Starting a Stove Fire

coobie · Jan 30, 2017

Industrial Toys said:
I love fires. What I don't like is starting them. Or getting up in the night to put on more wood. I mean, the whole progressive thing, with paper, kindling and ever larger wood is just so time consuming, and if you don't stay there and watch it, it WILL go out! I usually use a propane torch, but have to crouch there to get the fire going. I once got a good amount of hardwood kindling from a cabinet manufacturer and it was great, but I finally ran out.

Can one make something (cheap) similar to the store bought logs that come in a paper bag? You put a match to them, and they are good to go. They look like compressed saw dust, but what makes them burn?

Can one soak, pieces of pallets for instance in kerosene or something, and let it dry, so basically it starts with just a match?

Old candles work pretty well for starting fires.Or use the gel liquid they use to start some pellet stoves.

PILOON · Jan 30, 2017

A local fast food fries tons of eggs that they buy by the case.
The eggs are nestled in 12" X 12" papier mache 'trays'.
I simply use one tray and one match plus 5-6 pieces of kindling and presto my fire is on its way.

KennyG · Jan 30, 2017

The bed of coals works. In the house stove, I use the "lean to" method, with a large chunk of wood and then kindling laid across crumpled newspaper. One match and it goes.

In the shop I cheat. Same method but I have a stack of small paper cups. I put a few ounces of used motor oil in the cup and put it under the crumpled paper and kindling. Never a problem.

TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark · Jan 30, 2017

General Lee said:
I don't experience the issues you're having. Once in the heart of winter, my stove pretty much burns 24/7.

Yep. If you are having that much trouble starting a fire, you are probably using wet wood. It's just not that difficult to start dry wood.

I used to think I was using dry wood, and I had the same struggles you describe. Then I had the chance to try some wood that was actually dry. Problem solved. There is a world of difference.

How long are you seasoning your wood, and what kind of wood are you burning?

Deere Dude · Jan 30, 2017

Diesel soaked wood chips is the key.

When I wake up my house is cold and I want fires fast. Not enough heat comes out right away for the whole house but enough for the immediate area.

I have two buckets outside with little 4' squares of plywood or OSB, 4-5" 2x4s split maybe in quarters.

I dump diesel over them and fill so the buckets is 1/3-1/2 full of diesel. Then take a piece of newspaper, lay it out and put a small handful of diesel soaked chips on it, fold it over and set it in the fireplace. Put two or three wrist sized dry wood over the top, then torch it. You will have a nice fire in a couple minutes from start to finish.

Once the diesel soaked wood starts the wood will go quickly.

If the chips on the top of the pail seem dry just dump some of the diesel from the other bucket over it to moisten them good. 5 gallons of diesel will last all winter.