firelighters

richcook54

having seen a post were using vacuum fluff as a firelighter reminded me of the way my mothers taught me. i still use this method for every fire i start, though not a coal fire which this method was used on. quite simply take two sheets of newspaper roll diagonally into a long tube, then tie it into a knot (like the first part of tying your shoe laces), this leaves you with an oval shape about 150mm long. take accouple of scrunched newspaper sheets with 3 or 4 of these on top and away you go

EISman

My Dad used a variation on the above that probably burns for longer than the above method.

Once the newspaper is tightly rolled (so it's about one inch wide), flatten the tube then fold at the half-way point to make a 'V' shape. Then alternately fold the left and right 'arm' of the V over each other, making a long rectangular shape. You tuck in the end of each arm to complete the firelighter.

Islandmaid

Bit of both, we save our loo roll cardboard centres, fill with tumble fluff, or just squished and empty and use as fire lighters

greyteam1959

No newspapers in our house for 20 years.

Longwalker

I refuse to buy a newspaper. 

I light the fire with loo roll tubes, drier fluff and when all else fails, I cotton wool ball with a bit of acetone

theoretica

If you eat oranges, save the peel until it is dry (helps if you like peeling in long spirals to hang up) and they make great firestarters.

strawb_shortcake

Cotton wool with a dab of vaseline 

tooldle

richcook54 said:

having seen a post were using vacuum fluff as a firelighter reminded me of the way my mothers taught me. i still use this method for every fire i start, though not a coal fire which this method was used on. quite simply take two sheets of newspaper roll diagonally into a long tube, then tie it into a knot (like the first part of tying your shoe laces), this leaves you with an oval shape about 150mm long. take accouple of scrunched newspaper sheets with 3 or 4 of these on top and away you go

Oh the memories. I was taught to do exactly this as a child. 

mumtoomany

I've a friends who used to raid the newspaper recycling in the supermarket car park for newspapers for her fire. Sugar and flour bags stuffed with scraps of paper work. Any fat left on baking trays or frying pans, usually scrapped off and wrapped in paper, (grandchildren drawings). Mumtoomany.xx

2Scratters

I use loo rolls (full size) and kitchen rolls (these are cut into half) filled with fluff (season dependant )or paper from my cereal breakfast of the shredded biscuits or any tissue or anything that is suited to burn. I am currently getting a nice stock together. I collect the free papers that come through our door ready to roll up too. Like the idea about the used waste grease/fat @mumtoomany that will work with the strong kitchen roll paper I currently use. We also use firelighters and are fortunate to be able to pick them up quite cheaply still.

Medi123

Have an old/damaged beeswax food wrap cloth? Cut it into strips - makes a great firestarter.