Pine cones on the fire quick query

[bushcraftbob]

Was on a website the other day (Ravenlore me thinks) and there was a pic of a guy next to a fire and it looked like he had put pine cones on the fire? Can these be used for fuel?

 

[Tadpole]

Was on a website the other day (Ravenlore me thinks) and there was a pic of a guy next to a fire and it looked like he had put pine cones on the fire? Can these be used for fuel?

I've found them hard to light when starting a fire in my hobo, but once it is lit, they make very good fuel

 

[Tengu]

I use them as a substitute for charcoal, they are pretty good.

 

[andy_e]

I find they burn hot and fast and are best added one the fires caught properly. Don't seem to leave that much ash either.

 

[SOAR]

Sounds like Waylands site to me, Pine cones are a great fuel and easily collected, I have used them loads of times and the good thing about them is they tell you when they are dry, i.e when they are open, when collecting them give them a little shake to release the seeds, you never know they might grow into more trees.

Simon.

 

[SOAR]

Found some pics.

 

[Ogri the trog]

What they said.
my experience being, if the weather is a little damp, they hold a lot of moisture, making them hard to light - when properly dry they can hardly be beaten.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[chem_doc]

Throwing my 2 cents (tuppence? what with this being based in the UK and all...) in, pinecones work well when they're (A) dry and (B) wide open. Each of the little "fins" on the cone work well to catch fire, once it's going.

If the cone isn't open, though, it's tough to get the cone to actually catch, even in a fairly well-established fire.

And the whole wet thing applies to most wood when you're trying to get a fire going. ;-)

Doc

 

[Arth]

Cover them in wax and they are like candles

 

[Toddy]

Good point, and it lets you use up the scrap wax from candle stubbs very effectively too. If you add in borax or saltpetre you can get very fancy colours as well you can even add essential oils or resins to give wonderful scents, some are even anti midgie

cheers,
Toddy

 

[bushcraftbob]

I wouldnt mind trying that - so you melt the candle wax over the cone and then just light it after?

 

[pothunter]

Nice one Toddy, bit of citronella in the wax and few of those should do the job.

 

[w00dsmoke]

I find they burn hot and fast and are best added one the fires caught properly. Don't seem to leave that much ash either.

Yeagh I found that too, certainly I have used them on a cutlery drainer cooker and they burn't too fast and too hot with no coals to really cook on. Although I must admit, I've got a tendency to bring in my own charcoal now as much as I can...there's too many axe weilding, saw using wannabe RM's out there who are wrecking our treasured places

 

[Biddlesby]

Or a bit of pine resin on there in place of the wax...

 

[RobertRogers]

Once started they have so much resin the burn hot and fast. Good for a quick boil

 

[abushcrafter]

If you add in borax or saltpetre you can get very fancy colours as well

talking of which that reminds me of this link


http://www.metacafe.com/watch/701569/how_to_make_colored_fire/