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Try This:  Thrifty Fire Sarter  |
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Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 19 2011 : 3:27:03 PM
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DH and I heat our 1920s "farm cottage" entirely with wood. We have 2 big wood stoves in the downstairs level of our house, and they do a very good job keeping the place toasty.
Sometimes, in the mornings or after a long outing, the fires have gotten low and need a boost; and occasionally we even allow them to go out so we can clean them.
Getting a fire going again can be difficult; but I discovered a trick to get them going again in a jiff:
I save all my toilet paper and paper towel tubes. I also save all my dryer lint. (I usually use a clothes line, but in the winter, I do use my dryer more.)
I take the cardboard tubes and stuff them with the dryer lint, bits of bark, paper, etc. etc. When I need a quick fire boost/starter, I toss one of the tubes into the kindling material and light it up. The lint and card board burns slowly enough to catch the kindling on fire and before long, the stoves are burning hot again.
Just thought I'd pass this along!
www.happilyeverafterhosanna.blogspot.com
www.thewindofheaven.blogspot.com
www.CarolinaRoses.etsy.com
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2011 : 03:50:57 AM
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Hosanna that is an INCREDIBLE idea! DH and I heat our house with wood, and those firestarer things you can buy at Ace don't work very well, in my opinion. This sounds great though! I am going to start saving my dryer lint and my paper tubes. Thanks for this idea! We have a brand new Ashley stove (replacing an old LARGE cast iron one) that makes cleaning out the ashes simple due to an ash "drawer" in the bottom. But when it goes out, especially now that I am almost 41 weeks pregnant, I CAN'T make kindling. It's too hard for me! This sounds like a wonderful way to go though! Thank you!
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9438 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9438 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2011 : 09:55:58 AM
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Great idea, thanks for sharing. I mean everyone has tp tubes right? lol! I have to work on the lint as I try not to use the dryer to much. Makes the electric bill creep upwards! 
farmgirl sister#43
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
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OKCookee
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
Chris
Oklahoma
OK
USA
45 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2011 : 10:48:25 AM
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Thanks for the great idea. We have been making them out of newspaper rounds (3 or 4 layers pushed into a muffin pan) then wood shavings and melted wax (old candles). These work quite good, but have been looking for something eles. The tubes and lint are a great idea. Will try next time we make them.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest".
Matthew 11:28
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frannie
True Blue Farmgirl
2246 Posts
fran
bonham
texas
USA
2246 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2011 : 12:38:52 PM
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thanks so much for sharing this, and today is just the day i needed this info. snowing and an amazing 15 degrees here at the farm. we have already had some weather in the low 70s so this storm was a big change for us.
thanks again for the hint.
love
frannie in texas
farmgirl sister#807
home of "green"crafts,
where no scrap is left behind
(http://abunnystale.wordpress.com/)
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Cherime
True Blue Farmgirl
1222 Posts
Cherime
Wasilla
Alaska
USA
1222 Posts |
Posted - Feb 02 2011 : 08:45:53 AM
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I had to get a draft inducer for my stove. It is too small to hold a fire for the length of time that it takes me to go to work and get home again. I always have to restart it each time I use it. I use it mostly to keep the fuel oil bill down when I am home. I save the birch bark, old butter wrappers and such. With the draft inducer they usually do the trick the first time.
CMF |
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl
696 Posts
Emily
Chambersburg
PA
USA
696 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2011 : 07:28:08 AM
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That is a really clever idea! Thanks so much for sharing
---
Currently renting-farmgirl wannabe |
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shelbyc
True Blue Farmgirl
72 Posts
shannon
murdale
british columbia
Canada
72 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2011 : 2:59:24 PM
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| We have been taking cardboard egg cartons and stuffing them with the dryer lint we saved up. Then we pour melted wax over that. It really works well, burns for quite a long time, so wood can get burning. I like the other ideas as well! |
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embchicken
True Blue Farmgirl
1487 Posts
Elaine
Ocean
NJ
USA
1487 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2011 : 5:25:30 PM
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Lots of great ideas!
~ Elaine
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
embchicken.blospot.com
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pmburk
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Pamela
Fort Worth
TX
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2011 : 7:17:41 PM
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| We don't heat our home with wood, but I have used the TP rolls/dryer lint as firestarters for camping. They work great and best of all, basically free! |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2011 : 03:44:40 AM
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I've been forgetting about these-I need to start a bin for my tp tubes and dryer lint so they always have a home!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 6:08:02 PM
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oh Hosanna,
what a great idea, wish I had stumbled onto this sooner...but for sure I will give it a try at my next camping trip in 2 weeks.
Thanx for such a terrific tip.
farm girl hugz
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom.
"Is it time for my Dirt Manicure yet!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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Turtlemoon
Farmgirl Legend Schoolmarm
378 Posts
Tanya
Port Orchard
Washington
USA
378 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2011 : 5:45:49 PM
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So glad you posted this! I have been saving the lint for awhile as well as cardboard egg containers and hubby thought i was being crazy when i told him why i was saving them. Lol, now i can show him i am not the only one who knows this fire trick!
Raggedy Ann stuck in a Barbie Doll World
FarmGirl#1737
http://www.etsy.com/shop/moonhonu |
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camiesmommy
True Blue Farmgirl
113 Posts
Anne Jeannette
Stagecoach
NV
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - Aug 12 2011 : 10:36:28 PM
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What a great idea! I don't use my dryer either except in the winter, but I can always start saving the tubes. Guess the lint will have to wait awhile.
You can also make fire starters out of paper egg cartons. Just fill them with a mixture of sawdust and parfin. You can always use a small wick if you want.
A.J.
Work is love made visible. ~ Kahlil Gibran |
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Annie S
True Blue Farmgirl
756 Posts
Annie
Custer
S.D.
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - Sep 27 2011 : 2:05:46 PM
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| This is what we do to for firestarters for the fireplace inside and also when we go camping for the campfires. I always keep a big garbage bag full of them in the basement of the 5th wheel. I even have friends who give me their rolls and lint. It's just the best and it's repurposing of a sorts and keeping all of it out of the landfill. |
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houligan19
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
sarah
groton
CT
39 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2012 : 7:37:38 PM
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I also just tried the idea with the egg cartons, sticks, dryer lint and melted wax. They worked great. We lit one of them and then sat back and watched.
http://earthhomevt.blogspot.com/ |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2012 : 5:09:22 PM
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I always keep my dryer lent in a bag, just to use in the fireplace. I put some of it out for the birds in the Spring.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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KathleenL
True Blue Farmgirl
84 Posts
Kathleen
Littleton
Colorado
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2012 : 08:31:31 AM
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I am glad this topic popped up again. It's a great idea and I have plenty of lint and paper rolls.
Kathy |
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JoyIowa
True Blue Farmgirl
273 Posts
Joy
273 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2012 : 4:51:59 PM
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I too save TP rolls and dryer lint to use as fire starters. I keep them under "management" by having an ice cream pail by the dryer. I set TP rolls on end to fill the pail, and stuff dryer lint as it comes out of the dryer. When they are about 2/3 full, I pour old melted candle wax over the whole shebang and allow to set up. Then I pop them out, and stack them in a five gallon pail intact. When needing to use, I just break them apart, fold the ends in, and burn! Easy way to assemble, store, and use.
If it's not illegal, unsafe, or immoral, why not try anything once? Who knows? You may come back for a second helping! |
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Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1404 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1404 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2012 : 5:10:12 PM
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Hosanna, you are incredibly smart. I would never have thought of doing that, but that is one way to recycle and not to gum up the works so-to-speak. That sort of heat really can keep you going and warm so that you don't always have to wear sweaters in the house. When I had a wood stove, I had trouble regulating the temperature and often had to open the front and back doors to cool it down inside.
Betty in Pasco |
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ClaireSky
True Blue Farmgirl
1792 Posts
Julie
Arcadia
WI
USA
1792 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2012 : 5:14:13 PM
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Joy, what a great idea for keeping them under "management". lol I am seriously going to do this now. Love it!
Julie
Farmgirl #399
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. |
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Try This: Thrifty Fire Sarter |
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Thrifty Fire Sarter
