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How do you DIY your firestarters

Hex.ter38

New member
Joined
Aug 22, 2025
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Exploring with different ways to make DIY firestarters, mostly because I like the idea of having something handy, cheap, and reliable when I'm lighting the stove. I've tried the usual tricks like dryer lint in a cardboard egg carton with wax but funny enough I've also been testing a few odd versions I've seen online and in odd discussion lol like pinecones dipped in wax, sawdust mixed with candle scraps, even cotton pads soaked in Vaseline.

The lint/wax combo lights quick but doesn't last long, while the pinecones look great in a basket by the stove and put up a decent flame once they get going. The Vaseline cotton pads are ridiculously effective, almost too much I could probably start a fire in the rain with one of those
 
hi @Hex.ter38 ,if you want a firestarter that's easy to make in bulk and burns hot for a while, try using sawdust and melted wax.
You can mix them together and spoon the mixture into a cardboard egg carton or paper cupcake liners. Once they cool, you have a solid, long burning firestarter.
They're great for stoves because they burn hot and steadily, getting the fuel going without a lot of fuss.
 
Nice! I got into firestarters last winter after putting a wood stove in my shed. I tried a bunch, but the best one for me is sawdust in paper muffin cups with melted wax like what @t3mpur@_ said. Super cheap and burns longer than lint. Those Vaseline pads are crazy strong, perfect for wet weather or backup kits.
 
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