DIY firestarter

Discussion in 'DIY (Do It Yourself)' started by Bushman5, Sep 30, 2017.

  1. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    - Perlite (volcanic rock (about $6 a bag any hardware/garden store)
    - Paraffin Wax (1 &1/2 blocks) (about $5 same store)
    - fireplace/stove pellets 10 heaping cups (about $5 per 40lb bag)

    2 massive cast iron pots...14 to 20 quarts

    big spoon.

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    start with a big cast iron dutch oven and melt 3/4 block of parriffin wax over LOW (Min) heat.

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    when liquid, add the wood pellets and let them SOAK....STIR OFTEN.....

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    in the other cast iron pot, melt 3/4 block of paraffin until liquid. Add Perlite, about 1/2 or so of the bag , and stir until its all soaked into the volcanic rock. Stir OFTEN. You want a granular feed stock , the wax soaked Perlite should freely fall from your hands when picked up and mixed and dropped. Very little residue (wax) should be left on your hands...they should be almost dry)

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    mix the two ingredients together and MIX VERY WELL. Stir and flip the materials a lot.

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    now the original makers of this firestarter, SOAKED the Perlite in a flammable petroleum liquid, PRIOR to spraying / soaking/ covering / SEALING (thats how they got it certified as NON TOXIC) with liquid paraffin.........I did not do this.......I was not about to spray flammable liquids on the Perlite inside the apt.... (I basically reverse engineered the original product and deliberately left out one ingredient)

    however it is still VERY FLAMMABLE and lights very very easily. Burns very clean , no smoke , barely any odor unless you snuff it out. Then it smokes and smells like wax.

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    let the product cool in the big iron pot and mix it well when cold. Transfer into heavy duty freezer bags and use it whenever you need to start a fire.

    is this cost effective doing it yourself....?

    yes and no...........its cost effective if you can find old wax candles at yard sales for a few cents. I paid $20 for the two blocks of wax locally......for some reason wax is INSANELY EXPENSIVE up here in Canada. SO try to find a lot of old candles or cheap store candles. The pellets are cheap per bag, as is the Perlite. If you can lower your overhead costs on the wax......this is actually a very cheap BULK (large amounts) fire starter to make. If your buying everything in a store, its cheaper to buy the 2 gallon / 5 gallon pail firestarter online from the original company.

    however, it was FUN to make, and a great way to prep for the upcoming winter camp fire season here. I plan to put several large freezer bags of this stuff in the 4x4, along with matches etc.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2017
  2. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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    Now that's some kind of culinary goodness, how does it taste?:confused:
     
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  3. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    crunchy, waxy, woodsy...gritty....
     
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  4. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    all packaged up. Got 10 packages in total, about 2+ lbs each. Two of the bags i mixed in a pile of wax soaked dental cottons, cuz why not have a little extra. :D

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    EDIT: got 11 packages in total. One fell behind the desk.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2017
  5. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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    Damm that's a lot of CRACK:confused: Don't let custom's see that :eek:
     
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  6. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    lol.......
     
  7. Packrat

    Packrat Member

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    Looks like a bean and rice mix for your outings....
     
  8. ASH

    ASH Member

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    1# of Gulf Wax is about $4 here.
     
  9. wallygame

    wallygame Member

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    Looks like an edible trail mix. Nice job.
     

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