Things You'll Need:
- One or more paperboard egg cartons - one per firestarter
- Drier Lint
- Wax (from old candle stubs, old crayon bits, etc.)
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Step 1
Easy.
Collect as many paperboard (NOT styrofoam) egg cartons as you wish to make into fire-starters.
Collect up your own household drier lint or lint from the laundromat.
Collect up the stubs of old candles (remove the metal wick holders), crayons etc. -
Step 2
Easy.
Open the cartons and keep them open. Place them on a cookie sheet so that any spillage will occur there and not the counter top.
Take the collected drier lint and fill each egg holder/cup with lint, not too compacted or balled up. It has to be able to absorb the liquid wax from the next step. -
Step 3
More involved.
*IMPORTANT* - Use oven mitts or equivalent here to hold the wax can, then remove it from the heat and pour the wax,
Cut the wax candle stubs (wick pieces here are OK) into small enough pieces to keep the melting time as short as possible.
**Safely** heat the wax in an old empty tin can, over a pot or 2nd larger can, full or boiling water. This is the safest way to melt wax, rather then heating it directly over a burner. -
Step 4
Be careful.
Once the wax is melted, using the mitts, remove the can from the heat and pour the melted wax into each cup. **It is not necessary to fill the cup with wax, but only to thoroughly 'wet' each cup's lint.
Once the carton or tray of cartons is done, set them aside to cool and harden. -
Step 5
The Fun Step.
Arrange your firewood + kindling, leaving a spot to insert a firestater cup. You open the carton and rip of one or two of the cups completely.
It is the paperboard that you light initially, that in turn lights the lint and wax. This will burn with enough heat to dry out slightly damp wood and still get a fire going. Enjoy your Campfire!
