Firestarters

Camping means a good camp fire. When it's been wet starting a fire can be one tough task. Of course you can just be lazy and dump a quart of lighter fluid on it. But to start a fire the easy way, here's what I do.

I've been making my own fire starters for a long time. In the past when I ran a wood shop I used the wood chips as a base, but now I've been using shreaded paper. I fill a small 5 ounce paper cup with the paper, packed lightly and filled to the top. Then I pour melted wax into each cup until the paper is saturated slightly. When they cool off I pack them in a baggie. Place one on a pile of wood, light it, and pretty soon as the wax begins to melt it will catch the wood on fire. Small wood chunks and sticks that are damp will start up using these.

When melting wax keep the heat low. I use an electric burner with a pan from a thrift shop. Sometimes I get candles from church and keep the burnt wicks, then insert them upside down in the cup.