Charcol as fire stater?

[kennyd63]

Has anyone used charcoal to get your firewood started? Well I have, and I'm still using it. I just buy a bag of Match light charcoal. Place a small amount on the center of the fire ring or pit, place your log on it and BAM!! Instant fire. No more messing around with twigs, news papers or buying log starters. A bag will last me 3 seasons... Remember once the fire start you just keep adding on fire wood to it...

Happy Camping!!!:W

[Boband4]

I saved a wrought iron grate from the house fireplace, now carry it in the TT. Gets the firewood up out of the damp fire ring pit. I use pieces of Duraflameas starter. Every time I tried to use a propane bottle torch I would turn it horizontal to get the flame by the kindling the liquid in the bottle runs down so the torch doesnt burn well.

[MM49]

oughtsix wrote:
I will have to give the charcoal a try!

Another tip for you guys. The best accessory I have ever put into my trailer is a self starting propane torch! When everyone else's wimpy little lighters are being blow out by the wind my trusty torch always comes through! It always causes a good bit of excitement when I light the candles on a birthday cake with the torch... but I don't believe in messing around! 🙂

Please make sure that you disassemble the torch before you travel. The torch can move in the storage compartment and start!!!!!!!

I love the auto-start torchs, but I can't trust myself and others.
MM49

[Go_Dogs]

am1958 wrote:

A. If it takes you a 'couple of hours' to make embers to cook over-you should be using a grill.

Why rush? There's a whole case of beer in the fridge that won't drink itself you know...

B. Diapers, dog poop, batteries, chemicals, and G*d knows what in those fire pits. I would worry.

You really think any of that is going to be around to detrimentally affect anyone after an hour or two at 1000+ degrees? You probably use anti-bacterial wipes on everything and wonder why you get so many colds and sniffles too.. 😉

Enjoy your case of beer and filthy cooking area. Unless you're some kind of environmental engineer, (which I highly doubt), you have no clue how certain chemicals will react, when exposed to high temperatures.

[am1958]

A. If it takes you a 'couple of hours' to make embers to cook over-you should be using a grill.

Why rush? There's a whole case of beer in the fridge that won't drink itself you know...

B. Diapers, dog poop, batteries, chemicals, and G*d knows what in those fire pits. I would worry.

You really think any of that is going to be around to detrimentally affect anyone after an hour or two at 1000+ degrees? You probably use anti-bacterial wipes on everything and wonder why you get so many colds and sniffles too.. 😉

[beemerphile1]

oughtsix wrote:
Uhhh.... That one doesn't leave much birthday cake left!!!! This is the one I use! Best lighter I have ever owned!!!!!

Boy, talk about a wimpy lighter! :B

[Fisherman]

mhardin wrote:
Why does everyone want to stink up a good campground with wood smoke?

Why not just string up enough lights to make the night look like Noon in Arizona in mid-July and enjoy the sound of the generators? Sheesh!


:R

We just collect all the cow paddies and bull granola from Texas, wait for a good north wind and light 'er up:B

[oughtsix]

Uhhh.... That one doesn't leave much birthday cake left!!!! This is the one I use! Best lighter I have ever owned!!!!!

beemerphile1 wrote:
Yep, pretty good fire starter. Don't stand too close when I'm starting a fire or you will get burnt shoe laces!

[ADK_Camper]

rbpru wrote:
Charcoal works, so does a fire starter block or my favorite, a wax/sawdust mix poured into a cardboard egg carton. Twelve little handy starters.

As to the charm of a campfire; if I have to explain, you would not understand anyway.

I make the egg carton sawdust wax fire starters also. I get short candle stubs from the janitor at our church (holy campfire Batman!).

I cut the candle wicks into short pieces and embed them in the center of each egg-carton cell.

I always have several cartons on hand so if a neighbor has done me a favor or perhaps is just having trouble getting his campfire going, I give him a dozen.

[beemerphile1]

oughtsix wrote:

...Another tip for you guys. The best accessory I have ever put into my trailer is a self starting propane torch....

Yep, pretty good fire starter. Don't stand too close when I'm starting a fire or you will get burnt shoe laces!

[Go_Dogs]

am1958 wrote:

Go Dogs wrote:
You must be one of those that use the fire/garbage pit to cook over.

Yep... After a couple of hours of making a good bed of embers to cook over I can assure you there is nothing in there I would worry about...

A. If it takes you a 'couple of hours' to make embers to cook over-you should be using a grill.
B. Diapers, dog poop, batteries, chemicals, and G*d knows what in those fire pits. I would worry.

[oughtsix]

I will have to give the charcoal a try!

Another tip for you guys. The best accessory I have ever put into my trailer is a self starting propane torch! When everyone else's wimpy little lighters are being blow out by the wind my trusty torch always comes through! It always causes a good bit of excitement when I light the candles on a birthday cake with the torch... but I don't believe in messing around! 🙂

[am1958]

Go Dogs wrote:
You must be one of those that use the fire/garbage pit to cook over.

Yep... After a couple of hours of making a good bed of embers to cook over I can assure you there is nothing in there I would worry about...

[fireman93514]

mhardin wrote:

CampingN.C. wrote:

mhardin wrote:
Why does everyone want to stink up a good campground with wood smoke?

Why not just string up enough lights to make the night look like Noon in Arizona in mid-July and enjoy the sound of the generators? Sheesh!


:R

IMO if there isn't campfire smoke in the air it isn't a good campground anyway!

It was meant as a a joke. Obviously, I bombed.:S

I thought it was funny.

I use a dura flame log to start my campfire. Works well for me.

[Major_Dad]

When I DO make campfires I just make a little tipi out of kindling. Inside the tipi I have dry pine cones (if available) or tight wads of scrap papers. Newspapers were great for that before they went digital. Then as the kindling catches I just add larger logs to make the tipi bigger. Tending the fire like this is part of the fun for me. It makes it even more fun if you tell your kids/grandkids that this is the way you did it out on the Oregon trail...

Sure, it's not the EASY way, but it's the COWBOY way!:W

[Go_Dogs]

You must be one of those that use the fire/garbage pit to cook over.