How to Make Fire Starters for Your Fireplace or Wood Stove

Tired of spending a fortune for those nifty fire starters at the store? It's easy to make your own.

First purchase a package of peat seed-starting trays (they sort of look like ice trays, or egg cartons). As a matter of fact you can use empty egg cartons as well.

Second, take some cedar shavings. They are packaged compressed as bedding for rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Fill each cavity of your peat tray with the shavings. Third, put a birthday candle in each cavity. Yes, I know you can purchase wicking, but you can get birthday candles so inexpensively, that you will find in much less expensive to use the candles.

Then, next part is the hardest part; you must use a water bath or as the French would say, bain marie, to melt some wax. The common paraffin wax used for topping of jars of jelly works great, but I find most of us have a drawer full of old candles that have become broken, misshapen etc.

Melt what ever wax you've chosen and then pour it over the top of your trays. In a matter of minutes the wax will harden, solidifying your starters. You then can cut the tray into individual starters. When ready to start your fire, simply light the birthday candle and place the starter under your kindling and logs. Enjoy your cozy, romantic fire.

I calculated that it cost me $1 to make two trays of starters. One box at the store was $12. You'll find that the cedar shavings will be enough to make many batches of starters.