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In addition to the above, learn how to start a fire in your fireplace. I had used up my last (easy start) duraflame log a few days ago. "No problem," I thought

In addition to the above, learn how to start a fire in your fireplace. I had used up my last (easy start) duraflame log a few days ago. "No problem," I thought to myself, "I have this pile of firewood here to use." Fortunately I wasn't under a time crunch to get it started, because I failed on a few attempts, had to forage for some kindling, etc.

starkd 4y ago
Old newspaper used to work well for kindling. But fewer people get their newspapers delivered in print. Used paper grocery bags could work.
- Avicebron 4y ago
  Also proper organization of the wood, I have a wood stove (had one growing up as well) and learning how to build a little pyramid or log cabin like structure around something flammable helps a lot to circulate air allowing the fire to spread to larger pieces of wood. EDIT: old newspaper is good, I often use "junk mail" as long as it doesn't contain any plastic, where I am stores will still send out some paper flyers.
  - PenguinCoder 4y ago
    Don't discount using dryer lint and left over cooking grease as a starter. I have a woodstove at the house, and I use both to get it going. Left over bacon grease on a few paper towels with dryer lint around/on top of it, and a few smaller pieces of soft wood like pine. Larger/heaver wood on top and behind it like oak. Make sure to also pre-heat the exhaust vent pipe, get a draft of air going.
    - mysterydip 4y ago
      Hadn't thought of dryer lint, with three kids I have that in abundance!
    - yjftsjthsd-h 4y ago
      > Make sure to also pre-heat the exhaust vent pipe, get a draft of air going. How does one do that?
      - nkurz 4y ago
        If you can start with a hot fire and sufficient kindling, you don't always need to do it as a separate step, but otherwise you can burn crumpled newspaper, use a hairdryer or heat gun, or sometimes even a large candle. If the room temp is higher than the outside, sometimes just a fan is enough.
      - PenguinCoder 4y ago
        After stocking the woodstove and building the base, I get a wad of newspaper and put dryer lint in it. Then put the wad on top of the log pile right under the flue/exhaust pipe and light it. Then immediately light the rest of my kindling to get the fire going.
ericd 4y ago
This stuff is amazing: https://www.fatwood.com/ https://www.fatwood.com/ Two little sticks of that, and you can mostly skip the super-thin kindling in favor of sticks.

starkd 4y ago

Old newspaper used to work well for kindling. But fewer people get their newspapers delivered in print. Used paper grocery bags could work.

Avicebron 4y ago
Also proper organization of the wood, I have a wood stove (had one growing up as well) and learning how to build a little pyramid or log cabin like structure around something flammable helps a lot to circulate air allowing the fire to spread to larger pieces of wood. EDIT: old newspaper is good, I often use "junk mail" as long as it doesn't contain any plastic, where I am stores will still send out some paper flyers.
- PenguinCoder 4y ago
  Don't discount using dryer lint and left over cooking grease as a starter. I have a woodstove at the house, and I use both to get it going. Left over bacon grease on a few paper towels with dryer lint around/on top of it, and a few smaller pieces of soft wood like pine. Larger/heaver wood on top and behind it like oak. Make sure to also pre-heat the exhaust vent pipe, get a draft of air going.
  - mysterydip 4y ago
    Hadn't thought of dryer lint, with three kids I have that in abundance!
  - yjftsjthsd-h 4y ago
    > Make sure to also pre-heat the exhaust vent pipe, get a draft of air going. How does one do that?
    - nkurz 4y ago
      If you can start with a hot fire and sufficient kindling, you don't always need to do it as a separate step, but otherwise you can burn crumpled newspaper, use a hairdryer or heat gun, or sometimes even a large candle. If the room temp is higher than the outside, sometimes just a fan is enough.
    - PenguinCoder 4y ago
      After stocking the woodstove and building the base, I get a wad of newspaper and put dryer lint in it. Then put the wad on top of the log pile right under the flue/exhaust pipe and light it. Then immediately light the rest of my kindling to get the fire going.

ericd 4y ago

This stuff is amazing: https://www.fatwood.com/ https://www.fatwood.com/ Two little sticks of that, and you can mostly skip the super-thin kindling in favor of sticks.