Guest guest Posted September 18, 2003 Report Share Posted September 18, 2003 <<I have found a recipe for fireplace starters using wax & sawdust. Has anyone made these? If so, what happens to the wax - does it make a mess in the fireplace and can you add a bit of EO to them to make them smell nicer, I know oils are flammable, but is it safe to add to such a thing?<< Hi Gea, Yes, I make them every fall/winter. I actually use the pine pet bedding that is sold in big bags at walmart or pet stores - they are " curls " of pine rather than sawdust, but you can use the sawdust. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners and fill loosely with sawdust/curls. Overpour with wax on the cool side (about 140F) and stir with a skewer or handle of a wooden spoon so that the wax and sawdust are evenly mixed. Then simply let cool. These do not make a mess in your fireplace or stove as they will combust completely in the heat. You can add fragrance if you like - it's perfectly safe to do so - but there's really no point. Since I'm a candlemaker, I do use leftover scented wax for these simply because it's here, and it's a selling point as folks who buy them like to have something " pretty-smelling " sitting in a basket, etc. next to their fireplaces - but the scent is useless once it is in the fireplace :-) HTH! Celt Various are the ways for them, but in the end they all come to Me. --Bhagavad Gita http://www.celticflamecandles.com ...fire for your head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2003 Report Share Posted September 23, 2003 Hi Celt, Thank you much for posting this! I've been considering making fireplace starters, but was wanting something easier (and more easily obtainable) than sawdust. I never thought of using the pet bedding, even though we had a guinea pig. She passed last Friday, so I've got 2 brand new bags of litter to do something with, so I think I'll give your method a try soon as it's getting to be close to fireplace season. Have you ever tried mxing in herbs or spices with yours? Herbs might be a little dicey and would require experimentation, but maybe spices, like cinnamon, would not only help the scent, but also add some visual appeal. And thank you for the information concerning scent. I was wondering about that. So for our own use, I probably won't scent, but if I make them to sell, I'll probably add scent so they act as a sort of room freshner until used. I've seen the pinecone ones at stores, but didn't want to get them because they're overscented to the point of making us ill. Carol Dragon's Pearls Herb Shoppe: http://herbshoppe.dragonspearls.com Computer Consulting: http://computers.dragonspearls.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2003 Report Share Posted October 14, 2003 > Line a cupcake pan with paper liners and fill > loosely with sawdust/curls. I have a question or two. Do these need a wick? Exactly how do you use them? I've never used fireplace starters before, so I'm clueless. With the weather beginning to change, and our having bought our first box of logs, I'm looking to making these soon. Oh, does it matter what type of wax is used? I don't do candles, so I'm not sure if regular paraffin is okay or not. ACK!! I want to make these, but I'm realizing that I don't really know how. Carol Dragon's Pearls Herb Shoppe: http://herbshoppe.dragonspearls.com Computer Consulting: http://computers.dragonspearls.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2003 Report Share Posted November 1, 2003 Hi Carol, I don't know if you got an answer to this, so I'll jump in here ... Dragon's Pearls [dragonspearls] > > Line a cupcake pan with paper liners and fill > > loosely with sawdust/curls. > I have a question or two. Do these need a wick? No! > Exactly how do you use > them? I've never used fireplace starters before, so I'm clueless. Basically you break a little chunk off the big block you've made, or make tiny enough ones for individual use, light the edge and toss it in the fire. The wax impregnated wood will burn without a wick. Just a safety precaution I have to mention - they do not burn nice like candles. They have an uncontrollable flame that is specifically designed to start fires (camp fires, fireplace fires, and the like), so don't even think of using them in place of a candle for any reason > With the > weather beginning to change, and our having bought our first box of logs, > I'm looking to making these soon. Oh, does it matter what type of wax is > used? I don't do candles, so I'm not sure if regular paraffin is okay or > not. ACK!! You can use regular paraffin. You can even use scraps you've collected from old burnt candles. I'm sure you can use the other varieties of natural wax if you don't want to use paraffin. You can also scent the wax if you really wanted to. I want to make these, but I'm realizing that I don't really > know how. Go for it, they are easier than you think. They can also be made with a pinecone. Dip the pinecone in wax until thoroughly and thickly coated, then you can even take an additional step and wrap the waxed pinecone in tissue paper and keep them in a basket until ready for use (not too close to the fireplace though . They'd be used by lighting the tip of the tissue paper the pinecone is in and tossing it into the fireplace .... > Carol > Dragon's Pearls > Herb Shoppe: <http://herbshoppe.dragonspearls.com> http://herbshoppe.dragonspearls.com > Computer Consulting: <http://computers.dragonspearls.com> http://computers.dragonspearls.com *Smile* Chris (list mom) <http://www.alittleolfactory.com> http://www.alittleolfactory.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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