I am a big fan of camping, at least until I get out to it. Usually, my biggest gripe with camping is trying to get a campfire lit to take the chill out of the morning. Everyone is huddled around a dead campfire, teeth chattering, waiting for something to happen so they can warm up after a cool night in the tent and start making breakfast.
It never fails, the campfire takes longer than it did the night before but if you have the camper’s secret weapon, wax fire starters, you can get those campfires going in no time. Not only are the wax fire starters weather resistant and handy, they are also a great way to get rid of your excess candle wax that you have lying around the house.
When it comes to making the Wax Fire Starters, it is very easy to make. You should be careful since you will be working with hot wax and this is not an activity that I would recommend that you do with kids. It is a craft that doesn’t need too many supplies and they are fairly inexpensive to make.
What you need:
- Old wax (this can be old candles or even crayons. You could also go and purchase wax from a craft store)
- Sawdust or wood chips
- Dryer Lint
- Muffin Tin
- Wax Muffin Cups
- Double boiler
Directions:
- Remove all the wicks and wrappings from the candles and crayons. Set them aside.
- Place all the old wax into the double boiler and melt on medium-low heat. If you don’t have a double boiler, use a coffee can or a boil and place it inside a pot filled with a few inches of water. Make sure to keep the water level high enough to burn the pot and also be careful not to spill the bowl.
- Before you begin melting the wax, fill the muffin tin with the muffin cups.
- Add some dryer lint to the muffin cups.
- With the sawdust or wood chips, there are two ways that you can use them. The first way is to add them to the melted wax, making a wax and wood mixture. The second is to add them to the muffin cups. It is simply a matter of preference and I don’t think one works better than the other.
- After the wax has melted completely, carefully pour it into each of the muffin cups. Make sure to leave about half an inch between the top of the tin and the wax.
- Set to the side and allow them to cool completely.
- Store them in plastic baggies for the camping trip. The best way is to wrap them individually in a paper towel so there is no chance that they will melt and stick together.
Once you are camping and enjoying the great outdoors, the wax fire starters are very easy to use. All you need to do is set up a tepee or log cabin of kindling, place the fire starter in the center and light it. It should flare up and burn for about 5 minutes, long enough to catch the kindling and get your fire going.
One of the best features of wax fire starters are the fact that they can be used in practically any type of weather. They are water resistant and keep down the amount of supplies that you need in your camping inventory.
Before you use a fire starter, it is important to stress that fire starters should never be used as a candle. They burn very quickly and very hot and will cause serious injuries if you use them for anything except outdoor campfire starters.
-MJ Plaster
