Firestarter

[antonywardle]

I used to visit a guy in Wellington from time to time

He had a wood heater, and he had a "thing" that was soaked

in metho, that he would put in the fire to get it started.

Its getting a bit colder here now and after the flooding, some

of my "starter wood" is a bit damp, so I was thinking about

the metho method. The only thing is I dont know what it is.

It was reusable, because after the fire got started, he'd take it out

and when cooled down, he'd put it back in his jar of metho

Anyone here do anything like this?

[ambrose607]

In all seriousness this sounds like a big accident just waiting to happen. Servo's sell dry fire wood and kindling a much safer option than putting a fire starter back in a jar of flammable liquid.

Edited April 28, 2015 by ambrose607

[Ryder]

Pyroclassic wood heater.

I dont know what the reusable starter is made of.

probably a porous fireproot stone. Im thinking something like Hebel.

[Fab1]

I used to visit a guy in Wellington from time to time

He had a wood heater, and he had a "thing" that was soaked

in metho, that he would put in the fire to get it started.

Its getting a bit colder here now and after the flooding, some

of my "starter wood" is a bit damp, so I was thinking about

the metho method. The only thing is I dont know what it is.

It was reusable, because after the fire got started, he'd take it out

and when cooled down, he'd put it back in his jar of metho

Anyone here do anything like this?

I use a pumice stone soaked in white spirits to light my fireplace,forge and bbq at times.

You can use pretty much any lava rock including scoria if you like.(If you don't know,Scoria are those little red rocks people have in their garden beds and driveways and Pumice stones keep the mrs feet all lovely and smooth by removing the dead skin.)

[Belligero]

I used to visit a guy in Wellington from time to time

He had a wood heater, and he had a "thing" that was soaked

in metho, that he would put in the fire to get it started.

Its getting a bit colder here now and after the flooding, some

of my "starter wood" is a bit damp, so I was thinking about

the metho method. The only thing is I dont know what it is.

It was reusable, because after the fire got started, he'd take it out

and when cooled down, he'd put it back in his jar of metho

Anyone here do anything like this?

come by my place and take all the wood you need. Really good pine cut in easy to move sizes

There's a few tons of it for you =)

[antonywardle]

hahah

I have a heap too, but i can bring the trailer over about 20 times I guess

Thanks for the info, I'm thinking that pumice might be the go,

its already been in a volcano so my little wood heater would be ok.

I've also got some left over hebble from when the fireplace was installed.

I've got a lot of wood, so there is no way I'm ever going to buy any, and the pumice would

be cold before going back in the jar of metho. I'll have my fire pump on standby just in case ;-)

[bessell1955]

I would just get some dry kindling.

[antonywardle]

Diggers make a gel version of metho.

Its been quite good. No flare ups when lighting

I've not yet had any time to try out the pumice or the hebel.

Too dark when im getting home atm.

[abecedarian]

You can buy a gadget called a "looftlighter". They're basically an electric heat gun for lighting charcoal bbqs and the like. It's quick, easy and safe but saying that it does require you to hold it in place until the fire sets in.

You'll usually get a full fire faster with a setup like that as it works as an electric bellows too. Also would help dry the damp kindling before setting fire to it so probably less smoldering and smoke.

Worth a look I think, available at the big green hardware store for $40.

[slinkymalinky]

For no particular reason I've been going the other way and making it harder to light fires...

I decided to see if I could start a fire with 'flint & steel' (these days a magnesium alloy fire steel with steel striker or knife as striker). Got a couple to play with and after a bit of mucking about to get the technique and tinder worked out, found it remarkably easy. Now I have fire steels sitting in my glovebox, camping box, first aid kit, hunting pack, etc... handy things to have around and kind of satisfying to 'make fire'.

Cheers, Slinky

[antonywardle]

That's excellent. A while ago I bought some flints to have a go too.

Can't remember where they are if if I even tried them out.

Now you've got me thinking about it again!

It would impress the missus with my fire lighting ability !

[Scratchie]

The most interesting way I've ever seen a fire started is by lighting Dorito chips and a hair dryer. Believe it or not it flared up quite easily. To be honest, I don't think it would work.

Cheers scratchie!!!