Starting a Stove Fire

[Industrial Toys]

I love fires. What I don't like is starting them. Or getting up in the night to put on more wood. I mean, the whole progressive thing, with paper, kindling and ever larger wood is just so time consuming, and if you don't stay there and watch it, it WILL go out! I usually use a propane torch, but have to crouch there to get the fire going. I once got a good amount of hardwood kindling from a cabinet manufacturer and it was great, but I finally ran out.

Can one make something (cheap) similar to the store bought logs that come in a paper bag? You put a match to them, and they are good to go. They look like compressed saw dust, but what makes them burn?

Can one soak, pieces of pallets for instance in kerosene or something, and let it dry, so basically it starts with just a match?

 

[lexluther]

Pellet stove..

 

[4570Man]

Pellet stove..

Not free...

 

[General Lee]

I don't experience the issues you're having. Once in the heart of winter, my stove pretty much burns 24/7. I hardly ever starting a fire from scratch during this time. I make my own kindling by splitting splits in 1x1 or 1x2 splits. I'll fill a 40 gallon trash can with them. One or two fat wood sticks or those square compressed cardboard fire starters and I'm good to go.

 

[4570Man]

I don't experience the issues you're having. Once in the heart of winter, my stove pretty much burns 24/7. I'm hardly ever starting a fire from scratch. I make my own kindling by splitting splits in 1x1 or 1x2 splits. I'll fill a 40 gallon trash can with them. One or two fat wood sticks or those square compressed cardboard fire starters and I'm good to go.

That's similar to my approach. Starting fires is really pretty easy. I don't don't the survivor man approach with 14 different sizes of kindling. Once you get the 1x2 pieces going toss on a couple of the smaller pieces from the wood pile and your good to go. If I rationed the scraps from my wood shop better I wouldn't have to split kindling, but it's easier just to burn it all at once and split more kindling when the need arises.

 

[hosspuller]

I've found the easy way to start a fire in the stove is:

Start with two well seasoned chunks. Large enough to fill the stove, leaving about 3-4 inches between them. Crumple some newspaper into the gap (the best, other paper doesn't seem to burn as well) Lay small kindling, 1/4 inch diameter or so on the paper, the more the better.

Light the paper & close the door with the air control wide open. As the kindling burns into coals, add another well seasoned piece over the two large chunks.

This method eliminates constant feeding at the start.

 

[turnkey4099]

I'm with the others. Not a problem to start a fire in a stove. Paper on botom, 2-3 pieces kindling, couple splits, light it and go about my business for a few minutes, come back add another split and shut down drafts as needed. No need to over over it.

The Wood heater I don't even bother with kingling, couple splits with sharp edges, one more on top, two sheets news print in ash drawer, light, crupple few more newsprint and feed that in and done.

Not moe than a couple minutes on either operation provided you are using well seasoned wood..

 

[RNeumann]

With a torch and dry wood it shouldn't take much. One good source is construction sites. All the framing material scraps make good kindling.
We use cedar trees for kindling where I'm at.

 

[kidr]

I use fire starter blocks from lowes or walmart . Haven't used kindling in years.

 

[Thomas]

Keep good bed of coals,need to add wood stir bed of coals.

 

[coobie]

I love fires. What I don't like is starting them. Or getting up in the night to put on more wood. I mean, the whole progressive thing, with paper, kindling and ever larger wood is just so time consuming, and if you don't stay there and watch it, it WILL go out! I usually use a propane torch, but have to crouch there to get the fire going. I once got a good amount of hardwood kindling from a cabinet manufacturer and it was great, but I finally ran out.

Can one make something (cheap) similar to the store bought logs that come in a paper bag? You put a match to them, and they are good to go. They look like compressed saw dust, but what makes them burn?

Can one soak, pieces of pallets for instance in kerosene or something, and let it dry, so basically it starts with just a match?

Old candles work pretty well for starting fires.Or use the gel liquid they use to start some pellet stoves.

 

[PILOON]

A local fast food fries tons of eggs that they buy by the case.
The eggs are nestled in 12" X 12" papier mache 'trays'.
I simply use one tray and one match plus 5-6 pieces of kindling and presto my fire is on its way.

 

[KennyG]

The bed of coals works. In the house stove, I use the "lean to" method, with a large chunk of wood and then kindling laid across crumpled newspaper. One match and it goes.

In the shop I cheat. Same method but I have a stack of small paper cups. I put a few ounces of used motor oil in the cup and put it under the crumpled paper and kindling. Never a problem.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I don't experience the issues you're having. Once in the heart of winter, my stove pretty much burns 24/7.

Yep. If you are having that much trouble starting a fire, you are probably using wet wood. It's just not that difficult to start dry wood.


I used to think I was using dry wood, and I had the same struggles you describe. Then I had the chance to try some wood that was actually dry. Problem solved. There is a world of difference.

How long are you seasoning your wood, and what kind of wood are you burning?

 

[Deere Dude]

Diesel soaked wood chips is the key.

When I wake up my house is cold and I want fires fast. Not enough heat comes out right away for the whole house but enough for the immediate area.

I have two buckets outside with little 4' squares of plywood or OSB, 4-5" 2x4s split maybe in quarters.

I dump diesel over them and fill so the buckets is 1/3-1/2 full of diesel. Then take a piece of newspaper, lay it out and put a small handful of diesel soaked chips on it, fold it over and set it in the fireplace. Put two or three wrist sized dry wood over the top, then torch it. You will have a nice fire in a couple minutes from start to finish.

Once the diesel soaked wood starts the wood will go quickly.

If the chips on the top of the pail seem dry just dump some of the diesel from the other bucket over it to moisten them good. 5 gallons of diesel will last all winter.

 

[Looking4new]

I use the method PILOON uses. I also ue white birch at the start, then go to one of my hardwoods. (oak, beech, elm, maple)

 

[SJay]

Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares, 144 Squares - For Life Out Here

Got these at TSC for my pole barn - they work great and are cheap

 

[CADplans]

A fire starter ball and pot,,,

fire starter ball and pot - Google Search

 

[PILOON]

A neighbor cheats
He uses his propane plumber's torch!

 

[Quebecguy]

Getcher wife to light the fire.