Enhance the shavings

[2trapper]

I often spare the shavings during my woodwork and whittling. The yare very dry and I keep some in an internal pocket of my ajcket, in a zip lock bag, as a primer to use together with hemp fibres and they work very well and hold a quite strong flame for several seconds.
Now I was wondering if there is any enhancing variation of them. I was wondering about soak them in wax or covering thm with pine resin.

Any other idea or hint?

 

[Clouston98]

You could half dip them in beeswax to make the flame last longer, or candle wax with a small amount of liquid paraffin works a treat! I have seen a thread on here before when someone made there own fat wood by dunking/drizzling resin on them so it would probably work .

Hope this helps!

 

[2trapper]

Thank you. I remember that thread and I fond some resin that got lost before I can try the mix

 

[Dan J]

Parrafin wax is pretty good. Could try vaseline or oil?
Any slow burning liquid fuel really. the shavings will act like a wick and burn pretty well.
If you dont mind them being greasy then oil also helps prevent any damp from affecting them.

 

[dwardo]

Mine all go to family and friends by the box load. Have never throught about using them out and about as there is usually plenty of kindling about. I dont have a wood burner at home so no use to me. I can produce a good few boxes load in a day with a draw knife and axe whilst bow making.

 

[Monikieman]

I tried some woods shaving in a wok with old candles in it over an open fire.

You need to work quickly but I packed small amounts into old plastic cups and used the next one as a press. Once set they make great wee firelighters. You can add belly button fluff etc as well.

Or dod in into portioned newspaper and scrunch it up.

 

[rscornutt]

I take shavings and mix it with lint from the clothes dryer. It works well for a quick and hot starter.

 

[John Fenna]

I mix coarse sawdust with the molten remains of old candles and fill old egg boxes with the mix to make home made fire lighters/fuel blocks,
If I have used scented candles the block smell a lot better than hexi!

 

[2trapper]

Thank you all. John, Have you ever experienced that saw dust lower the burning point of the wood? I tried several times with very fine dust and every time there are very little sparkles lighted, but never a stable flame