck with these. click