Homemade Fire Starters

We really enjoy having a fire in the fireplace whenever it gets cold enough.  Over the years, we have tried several different kinds of fire starters, without much satisfaction.  Finally, out of desperation, we decided to make our own.  Here's how we did it:

Supplies:
*pine cones
*muffin tin
*melted wax
*uncoated wick
*spray glue
*salt, salt substitute, alum, epsom salts, borax (for different colored flames)


Cut wick about twice as long as the bottom of the pine cones.  Place it in the center of each muffin cup.  Pour a little bit of melted wax over the wick in the muffin tin, maybe 1/4 of the way up.  Straighten out the wick.  Place a pine cone in each muffin cup.  After about a half an hour the wax should be hard enough to pop out of the tins.  If the wax separates from the pine cone, add a little more wax and let it harden a little longer.  Trim the wicks.

Place pine cones on several thicknesses of newspaper.  Spray with glue, one at a time and sprinkle with one of the salts or other chemicals.  Use only one chemical per pine cone.  Let dry. Use in your fire as a fire starter.  Light the ends of the wicks and it will slowly burn.

Here is a picture of a gift basket we put together using our homemade soap, candles, and our homemade fire starters.