5 Techniques for How to Make Fire Starters with Sawdust and Wax

Absolutely great video, can u tell me what is on the bottom of the wood mold

I wonder if you could make fire starters with matches embedded in them to make a self starting fire starter

I fill paper egg cartons.

Wonderful!

Give it a taste 😂

If you leave the shavings a bit loose instead of packing them down they light much easier. The shavings act like a candle wick which then ignites the main block.

Not sure why I was expecting a band saw.

The wicks will help the fire starters, so try leaving those in, but the metal bits are just trash. I pry off the metal bits before melting. To get them out of the mold, use a hairdryer on the back which will soften the wax and they will come out. You don’t want to melt them, just make a little soft

Why bother removing the wicks. They burn too...

Shaving the candle wax was vvvvvery satisfying 😮

Ice cube tray in a bit of hot water the max will warm slightly & they will come out easy

I’m curious, does the shape or size of the starters play a part in it lasting longer. If you don’t mind, could you try multiple experiments in this same layout and see if the same shapes lasted the longest? Thanks for the vid, it was very informative.

Just a thought. couldn't you have metal trays instead of plastic and heat them up quickly so the outside layer of wax would melt and come out easily?

have you tried adding the mixture to empty egg cartons?

If you told me those squares and pucks were pemican, I would’ve believed you and taken a bite.

You could use an empty stick deodorant dispenser. It stores the fire starter and dispenses a little at a time.

nice i use egg carton for the mold way easier

If you have folks that drink drive through coffee, another source of 'molds' is paper coffee cups. Because of the very thin layer of plastic coating inside them, most places will not accept them as recycle paper. I just fill the bottom third or so of the cup. Cup can be cut down for space but since I just keep them in my shop I don't bother. Also, the excess paper kind of acts like a wick for lighting them.

The Fire Starters might come out of the molds easier if you hit the back side of your molds with a hair dryer.

I know it's a pain, but I would create a draft around your big molds so the outer edges are angled a bit like the ice cube trays. You just need a few degrees.

I melt wax in a double boiler or a veggie can in a pot of water.

So which one did you like best? I love the flakes for how quick they lit.
I am thinking of how much a forty lb bag of kiln dried pine shavings can make( must be kiln dried if pine if used for pets too). It goes out quicker but you can throw more on.

Not a big deal but would lining the boxes with wax paper help? Parchment paper could work too. It's how I get my homemade fudge out of the pans. The stuck paper may act as a wick quicker than the blocks.

I also use egg cartons but in them I put in some clothes dryer lint with a little Vaseline and some used cooking oil covered over with a light coat of wax and that’s it. Of course I don’t make too many because it’s just for my own use

Wrap your sawdust in newspaper. It works.

Have you tried different woods to see how well they do.

I just use the bottoms of egg cartons, discard the top. Fill the cups up with sawdust, then melt wax and carefully ladle the molten wax over the cups. Set them aside and after doing about 10 to 15 cartons; I put two cartons per plastic bag. I keep some in my camper, some in my garden shed and some in my truck. Whenever I need a starter; just break off a cup or 2, light; then throw kindling on 🔥 done‼️

FYI, when you use molds you are supposed to lightly oil them with mineral oil or cookingoil

The wax is the main thing burning in a fire starter, you probably don't need that much sawdust in the fire starters. A higher wax content might burn longer.

Would be a good video idea testing burn times between different wax/wood ratios.

I think all that boiling and foaming is the water in the wood being fried by the above 212f wax, much like when cooking.

Sawdust mixed with oil, Motor oil, lamp oil, hydrolic oil, ref. oil, I keep a cut down gallon jug with some by my wood stove, and use a large spoon. To make it portable, use cheap ziploc bags, Used bags work fine. Forget this wax nonsense. Keep things simple. And a click igniter propane torch.

Loved the video and i will try this out this winter

I make those too, my wood frame mold as a removable bottom, just 1/4 plywood held with 4 screws. To unmold I take the bottom away, makes it easy peasy. I also use paper egg crates, then just seperate them with scissor.

Sorry I did laugh a bit - use your wood fire / stove to make the wax lighters and not electricity - this is meant as a kind thought, not critical comment .
Top down lighting and paper also work well + a battery slow fan help get the heat to make the stack draw.

I the blacksmiths shop in the 1980s I used the gas poker to start the coke forge, my GGrandad shop from the 1890s

Funny - in the 1980s my dad started the Webber BBQ with oxy acetylene bottles and his cutting torch NO smell cook meat immediately no waiting. ;-))

How easy would these be to light with a Ferro rod?

Grasias😊

Grind up a little fat wood to a three part mix. Dont need alot of fatwood shaving but makes these fast bomb proof high wind starters

You need to be SAVING some of those candles, because people will NEED THEM in serious times...just as much as those fire starters.

Granola bars.!!

Most of them look good enough to eat!

Nice. But if you want long lasting fire starers that are inexpensive, easy to make and lite with a ferro rod I have a better option. All you need is Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline ) and Make Up Removal Pads or Cotton Balls. Make sure they are cotton too. The cotton and Vaseline are easy to find anywhere in the world and all you need to do is melt the Petroleum Jelly and then push the balls or pads into the liquid until saturated and let cool. I prefer them because they light instantly with a ferro rod and butn hot. I have used them for decades because they work great, pack small, last forever and don't weigh much. I pack them in a zip lock bag and they are always ready.

😂🤣😂🤣😂 you’re a crazy fucker I so enjoyed this video especially when you tasted your work 😂😂😂😂❤

Excellent. Entertaining and educational

Could you spray the pans with cooking spray? Maybe they will come out better.

Can you light it with a Ferrorod

I wonder if a length of cannon fuse from the fireworks stand embedded in the mixtures would work? Especially in the wind!

I'd use egg cartboard. You dont have to get it out, you can just cut it with scissors.

I’ve messed around doing the same thing. To speed lighting it’s good to have some fine wood fibers sticking out which will light immediately. But they really work!

I don't see the point of removing the wicks. But maybe for an even comparison the first time you test?

Add a mix of shavings with dust?