How to Recycle Sawdust as Fire Starting Cakes

If you love to camp and have access to sawdust, this project is for you. Fire starting cakes are a very convenient and effective way to start a roaring campfire. They're easy to make, and a terrific way to recycle sawdust, a useful wood byproduct that often goes to waste.

Things You'll Need

• Paper muffin cups
• Muffin tin
• Recycled sawdust
• Candle stubs or paraffin wax
• Double boiler
• Small pinecones (optional)

Instructions

1. Place the paper muffin cups in the muffin tin and fill them with a mound of recycled sawdust.

2. Put several candle stubs or a chunk of paraffin wax in the top of a double boiler. Set the double boiler on medium-low heat and heat the wax until it melts.

3. Drizzle the melted wax over the mound of sawdust. Be sure the sawdust is well coated with wax.

4. Allow the wax to set up a few minutes, and poke a small pinecone into the top, if you'd like.

5. Set the fire starters aside to cool and firm up completely.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also make fire starters with paper egg cartons. Just fill each egg compartment with sawdust, drizzle wax over the top and let them cool. When you're ready to start a fire, just tear off an individual fire starter.

• Small bathroom cups also make excellent fire starters. Just fill the paper cups with recycled sawdust and pour wax over the top. Be sure to put the cups on a sturdy, safe surface before you pour the wax.

• When melting the wax to make sawdust fire starters, watch the wax constantly, and never allow it to overheat. Wax can catch fire easily.