Help with starting a fire in a fireplace...?

Question

Other then paper or fire starter logs what can I put in the fire that will help the fire start?

Answer 1

kindling or very dry moss or dry leaves ( there are plenty of them about!!) or just some propellent!

Answer 2

You can use pine cones.

You can buy bundles of little tiny super flammable sticks called "fatwood" which is wood from the center of a tree that is filled with dry sap. It's rock hard so it's not sticky. If you want to find out where to buy "fatwood" in bulk just search on the term "fatwood".

You can also buy kerosene (usually at a local gas station) and add it to a metal can with some ash. When you want to build a fire scoop some of the kerosene soaked ash into the fireplace before you build the fire on top of it. It lights easily and burns long enough to get your main fuel going. Be careful and do not use this method if there are any coals in the fireplace. If this mixture hits a hot coal it gives off an explosive gas that will ignite and could seriously harm you.

I have used all the above methods but the one I am currently using is that I have a bucket full of finely sliced kindling that works well. You can find some 1x (one by whatever) pine board scrap at a construction site then take it home and saw it into 8 inch lengths. Then when you have some free time slice it into slivers with a hatchet. You will have a bucket full of perfect kindling that is all the same length and looks great in a bucket next to your fireplace.

If you make a bunch at once it will last you all Winter Long. Now to make a fire Lay your two mid size logs in a v shape with the open end of the v facing you. Crumple up two pieces of Newspaper in the center of the v. Place about 6 pieces of your home-made kindling so that they are over the v and propped up on the mid size logs. Put one more midsize log on top of that so that it crosses both legs of the V and it is over your paper and kindling.

Light the fire and enjoy, You'll get a perfect fire every time.

The V shape of the first two starter logs actually helps reflect more of the heat toward the center of the room.

Answer 3

You can buy bundles of cut up fatwood sticks at the hardware store, grocery, or Home Depot. They are neat little sticks made from natural pine that really burn...just one or two will get a good bonfire in your fireplace going. The secret is the wood is cut from a highly resinous portion of the tree that ignites easily. It smells nice and has no wierd chemicals to worry about (unlike recycled paper).The sticks burn much more slowly than paper so they give the fire a good chance to take hold.

Specialty stores also sell a myriad of pine cones, some scented, which look pretty in a basket next to your fireplace. My experience is that the plain fatwood sticks work better, are very inexpensive, and still look nice in a basket or holder. The site below shows some of these products and has some nice decorative holders.

Answer 4

Starting a fire in a fireplace involves 3 components. On the top there's the firewood. Directly below, but still on the grate, is a fire-starting component, such as a fire-starter stick/log or dry kindling (small sticks that are completely dead and dry). Below the grate there's a fast-burning item like crumpled paper to help the kindling or fire-starter get to burning.

Answer 5

Fatwood is great for helping to start a fire. It's not expensive and comes in nice big bundles. One or two will get a great fire going but I use paper to ignite it anyway.

Answer 6

If you have some newspapers you can make paper logs by braiding the paper, it will take longer to burn and give your twigs and sticks a better chance at catching.

Answer 7

Places like Home Depot have starter logs which will make it easy.

Answer 8

you should build up some old newspaper under the logs and light it, and ounce the flame get bigger you should blow some air into it to give the fire more oxygen

Answer 9

take an egg carton
fill it with pencil shavings, wood chips, shreds of newspapers
pour bacon grease into it
let it harden

each little section ins enough for one fire, just rip it off and burn

Stay Warm!

Answer 10

Try and put in loose pieces of junk mail or any other flammable piece of paper. NEVER put in flammable liquids, unless you wantr your entire house extra crisy.

Answer 11

Build up your paper then small firewood. then firelighters. and in five minutes you should have a cracking fire.