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Across the Fence:  Your secret for building a fire  |
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country lawyer
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
1022 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 06:59:53 AM
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| What is your method for building a fire? Does anyone else use "fatwood"? Has anyone ever made their own firestarters? |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 07:03:27 AM
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I just use newspaper a few pieces of kindling. I have thrown a few pinecones in before and they work really well all by themselves. Kindling with a lot of pitch will get a fire roaring really quick.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
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chicken necker
True Blue Farmgirl
509 Posts
Sherry
Eastern Shore
Maryland
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 07:07:37 AM
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Tip: Do not let my hubby anywhere near it! He likes to make a blazing inferno as quickly as he can! We spent some quality time with the local fire department this weekend watching the fireworks fountain shooting out of the chimney in our pajamas after he tossed a cardboard box in there!
But seriously, I love the fatwood. And I basically start it just like in Girl Scouts. A big handful of twigs, maybe some paper, with a fatwood stick. Then I start stacking the larger logs in the shape of a teepee.
My own 'starters' were a disaster. Too much wax turned into a goopy mess
I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by. ~anon |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 07:30:33 AM
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I got prego and Dave bought me a pellet stove! Yes! Our new house has a tiny little woodstove, so I guess I should get prego again.
Dave's old roommate's dad used to make his own fatwood with dryer lint, bacon grease, and sawdust. When I was a kid we used splinters of pitch wood.
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war! |
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Carolinagirl
True Blue Farmgirl
486 Posts
Kim
Rutherfordton
NC
USA
486 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 07:38:35 AM
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I have a very big, very hairy man from West Virginia- he graciously agrees to start my fires and, if nothing happens to get it going, he promises to keep me warm in bed.
BUT really (sort of)- we have fatwood (MIL gives it to us for Christmas) and he (the big, hairy WV man showed me how to make the fire by building a pyramid out of the wood, kindling, fatwood and newspaper. Seems to work every time I do it, but it amazes me that it does! :)
I've seen lots of fire starter "recipes" online- wax covered pinecones, lint filled toilet paper rolls. I've not tried them though.
Kim |
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jenbove
Moderator
320 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
320 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 07:44:02 AM
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Sherry, you are hilarious!! I can just see it. Glad it didn't end badly. Around here, we have those tendencies too, but mostly we just do it Lisa's way with newspaper & kindling (unless our stove is being stubborn; then we break out the cardboard).
What's fatwood?
Do you cut your own wood or have it delivered? This is the 1st year we're cutting ours, right off our own land.
Jen
GOT A "WILD HAIR"?
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Farmgirl Sisterhood Member # 9
My Blog: The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
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chicken necker
True Blue Farmgirl
509 Posts
Sherry
Eastern Shore
Maryland
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 07:49:33 AM
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Fatwood is usually a piece of pine cut from the stump of a tree that's already been cut down. It burns hot and quickly because of the resin content.
We have it delivered. We currently live in a development and aren't allowed to cut down anything, although I would love to.
I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by. ~anon |
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Linder
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Linda
Lake Forest
IL
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 08:01:45 AM
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Wow, thanks for all that info girls! I didn't know what fatwood was either and I stink at starting fires! I do the thing they taught us in girlscouts with the teepee. Maybe you just have to have "the touch" kind of like a green thumb only maybe this is a red thumb? Hmmm. LOL!
And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk to blossom |
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Luzy
True Blue Farmgirl
922 Posts
Luanne
Pueblo
Colorado
USA
922 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 08:31:16 AM
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I do the pyramid thingy too, but I save my dryer lint and stick it in there too with a little paper and poof! I have a nice fire. Works great!
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May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.
http://luzy.etsy.com- My etsy store! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 09:08:08 AM
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I do pretty much the same as Lisa, and if the fire place has one of those grate things, I make sure to leave a layer of air at the bottom my laying my kindling up against the grate. When all else fails- Newspaper makes a great fire-starter!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
Please come visit Nora and I our our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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bboopster
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Betty Jo
West Bend
Wisconsin
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 09:21:50 AM
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Sherry and Frannie you are Hoots. We have an outside wood boiler that Hubby takes care of and I do the inside fireplace. We get our wood free or should I say I do, as DH goes to pallet companies in the area and gets their cut off free and then others call us when they have trees down or need to have them cut down and DH takes the wood in exchange for payment. I then walk into the garage and get my wood. Dh has made this pen in the back that houses his dozens of wood bins and stacks of cut lumber. I wonder what our neighbors think? When I build a fire in the house I use newspaper with smaller wood then pile on the larger stuff. I just need to remember to open the flue so the house does not fill with smoke. 
http://www.bboopster.blogspot.com
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
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Sage
True Blue Farmgirl
207 Posts
Pam
Worland
Wyoming
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 10:21:23 AM
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I love a crackling of a fire when it is snowing but I never ask my husband to start the fire. First he makes it all smoky and then if it starts he makes a raging inferno. Yikes! The fire was so hot one year, the wall above the fireplace got HOT.
Here's an easy way to start a fire everytime. Lay one layer of kindling or fat wood down with spaces between each stick and a second layer with spaces on top going the other way. Next add crumpled paper and splinters of kindling or or other small stuff & leave air spaces. On top add small pieces of kindling and several small split logs in a teepee shape. Then light the paper. It also helps to put a piece of paper on top to warm the chimney which helps with the draft.
www.heritagedesigns.etsy.com |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 12:03:04 PM
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Kindling and newspaper for sure to get the woodstove going and outside in the fire pit I do the boy scout firebuilding thing. Actually my 10 year old likes to set it up for me outside. I wish it were warm enough for that today!!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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jenbove
Moderator
320 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
320 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 12:27:02 PM
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Hey Fatwood Girls -
Do you have any trouble with the resin gumming up your stove pipe? I've been scared to use our cedar because of the goo.
Jen
GOT A "WILD HAIR"?
COME VISIT MARYJANE'S OUTPOST!
www.maryjanesoutpost.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member # 9
My Blog: The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 2:36:10 PM
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I have a funny fire building story. When my youngest son was three, we built a new house - cleared our acreage of heavy woods, burned brush and stumps, etc. Well, he was there everyday, alongside us, hauling brush, picking up sticks, and watching, apparently. When he was about 6, people bought the property across the gravel road from us. We were all our there when they were clearing, all four kids went over to watch and mess around while dh and I were working at our place. Later in the day our older son came back and said "Mom you should have seen cody - those guys (the workers over there) couldn't get the brush pile to burn - they worked on it for about an hour (it had been raining) and Cody just went up and told them exactly what they had to do to get it to burn, where to pile the sticks, and where to light it." He said the guys laughed at first, but then they tried it and the fire started right up. So, he was our fire consultant the rest of his childhood days and still has no trouble - even in the back country in the snow and rain. Just has a knack I guess.
Farmgirl Sister #98
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 3:23:11 PM
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Jen- The cedar should be fine, just let your fires burn hot, rather than cold (Let the fire catch hold then reduce the oxygen) and that should help prevent a lot of the creosote build up. Also don't forget to clean the chimney once a year, or even twice a year if you worry about it, but everyone should do that! You can buy chimney cleaning kits instead of hiring someone to do it.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
Please come visit Nora and I our our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9093 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9093 Posts |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4272 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4272 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2008 : 04:37:24 AM
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My suggestion on fire building is.....Don't learn. Cause once you do, it may becomre your job! :) That is my expierence anyways. Ha I had a ball reading all the great suggestions! Save any dry quick to burn wood for fire starting. Chop it up small, put it on top of newspaper, and light it and cross your fingers!! have fun
Michele |
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Tammy Claxton
True Blue Farmgirl
1559 Posts
Tammy
Glen Burnie
Maryland
USA
1559 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2008 : 05:18:01 AM
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The only fire we build is outside in the firepit, but I usually let hubby do it. He gathers up his kindling and paper and off he goes! I stay out of his way because he likes to make a blaze first that would most likely cinge my eyebrows off! Then he has to position eveything just perfect and poke at it awhile....He'd sit there all night if I let him..lol The kids enjoy it too - after the blaze dies down, that is :)
"A friend is someone who does things that count, but never stops to count them"
http://countryintheburbs.blogspot.com/ |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2008 : 07:18:48 AM
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we've only had our gas fireplace for a couple weeks .. and i cannot tell you how many times i have passed it with 'fabric strings' or crumbled paper in my hands .. heading for the trash can and have ALMOST tossed them into the fire! that is one thing i miss about a good 'ole woodfire. on t'other side though .. hank does not miss the 'chopping and hauling' .. and i don't miss the 'mess' though.
True Friends * Frannie
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LynnMarie
True Blue Farmgirl
612 Posts
Lynn
Staunton
IL
USA
612 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2008 : 07:35:30 AM
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Heads Up!!! It has been my experience to NOT use dryer lint. When we were using it, we had an usual number of chimney fires from the build up of residue from the dryer lint. I guess if you dried only cotton clothing it would be ok but today's fabrics always have a blend of something. Remember that polyester and nylon fibers do not burn, just melt and produce a residue.
That said, I use newspaper, dried sticks, and a small bit of candle wax. I melt candle stubs and pour on a cookie sheet in a thin layer. When cooled, I break into very small pieces to put in the crumpled up newspaper. I only use a small amount.
Yep, I've seen the wood stoves go to 550 degrees when my other half built a fire. So many chimney fires here, it was scary.
Well, that's my lesson for the day. LOL
Bringing the Past Back to Life
www.freewebs.com/decampsettlement
"You may never know what results come from your action. But, if you do nothing, there will be no results" -Gandhi |
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Across the Fence: Your secret for building a fire |
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Your secret for building a fire
