How do you build a fire?

[Grisham91402]

Pile of charcoal, lighter fluid, and stack split logs on it. Light and enjoy. Recently bought the big red campfire. Not sure I'm going back to the old ways.

[GmanHawaii]

Originally Posted by Grisham91402

Pile of charcoal, lighter fluid, and stack split logs on it. Light and enjoy. Recently bought the big red campfire. Not sure I'm going back to the old ways.

This X2, if you're at a campground this is the the easiest way, no need to go all survivalist unless you're out in the woods and have to make a fire from scratch.

If you do want to make a fire from scratch, small pieces mixed with wood shavings and some steel wool and a couple of batteries gets things started pretty easy.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Wildwood-Paul

We're brand new to camping (and a brand new member) and I've never even heard of Fatwood. I gotta give this a try!

Fatwood appears to be a brand name for a commercial product. Speaking generically, I always heard of that kind of wood referred to as lighter knots.

[Scottmarm]

I've been camping for years and i've always used fire starter blocks. I cut them into little pieces. I then take my little hatchet and using my hammer, i pound on the hatchet to cut my wood into little kindle. I place a few pieces of fire starter on a flat kindle in the middle of the fire pit. After lighting the fire starter i then build a cage around the burning fire with the kindle, building a cage around it. I build the cage making sure the fire reaches the kindle. After a short time i can add the larger pieces of wood. Works every time.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by EastlakeRoo

Pick the wood you want to use and pour a small amount of diesel fuel on it and in a short time you have a fire. I say diesel fuel as you wont get the huge flash you get when using straight gas. Diesel burns hot and I have been able to get a fire going even with wood left out in the elements.

If you are going to cook over the fire then i would opt for newspaper to get the fire going.

Diesel fuel has worked wonders for me. I keep a small gas jug of it by the fire and when I'm ready for a fire I pour and lite it. Works great.

Kerosene works well also !!!
Keep it in a Charcoal Bottle !!!

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by larryo

THIS IS KINDA NEAT. Google "Swedish torch ".

What also makes a GREAT campfire is if you can find a tree that has died from inside out,,, it will burn like a chimney !!!

[Vern]

Originally Posted by DreiHunde

The Dryer lint idea does work great but......ours is filled with lots of Dog hair....lots and lots and LOTS of Dog Hair! Not a pleasant smell at all!!

This is why we still carry a drying rack or line dry our dog.

[rlocicero]

Some paper, some kindling, some small and medium wood pieces and my trusty propane torch.

[extremebike]

I pour the morning bacon fat into a double paper cup and stuff the paper towels to drain the bacon into the cup. I put it under the kindling and it has never failed to strt up the fire.

[Papa GLS]

Plus it smells soooo good! I like it.

[j free]

yes crunchman there are a lot of ways to make fire. Fire good. And I believe the question has been answered. It was asked 1. how do you build a fire 2. I would like to be able to build one in my fireplace for the kids enjoyment during the winter. Both have been answered and some not so well. While using lighter fluid and road flairs will get the job done on a beach or in the forest. It is not a good recommendation for a home fireplace. between the possible flash back from to much lighter fluid or the toxic gasses from a road flair death would be just around the corner. Keep in mind those using the road flairs that if you have small children or pets the fumes can kill.

[Papa GLS]

Well, we've come up with enough ways to start a fire to burn the world down. Been a fun topic; wonder how long it will keep going?

[Timex]

Wow, 10 pages of information on how to start a fire!



I've learned, a lot, I guess.....

Unsubscribed.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by Timex

Wow, 10 pages of information on how to start a fire!



I've learned, a lot, I guess.....

Unsubscribed.

I am only showing 4 pages....

[howie70]

Originally Posted by EnjoyingLife

My wife and I use the cotton balls and petroleum jelly but just discovered something new last week. Pour your bacon grease on to a paper plate and then put it into the freezer. When it is time to start a fire put the plate on the bottom of the fire pit and the wood on top. Light the edges of the plate. We only tried it once but it worked perfectly, and you get rid of all that bacon grease.

People burn bacon grease?!?!
That is liquid gold for everyone I know that camps (or doesn't camp). We save it and use it to fry taters, eggs and other stuff. We also use it as seasoning in green beans. I have considered pouring it over my cereal, but never into the fire pit! LOL

[Papa GLS]

I agree howie70; it would probably be good on ice cream or in a smoothie.

[MilCop4523]

1. take your soft wood and split it into strips.
2. start with a couple of pieces of hard wood at the bottom 2 north south and on top of it run 2 east west
3. then crumple some paper and place it into the hardwood square
4. then start adding some soft wood strips in the same manner as the hard wood
5. add more paper
6. about 3 rows up start placing a complete row across and continue the north south east west layering with a bit more paper.
what you have built is a chimney.

light the bottom paper and it will soon engulf the stack. The hard wood needs heat to burn and the soft wood gives it that heat.
as it burns down add more soft wood to the pile and the coals will fill the hardwood block and retain heat. then add some more hard wood.

if you want to really impress them get the fire block and spark maker from the hardware store or take some steel wool which you can start to burn with a 9 volt battery - inside the chimney of wood.

post your camp-fire pics if you can

[B and B]

i peice of news paper, feather a small log with the hatchet, make more smaller peices than add larger ones. I have not used anything to start fires for over 40 years except paper or bacon grease on the waxed butcher paper if I have it.

[howie70]

Originally Posted by Papa GLS

I agree howie70; it would probably be good on ice cream or in a smoothie.

Thank you! Glad I'm not the only one on here who knows the value of bacon grease!
For a fire, I use newspaper, kindling, small pieces of wood set up like a teepee. All of it being good and dry of course. Get it going good, then fry bacon over the fire. LOL

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by howie70

People burn bacon grease?!?!
That is liquid gold for everyone I know that camps (or doesn't camp). We save it and use it to fry taters, eggs and other stuff. We also use it as seasoning in green beans. I have considered pouring it over my cereal, but never into the fire pit! LOL

Not sure about cereal but I do agree that Bacon grease is far far too valuable of a commodity to use on a fire!
Plus the furkids would probably burn their noses trying to get to it!!!