Firestarter/ Beeswax Pinecones Safety??

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HI All...

I have seen mention several times recently about using pinecones dipped in beeswax as a "firestarter". Though they look pretty, I wonder how safe this is in a woodstove? Any thoughts or experience?

Thanks, Meagan (who is always letting that fire go out!) : )

-- Meagan Fuson (fusons@ados.com), December 24, 2001

Answers

Hi Meagan- I don't know if you've tried it, but you don't need the beeswax on the pinecones. I use 3 pinecones under the kindling and it always starts just fine.

-- debra in ks (windfish@toto.net), December 24, 2001.

I agree..... pinecones alone are grand fire starters.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), December 24, 2001.

When my grandmother would start here cookstove in the morning, she wouls first put in some news paper, then the kindling, a shovel of Acorn coal and pour kerosene over it all and light it up.

I use kerosene to get my shop stove going, I have use coal oil for years for starting stove fires. I punch a hole in the top of a plastic pop bottle and just squeeze and squirt it on to the kindling or what.

I use kerosene for starting brush piles, diesel does not do as well in wet weather.

-- hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), December 25, 2001.


I use pine cones bu themselves for fire starters. Anouther great starter is to take several newspapers and roll them up into a tube. Tie the tube with cotton string every 2" or so then cut the tube on a bandsaw between the strings. Dip them in melted wax and set them to dry. When you need to start a fire just light the string and they will burn for 15-30 minutes. They make great firestarters even on wet camping trips.

-- Paul (treewizard@buffalo.com), December 26, 2001.

I've been saving dryer lint,putting it in egg cartons and pouring on a little parrifin wax. When I need a fire started, I tear off a section or two from the egg carton. Works great! I'm glad to learn about the pine cones.

-- Joyce (rejoyceom@yahoo.com), December 26, 2001.


But not just any pine cone will do. They have to be thoroughly dry and opened right out.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), December 26, 2001.

Plain brown paper bags from the grocery store are better still. The only precaution I can think of to making wax covered cone starters is this: ONLY USE A DOUBLE BOILER when melting the wax. Wax itself (I burned my treehouse down as a kid trying this, so chalk this one up to I KNOW WHAT IM TALKIN ABOUT) is very flamable. A coffee can inside a pot of water makes a good wax melter.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), December 26, 2001.

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