Collect lint in egg cartons
One of our traditions here in the Scribner household is making our own campfire starters by collecting lint from the clothes dryer in old egg cartons. We have found that this not only makes for a quick and easy way to start campfires at the campsite, but it’s also a good use for both egg cartons and lint!
Seal with candle wax
Family camping is all about opportunity – being ready to go when the opportunity presents itself. Making our own fire starters and having them on-hand is just one of the little ways that we can cut down on those last minute dashes to the store, in order to get things that we don’t have.
Ready to go – just tear off 4 eggs
We have found these homemade campfire starters work every bit as well as store-bought ones. As long as we have plenty of good kindling, it only takes four “eggs” to get the fire going and there is no messy ashes blowing around, like you get using newspaper.
I like finding new uses for old stuff, particularly stuff that I would otherwise throw away. The fact that an old egg carton, some dryer lint, and a little candle wax can do the job every bit as well as something I would buy, is just icing on the cake!
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I do some woodworking, so I always have cypress shavings that I use. Little bit of wax, those little paper muffin wrappers, and that’s it!
I’ll have to try the lint fire starter, thanks!
Ok, now that’s uncanny! I have pics in my camera from 2 nights ago doing this same project. I melted Gulf wax in a pan and used its’ own box for the “mold”, so that it’s a solid brick when it cools. I’ll try your method out, I like the fact you incorporate more cardboard in each starter (and it’s less messy). I’ll post my pics when I upload them.
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Hmm, maybe we’re stalking each other? LOL I think the cardboard (or whatever that egg carton stuff is called) does burn hotter than “regular” cardboard.
Wow, I never put 2 and 2 together! I’ve been using dryer lint for years (Save it in a ziplock bag) and never thought to add wax to it!. Duh! My wife and I buy the organic eggs in the recyclable plastic carton. I bet that would work too.
Thanks,
Adam
Adam Shake’s last blog post..Gold Mine to Supreme Court, “It’s OK if I Dump my Junk in That Lake, Right?”
Very clever, very useful!!! I’m going to start using it!
“I like finding new uses for old stuff.” – Hey Scrib’, I’m getting kind of old, could you come up with a new use for me??
Love it! My Girl Scouts just used this on a recent campout. I also like to have a ziploc of cotton balls and a tube of vaseline lip balm which is petroleum jelly in a small tube. Makes a fast-lighting, long-burning fire-starter.
With the concerns of transporting pests like the Emerald Ash Borer and other destructive insects, this is a great idea to bring as a fire started instead of wood based products.
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Wax. Egg Cartons. Pocket Lint. .Sounds like an episode of Magyver to me
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@Eric – Ha! Sure does… Just thumbing a chapter of Les Stroud’s Survive! book last night, he has a whole segment on “My Favorite MacGyverisms”. Fishing with gum, making flashlights from car parts, and hunting…with underwear…are a few of the highlights! lol
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Another idea that I do is to get one of those big fire logs you use for fireplaces, cut it into small pieces. You can make 15-20 fire starters out of one large fire log.
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I just made some of these today. Even if they don’t work perfectly I like the idea of using items I was just going to throw away or recycle (well except for the candle wax, that would’ve just stayed in my candle
).
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Absolutely! Let us know how it goes – we’re roasting some marshmallows this weekend, too
Wow, that is one that I had forgotten. Also the petroleum jelly is a good one also. Thanks for the reminder. Got any S’mores left?
I wish
saw Les Stroud use petroleum jelly and cotton balls on one of his episodes, last year. It looked like it burned really good.
Wow! This would be a good project with the kids leading up to the next camping trip. Thanks.
How have I never thought to add wax?! I’ve always used lint but… Brilliant post! I can’t wait to try this.
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You guys will love it – these things get a fire going in no time!
Nice Tip! Will definatly try this on my next camping trip. Always looking for ways to save on the pennies.
I make mine similarly. I layer lint and wood shavings and smash as much as I can into each egg. Then I take an old candle completely coat the entire top with a nice layer of wax. It takes a while but its fun to do while watching tv. I’ve gotten 2 dozen out of one candle so far and can probably get another 2 dozen before its gone. It only takes 1 egg to get the fire going!
Nice! I’ve always wondered how much better it would work if I compressed the lint – I think I’ll give that a try.
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