Candle Firelighter Nonsense!

[AJB]

It was blowing a gale in Chorley this morning so as I had nothing better to do I thought I would see how my Swiss Army Volcano Cooker (thanks to the group buy - http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34145) performed. It also gave me the chance to try some little candle/firelighters I made the other day.

They were cast in the plastic tray which held some posh chewing gum; the wicks and wax are from tea lights (do all tea light wicks pull out so easily? It’s very convenient ).

It was a bit of fun and will be probably be regarded as completely pointless by most, but they worked really well, kept a flame alive while I dropped in some twig shavings, then melted away to get the whole thing, with the addition of some pine cones, really roaring like a blast furnace. It boiled the cup in no time and the pine cones burnt away to dust.

While I was melting wax in front of the TV, I knocked up a little travelling tea light too – cute

Thanks for playing!

 

[gregorach]

I always have a tealight or two in my kit somewhere - very handy for firelighting in difficult conditions, plus they're good for waxing your saw blades.

 

[Toddy]

Neat Very neat , and a good way to spend a dreich day It's chucking it down in gusts here too

Do you think adding a coil of corrugated cardboard to it would make it work more like the cat food tray ones ?

I've been working my way thorugh one of those tiny vaseline tins thinking that I could get layers of makeup removal pads 'buttered' with the vaseline stored safely inside. Great for taking a spark when teased out and the vaseline makes them great firestarters

cheers,
Toddy

 

[philaw]

Tres cool. The little fire lighters are cute.

 

[AJB]

Do you think adding a coil of corrugated cardboard to it would make it work more like the cat food tray ones ?

Praise from Toddy is praise indeed Ta!

They really are tiny...

...I think it would be very difficult to get the cardboard into the mould and I doubt if there would be sufficient reservoir of wax to make it work - but it's worth trying

AJB

 

[forestwalker]

I usually make that kind by filling egg cartons with dry saw dust and torn paper, and then pouring melted wax on them. Or by rolling up corrugated cardboard and dipping it in wax.

Now I started thinking about what accelerants could be added to the mix, but that is probably overkill.

 

[Toddy]

Oooops, sorry I ought to have proof read before I posted. I didn't make that very clear.
I was thinking about the vaseline tins tbh.

Those wee bites of candles are tiny........how cool is that though? just enough and it won't burn out the backside of the volcano stove

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Toddy]

I usually make that kind by filling egg cartons with dry saw dust and torn paper, and then pouring melted wax on them. Or by rolling up corrugated cardboard and dipping it in wax.

Now I started thinking about what accelerants could be added to the mix, but that is probably overkill.

If you soak the paper in a mix of saltpetre dissolved in water first, then let it dry before it's added to the dipping wax, that acts as a 'catch' to the flames.

Actually, come to think of it, is that what's done to the wicks of those candles that don't stay blown out ???

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Cobweb]

Why not use one of those rubbery ice cube tray's? they're a bit bigger and you could probally get cardboard into them if you wanted

 

[AJB]

But they wouldn't be as cute

 

[forestwalker]

If you soak the paper in a mix of saltpetre dissolved in water first, then let it dry before it's added to the dipping wax, that acts as a 'catch' to the flames.

Actually, come to think of it, is that what's done to the wicks of those candles that don't stay blown out ???

Not sure about the candle wicks, but nitrating the cellulose is a good idea. I was thinking more along things with a bit more "go" though, but plain nitrocellulose might be more than sufficient.

 

[Glen]

I was thinking about the vaseline tins tbh.

I shave the outside of the tea lights down, wrapp them with corrugated card and put them back in the little foil cases. They are somewhat smokey but an almost foolproof way of getting a brew from a volcanoe stove even on the wettest days.

 

[forestwalker]

The vaseline can version reminds me of a version make up while in the army. Small tin can (probably about that size), a narrow roll of cardboard, and melted wax all over it. Quite nice for some light and heat.

 

[rik_uk3]

I usually make that kind by filling egg cartons with dry saw dust and torn paper, and then pouring melted wax on them. Or by rolling up corrugated cardboard and dipping it in wax.

Now I started thinking about what accelerants could be added to the mix, but that is probably overkill.

Agreed about the sawdust, and a very good way to use up the leftover candle wax you may have.

 

[jonnno]

Do you just melt down normal household candles for this? Also, could you not make your own wicks from something?

 

[AJB]

I just melted tealights because the ex filled the cupboards with em! I used aa turbo lighter and lit them drip into the mould - the wicks are those from the tealights.

 

[MartinK9]

OH no another project to undertake

Simple but inovative idea AJB

 

[forestwalker]

Do you just melt down normal household candles for this? Also, could you not make your own wicks from something?

if you are "making candles" then you need wicks, but with the sawdust/cardboard based ones the material itself is the wick. The idea is lots of wick giving plenty of heat. A egg carton chunk will burn for a while, giving an iffy fire a good start. Also very good for ornery woodstoves (which is my main use for them). Use candle stumps or buy "make your own candle" kits (or even buy IKEAs cheap tea-lights and strip).

 

[helixpteron]

What a great idea, very cute too!

A tea light is also very useful for heat and morale when in a bothy bag or wrapped in an AMK 1-2 person Heatsheets Survival Blanket, it warms the interior space noticeably.

 

[rik_uk3]

Stores like Wilkinsons stock big bags of sawdust for things like hamster cages, not a lot of dosh and you can make a lot of fire lighters with one bag. I use plastic egg boxes as when made, just dip the carton in warm water and the lighters come out easily and you can use the carton again. Wrap the fire lighters in a bit of cling film or store in a zip lock bag.