Camp fires

You can buy "fatwood" (heart pine soaked in pine tar) in convenience stores or camping supply stores around here. Its just as easy to carry a hatchet and hack some out of a nearby stump though.

I learned another trick in cub scouts, years ago, that I'll break out if Im going backpacking. Take a paper egg carton and fill it with sawdust or dryer lint. Then pour melted wax over it. When it dries, break it up into its 12 individual sections. Makes a compact, waterproof firestarter. Stays lit even in mild wind, and will burn for a good 20 minutes or more. I've boiled a small pot of water with just 1 section of the egg carton before... or you can use 2 or 3 under some dry wood to make a quick bonfire.

Military surplus Trioxane (compressed fuel bars) works pretty good too. You can find them on amazon.com or in some milsurp stores.
 
t-frady said:
I didnt know vaseline was flammable
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upnover said:
The vaseline thing is a new one for me.
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Vaseline = petroleum jelly :lol:

For emergencies, I mix sawdust & dryer lint inside a snuff can & cover with wax within 1/8" of the top. That leaves room for a few wax dipped "strike anywhere" matches under the lid. That combo will burn for at least 30 minutes... long enough to dry/light some wet kindling
 
Um, gas and a match always seemed to work great for me where I don't need to get crazy creative... :flipoff2:




But, things I've heard, dryer lint seems to work well by itself, mixed with petro jelly, and even stuffed in an egg carton. Cardboard rolled up tight, stuffed into an old can (tomato soup, veggies, etc.) with wax melted and poured over it. Acts like sterno if you need something controlled...
 
I usually carry a small bag of Matchlight charcoal in the truck or camper.

4bricks and I can have a fire going pretty quickly

also makes cooking with dutch oven a little more predictible, no having to constantly feed coals from fire onto lid as they burn off, several bricks on lid usually last long enough for a good bake.

still pretty new to the DO thing, so I'm sure I'll learn more as time goes
 
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After the fire is lit, throw in a 1/2 copper pipe inserted into a heater hose about 10inches long. Makes some colorful flames and is entertaining to the kids. When the fire goes out, retrieve the copper and reuse.
 
^^^^ PYRO ^^^^ :shaking:
 
you can take carboard strips cut against the ripples making them about 2in by 12in.. insert regular matches every 4to 5 ripples(holes) and take a couple strike anywhere matches and place in the very last 3-4 holes. roll the carboard from the opposit end of the strike anywhere matches then tie together with some string leaving about 8 inches to hold on to and dip them in melted wax. makes them water proof and great to start fires!!
 
I keep a small torch handy for lighting fires in my backyard firepit... and matchlight fluid for lighting the grill. When I'm camping though, I prefer to travel light. Also prefer to carry stuff that can't leak, and doesnt make my bag and/or my truck smell like its going to explode.

Aside from my previous suggestions... a few people have mentioned wax-coated cardboard. If that's your thing, go to your local grocery store and ask for a couple of produce boxes. Most of them are coated in wax already. You can dunk them in water and they'll still light easily with a match.
 
Dylan W. said:
2 dollar charcoal starter fluid rocks.
If you need to light up the entire valley, and are not nessassarily interested in standing by the fire...bring a magnesium vw motor..lol once the fire is hot enough, add the motor and stand down wind. They'll be enough light to see the fire from space. But you shouldnt plan on roasting marshmellows!
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That was a very interesting and dangerous night but we stayed warm. When the doctor tells me I have some type rare cancer, I will know exactly how I arrived at that point.
 
Was on a day trip once at the Flats. Got there early to build a fife. Snow on the ground, everything wet. So I brought a roll of toilet paper, and soaked it with kerosene. Lit it, and started piling on wet wood. Had a good fire going when everyone got there.
 
Hey Chip..... how do you build a "fife"?.......... just wondering....:D

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GREENCHEROKEE said:
Hey Chip..... how do you build a "fife"?.......... just wondering....:D

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you start with a hollow piece of wood in a tube shape. Cut an air hole and some finger holes and there ya go. And I guess it sounds nice playing it around the fire. :lol:

As for building a fire, I use the dryer lint and vaseline method. its light-weight and great for backpacking.
 
If we have the room I just throw a bail of hay down and a bunch of pallets on top. If not then I jsut bring wood from home that's dry.
 
Good dry wood, some fire logs and alittle homemade Napalm does just fine;)
 
I've always been a fan of Frito lay chips. They make a great small starter log. Light one up and it'll burn enough flame for 10 - 15 minutes to get small kindling going pretty well. Add a few more for a bigger flame. It's definitely not the best way to start a bonfire but for a camping trip or for survival I'll always have a small bag with me.
 
Christmas trees are fun, but I prefer Leylands.
 

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12/31/11... we burned roughly, (5) 30 foot trees we had drug out of the woods and cut into 3 foot sections, aswell as 60-70 christmas trees friends had collected from working the Tree Lots. Also a desk... and a few other things people seemed to have brought to burn.

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Can't recall the date on this one, not long ago, I would say November, looks to be a stack of 5-6 pallets, plus we always have some logs so that too.

We like to throw down around the bonfire, we have a custom modified bonfire pit, with an old firepit on the inside that just wasn't big enough lol

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Actual Campfire picture from Uwharrie in April of 2011, Im sure there are pictures from recent trips, but this was easier too find, we always bring plenty of firewood to burn through the weekend nice and toasty, even though it really wasn't all that cold Lol.
 
Go to the hobby store or wallyworld.. get a bag of the little tea candles. place the tea candle in yer fire pit, light it, start putting your kindling over the candle. cheaper than a firelog and works everytime.
 
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