Best Firelighters

Davesnave

Much to my dismay, Sainsburys have gone all eco and re-formulated their firelighters so that they now "support sustainable palm oil." Well, bully for them, but the darn things take some lighting, which isn't really the idea!

Once going, the Sainsbury lighters are OK. However, I used to be able to light the woodburner with about a third of an old -style lighter, which seemed quite economical, if not exactly eco.

However, what really bothers me is that I won't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting a bonfire started on a half windy day with these things, so I want to know who still makes good old-style lighters. If everyone goes down this palm oil route, I'm afraid it will be rags soaked in diesel or even the 'traditional' farmer's method ; setting fire to an old tyre!

Go on, tell me. I bet 'it's Aldi or Lidl, isn't it?!

YORKSHIRELASS

Well I have to say I havent bought firelighters for years! We dont buy a daily newspaper so my parents save their newspaper for us. Each sheet of newspaper is rolled up and knotted then put in the woodburner with some kindling.

Our kindling tends to be any bits of suitable wood my husband or Dad can acquire chopped up by my 14 year old son when he is very bored. All cardboard (cereal boxes and the like) is stored as this helps to get it going too.

Loo rolls stuffed with the fluff out of the tumble dryer do the job well too and you can also stuff loo rolls with shredded paper.

Of course unlike me others may have better things to do with their time than stuff old loo rolls to make firelighters but needs must!!! Hope this helps.

Greenfires

Hmmm - I wonder what they mean by "sustainable palm oil". There's been a hell of a lot of fuss in recent years about the wholesale and often completely unmanaged destruction of rainforest and so on to make way for palm oil plantations to provide feedstock for the biodiesel industry. Palm oil is renewable certainly - but at what cost to the environment.

But to the question. Sticks and paper is almost always a quicker way of getting a fire started - but if you have to use firelighters - then have a look at some called "Burners" - they come in little sachets and one of my installer mates swears by them. Yet to try them myself but will report back when I do!

alleycat`

Best ones i've used in terms of speed of lighting / good flame are the homefire ones cpl sell (got some free with some smokeless fuel), they aren't exactly cheap though.

In terms of bang for buck the 45p a pack ones from home bargains are hard to beat.

bleepandbooster

Been using the cheapo ones from Home Bargains for years ....... easy to light etc

Cofion
David

suki1964

I get a big box from asda - usually with 50% free

Davesnave

Thanks. Home Bargains haven't really made it big in this part of the world, though they have one store within 75 miles, in Newton Abbot, about 35 miles from me.

I do have some kindling, small sticks etc, but pressure of time means I usually burn that in the field and concentrate on the bigger stuff.

My point was that an old box of 32 firelighters = about 90 fires started for what was then £1.75 approx, or 2p a fire without worrying about finding much kindling.

We have an Asda. It's 23 miles away....:)

John_the_Boy

Aldi usually sell some (£1.65 for 64 when I last got some) and these are quite good.

edit: checked how many in the Aldi box and there are 64 not 30.

Swipe

Wilko's are pretty good, 65p a box

Davesnave

It's looking good! Aldi and Wilko in Exeter, only 20 miles....I shall be Christmas shopping soon.

Williwoodburner

Yesterdays newspaper and a bit of kindling for me.
Cost = 0.00p
:j