OS firelighters

bizzylizzy

Thanks to a tip from this board (sorry, can't remember who) I have tried this -
stuff shredded paper tightly into cardboard loo roll tubes and use to help light the fire.

It works really well, lay a few tubes on top of some lightly scrunched newspaper, put some kindling on top, then coal. As the tube of shredded paper takes a while to burn it gives the coal longer to catch light too.

Good on all counts - no more buying firelighters, it uses "free" stuff and it's not smelly! All you have to do is save up the tubes - not hard in my house as I'm the only one who changes the loo roll anyway! :rolleyes:

jojo3_2

If you run out of loo rolls, just roll newspaper on the diagonal into a long tube, and then twist into a loose Knot. My grandad used to get us to make these fire lighters when we were wee!

Mr_Proctalgia

Paper Sticks - Just realised it was posted above. Roll up the paper and tie it in knots, it works well enough for me although sometimes I cause a bit of mayhem by burning a grateful of loose paper to warm the chimney first to get a draught going.

HTH

Sassers

Hi everyone :wave:
Hope you had a good Christmas and are really looking forward to New Year!!!:beer: Lovely OH has installed a rather lovely log burner just before Christmas and the firelighters are costing quite a bit as we're getting through a box a week.

Does anyone have any suitable suggestions for any homemade firelighters - tried natural pinecones, WD40 sprayed on the kindling (OH standing behind me has just insisted `make sure you put it's your idea' :rolleyes: :rolleyes:)

If anyone has any ideas that would be so helpful - short of blowing up the livingroom accidently and making our own bottled gas thanks to dear OH's sprout and turkey fest :eek: over Chrimbo.....
Love Sassers xx:rotfl:

elizabethp

You can use the lint from your drier if you have one

trying-very-trying

We usually get by with just screwed up newspaper, chopped kindlers and then the small logs. You can fold the paper in long strips and sort of criss cross them. We used to do that at Brownies, and give them to pensioners, but if your wood is dry, you shouldn't have too much problem.

mary43

My Mum always made the 'paper stick' as she called them - newspaper all twisted up criss cross style........always seemed to work.
Later on after I married I got a 'brickette' but it was a bit time consuming.........soaking the newspaper then shredding it into the brick so that it came out oblong.........well, brick shaped. We used to make them during the summer.They were never quite as good as the criss cross method but one firelight with them did the trick.
With an open fire you couldnt beat my grandmas old bellows for starting it off but don't think you can use them with a log burner can you ? Never had one so don't know

Pink.

Hi Sassers,

I've added your thread to an older one on homemade firelighters to keep all the suggestions together.

These threads might interest you too:

Making Paper Bricks

Laying a fire

Pink

Sassers

Hi Pink-Winged - thanks for that. I did have a look in the forum search section but nothing came up. appreciate it, Ta very much

luv sassers xx

sillyvixen

i wish i had found this site earlier, 18 months ago i lived in a property and the main room heating was provided by a open fire - we had a free supply of wood - but the main problem was the time taken to light the fire.

Zazen999

http://ournewoldhouse.wordpress.com/category/wood-burning-stove/

Try this method; you only need one sheet of paper, and it is all in the updraught. I have used this method ever since and not used one firelighter. Even when you do use firelighters, you only need a broken up bit anyway; my last packet lasted from April until November this year, and due to the novelty, and the rubbish weather - we did light them quite often.