Fire Starters from RV Travel tips question

[Mountain_Mama]

"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!

[Dakzuki]

Paper, dry kindling, and apply flame. Works every time No need to carry smelly flammable stuff. Everything can be carried in paper bags or a small cardboard box which also become part of the equation.

I also carry an ax, hatchet, and buck saw. I forage for firewood where it's legal.

[MitchF150]

We tried that dryer lint thing and it technically burned, but burning dryer lint does not smell very good... 😉 We just lit the TP roll stuffed with it. Did not really see how it would catch the wood on fire?? Not much flame at all..

For me, I just apply a liberal amount of charcoal lighter fluid on the dry wood and ignite and I have a fire going pretty easy....

Mitch

[rvjames]

RaenMark wrote:
We save dryer lint, wad it up into the paper egg cartons then pour melted canning wax until the lint is saturated. Let it dry then store in a dry container. I use an old ammo can, it's all metal and the lid seals well. No paper egg cartons in your area, use old TP or paper towel rolls, stuff them full then cut with a bread knife into 1-1 1/2" sections. Even with the pot I bought for melting the wax, I've got over 3 years of fire starters for less than $10.

This is a neat idea. I knew there had to be a way to use dryer lint constructively. I was curious so I did a google search. Some pictures of dryer lint fire starters here

[4kyyote]

hand sanitizer and cotton balls.

[lamopar]

I always have propane bottle with the auto-light torch with us. Lights small wood or paper very quickly and if I make a teepee with the small wood and put a piece of paper in the middle it takes right off. If it is raining, use 4 large pieces of wood as the 4 corners and place a large piece of bark across. Build your teepee under the bark and you get a nice fire again. You can also use the bark as a wind break to get a fire started with matches if you forget your torch. Dry moss works great as a starter also. If you are desperate carry some pool cleaner, calcium hyperchloride powder, and DOT 3 brake fluid. Put your wood down, put the powder on the wood and pour some brake fluid on and stand back. You will have a nice fire pretty quick. Best part is you may need the brake fluid for your rig and pool cleaner is not real hazardous to carry in a small zip lock bag. Just some stuff I have done.

[mosseater]

I try to use what I have on board or in my bug out kit. Cotton balls (or lint in the afforementioned post) massaged with Vasoline that I keep on board for my spring bars. Saturate the cotton ball, then spread it apart with your fingers and light. Burns pretty well to get a fire started. Steel wool burns like crazy, too. Be careful what you store in enclosed containers. Oily rags or wood chips might spontaineously ignite.

[RaenMark]

We save dryer lint, wad it up into the paper egg cartons then pour melted canning wax until the lint is saturated. Let it dry then store in a dry container. I use an old ammo can, it's all metal and the lid seals well. No paper egg cartons in your area, use old TP or paper towel rolls, stuff them full then cut with a bread knife into 1-1 1/2" sections. Even with the pot I bought for melting the wax, I've got over 3 years of fire starters for less than $10.

[jeepfreak]

We use Yankee Candle fire starters. They are about the size of the average cupcake and are a wax candle that burns long enough for about anything to catch. Plus they really smell nice when you open up the compartment there stored in.

[prujak]

Get a five gallon bucket with a lid. Get some dried wood chips and fill the bucket. You can use the chips from a wood chipper. Find the place where they dump them and get the dry ones. Pour kerosene over them put the lid on and shake it up. Don't need allot. Dump a couple handfuls into the fire ring and place firewood over it. Light. Great fire starter. You can also use diesel or heating oil.

[_40Fan]

Just fire up your Norcold refrigerator. That will start an RV fire that you can be proud of. Or did I read the heading wrong?

Worst part is I am about to buy a TT with a Norcold. Better make sure I keep a fresh pack of hot dogs next to the bed.

[deleted-2]

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]

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]

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]

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.