Firestarter for woodstoves

D

Denise1952

Well-known Member
Hi all,

I'm trying to help my sister figure a way to start her woodstove easier. She has the presto logs (I think they're called) spent like 200 I think, and then firestarters. We still have to take one presto log and chop it up for like kindling, etc. Mainly, I wanted to ask about liquid indoor firestarter and if it's worth a try?

I sat there on a stool from 7-8 a.m. trying to get two presto logs to fire up. I went through 4 little round firestarters and still didn't get it going. Later my sister added some paper and it finally went. Almost like the wood was damp but it's been indoors here all Summer. I know some of you guys are going "women'z" LOL:)
 

Kindling is necessary to make a fire easy to start. I don't know of any presto trees growing around here. We use wood from most other trees though. You can buy firestarters or make them by mixing candle wax and sawdust. You can buy kindling too.
 

Laying a good woodstove, fireplace or camp fire takes some talent which many younger people have never learned. Beside kindling and firewood the way that they are arranged is the key to success. As a child I attended a wilderness summer camp and one of the regular evening ceremonies was the lighting of the camp fire and this was always done as a competition between two campers and involved only the use of flint (that the camper had found) and steel. I can remember searching for days for a good spark stone and when I found a really good one it became one of my most treasured possessions.
 
Paper and something more substantial such as card first, then DRY kindling laid in a criss-cross pattern and then the firewood.
Use some thinner logs first and then add thicker ones when the fire gets going. Josiah09 is right, it takes a bit of skill to set the fire correctly and get it to light properly every time. I'd avoid liquid firestarters.
 
Whether we use wood or the store-bought logs in our fireplace, we always use a little newspaper to get things going. I'd avoid using a liquid firestarter too.
 
rkunsaw said:
Kindling is necessary to make a fire easy to start. I don't know of any presto trees growing around here. We use wood from most other trees though. You can buy firestarters or make them by mixing candle wax and sawdust. You can buy kindling too.
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That's all true rk, but sis bought these dang presto logs from presto trees, lol! Haven't you been out to the NW?? They're everywhere;) The kindling is doable, and when these run out, I am hoping she gets herself real wood. What is the best to get if you can afford it? I know we have tons of Oak, but that's fast burning isn't it?
 
Butterfly said:
I always use some paper to get the fire going. Otherwise it would take me all day.
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Thanks Butterfly,

We have a lot of paper saved up, but she bought those firestarters. I know she'll throw some in once in awhile if it's stubborn, seems the colder it gets the more stubborn these logs are to burn:( I'll suggest we use paper every time, see if that helps, it should;)
 
Josiah09 said:
Laying a good woodstove, fireplace or camp fire takes some talent which many younger people have never learned. Beside kindling and firewood the way that they are arranged is the key to success. As a child I attended a wilderness summer camp and one of the regular evening ceremonies was the lighting of the camp fire and this was always done as a competition between two campers and involved only the use of flint (that the camper had found) and steel. I can remember searching for days for a good spark stone and when I found a really good one it became one of my most treasured possessions.
Click to expand...

Boy I'd take those lessons Josia, when do we start;) I know you are right, along with the stove being clean, so we scoop in out regularly, getting enough air circulated. Seriously though, yesterday I sat for an hour watching each firestarter flame on up through the presto logs, burn them black, but never set them on fire. After I got tired of trying, my sister wadded up newspaper underneath and the logs magically caught fire:( geesh:aargh:
 
Capt Lightning said:
Paper and something more substantial such as card first, then DRY kindling laid in a criss-cross pattern and then the firewood.
Use some thinner logs first and then add thicker ones when the fire gets going. Josiah09 is right, it takes a bit of skill to set the fire correctly and get it to light properly every time. I'd avoid liquid firestarters.
Click to expand...

This is how I was taught way back. But now they have these presto logs, cut them up for kindling, and a firestarter. We are working on it though, more paper, buy some kindling etc. Thanks MUCH;)
 
I lived for a couple of years in a cabin in the high mountains of Idaho. I had only a wood stove to heat us. Our coldest temp during my time there was -30. We always lite our stove with tightly wadded pieces of paper, nothing else. During winter we only that to start it once for the season as we never let it run out of fire.
 
Wow, super roughing it, nothing like wood heat though, I love it, and miss it when I have to live in "fake heat" LOL! Wadded tightly huh? Ok, will do;)
 
nwlady said:
Wow, super roughing it, nothing like wood heat though, I love it, and miss it when I have to live in "fake heat" LOL! Wadded tightly huh? Ok, will do;)
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I've burned wood for decades.....a fireplace insert when we lived in the city, and now, a big outdoor wood furnace since we moved to 40 acres of heavy hardwood forestland in the country. Wadded up paper and a generous amount of kindling is a must to get a fire going. In addition, especially out here in the country, I always keep a spray bottle filled with diesel fuel, and spray the paper/kindling with a few ounces of diesel before I light the paper. Within minutes, I have a nice fire started, then toss in a couple of pieces of smaller wood and let it get going. After about 30 minutes, I have a base built that I can then load up with the serious wood. I heat almost 5,000 sq. ft. with this wood furnace, between the upstairs and the basement/garage, and save at least $300 a month over what it would cost to run the electric furnace. During the year, I go through the forest, and chainsaw the dead/damaged trees, and generally wind up with 10 cords of firewood by Winter. Oak, and Hickory is by far the best, longest burning wood, and evergreens/cedar are just basically the quick burning "firestarters". I keep this furnace going from October through March/early April, and let it die down about once a month when we go up to the city for a couple of days to visit the kids and casinos....and set the electric furnace on 65 while we are gone. Upon return, I take the 30 minutes to get it going again, and then we are set until we leave the house for 2 or 3 days, again. 2 or 3 times during the Winter, and at the end of the burn season, I leave the ash door wide open for about 30 minutes, and let the fire burn red hot, until I see some sparks coming out of the chimney....this burns out any creosote buildup, and leaves the furnace cleaned out and ready for the next years use.

For someone in a city environment, the best option, by far, would be a pellet stove insert in a fireplace. Unless a person has access to their own wood, buying wood usually costs more than using the house furnace.
 
A cord is the standard measurement for firewood....a stack of wood 4'x4'x8'....128 cubic feet of firewood. A cord of green oak weighs nearly 4,000 lbs. Every year, I cut, split (logsplitter), haul (tractor bucket), and handle 30 or 40 thousand pounds of firewood, multiple times, from the forest to the furnace. The hard work and exercise, in doing so, is my Health Care Plan. I have dropped 50 lbs, since retiring from the city life, and feel better than I did at age 40.

Burning wood in a urban environment is usually not a good idea. The smoke generated probably violates some local ordinance, and the cost of buying firewood is ridiculous. Plus, unless a person closely inspects the wood they buy, a stack of firewood near the house is an open invitation to a termite infestation.
 
Don M. said:
I've burned wood for decades.....a fireplace insert when we lived in the city, and now, a big outdoor wood furnace since we moved to 40 acres of heavy hardwood forestland in the country. Wadded up paper and a generous amount of kindling is a must to get a fire going. In addition, especially out here in the country, I always keep a spray bottle filled with diesel fuel, and spray the paper/kindling with a few ounces of diesel before I light the paper. Within minutes, I have a nice fire started, then toss in a couple of pieces of smaller wood and let it get going. After about 30 minutes, I have a base built that I can then load up with the serious wood. I heat almost 5,000 sq. ft. with this wood furnace, between the upstairs and the basement/garage, and save at least $300 a month over what it would cost to run the electric furnace. During the year, I go through the forest, and chainsaw the dead/damaged trees, and generally wind up with 10 cords of firewood by Winter. Oak, and Hickory is by far the best, longest burning wood, and evergreens/cedar are just basically the quick burning "firestarters". I keep this furnace going from October through March/early April, and let it die down about once a month when we go up to the city for a couple of days to visit the kids and casinos....and set the electric furnace on 65 while we are gone. Upon return, I take the 30 minutes to get it going again, and then we are set until we leave the house for 2 or 3 days, again. 2 or 3 times during the Winter, and at the end of the burn season, I leave the ash door wide open for about 30 minutes, and let the fire burn red hot, until I see some sparks coming out of the chimney....this burns out any creosote buildup, and leaves the furnace cleaned out and ready for the next years use.

For someone in a city environment, the best option, by far, would be a pellet stove insert in a fireplace. Unless a person has access to their own wood, buying wood usually costs more than using the house furnace.
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Thanks so much don,for all the information:) I'll be leaving here soon, and I don't know what my sis will end up doing. When she bought this manufactured home, I was concerned it was going to be a lot for her to handle, soon, even though she has in the past. She's 72, but not in very good shape. I am hoping she can sell this and get into a 60 over community where all the heavy stuff is taken care of for her;) Thanks again:)
 
Really, unless you are raised in the country, or truly familiar with fireplace/stoves, it's not as "romantic" as some might think;) In town, I don't think they even build apts. with them anymore because people don't know what they're doing. I remember the basics, but way too much work for me, I like turning that switch, or just set the thermostat, whatever, lol;)
 
nwlady said:
Really, unless you are raised in the country, or truly familiar with fireplace/stoves, it's not as "romantic" as some might think;) In town, I don't think they even build apts. with them anymore because people don't know what they're doing. I remember the basics, but way too much work for me, I like turning that switch, or just set the thermostat, whatever, lol;)
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I understand what you are saying Denise! You should try a Fireplace DVD! No fuss...no muss! We have watched a few old people doze off while watching it!:) HAHA!
 
LOL, right, they sure don't throw off much heat though, you can't pop popcorn, you can't roast marshmellows, oh, and you can't burn the house down, LOL!
 
here are some cool ideas


I've done some camping and the other guys will look over as Im enjoying a cup of tea from what I made with my little soda can stove. These more experience guys will inevitable ask to borrow my denatured alcohol or similar product. Just a little bit to start their fires it burns off quickly so no after effects when used indoors get a fire quickly started using it and some paper or just sprinkle a tiny on the wood. Maybe maybe not the best idea for indoor fire started, but the above lint thing seems pretty cool.

my home made cook stove, used to cook burgers in a fry pan as well. Fun times. LOL
View attachment 11761
 
Woweeeeeeeee April!! Love this stuff!! Thanks bunches;)
 

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