Puckster wrote on Oct 11
th, 2009 at 12:17am:
S_T -- I made some of your lint/wax/egg carton fire starters and used them this year. Thanks for the tip. They worked fantastic, and like you said, were great during cold, wet periods like I had in June.
I'll be making more this winter. One question: what do you use to melt the wax? I found that the wax temp has to be just so...too hot and it melts right through the lint and the egg carton. Too cool and it want really absorb at all or set up. Any hints on the wax part of the deal?
prouboy
I take an old tin coffee can, and put the wax in after I break /cut it into smaller chunks. I put a inch or so of water in a large pot, and set the coffee can inside. I bend the tin coffee can, so it has a "spout". I used a wooden dowel rod and just stirred the wax till it was ALL melted.
Meanwhile I have the cardboard egg carton on a metal baking sheet, in-case of spills. I take the lint, and use my hands too ROLL it into a small ball, and set in egg cups. I have all my TRICK candles cut in half and ready to go. I pour just ONE egg cup, and see what happens? Either heat some more or let cool down. Once its right, I pour All the cups and then insert the Trick candle and let cool. I don't use a thermometer or anything, but I suppose you could. More of a FEEL thing.
Word of caution too anyone who wants to make these, Paraffin wax is EXTREMELY flammable. that's why I use the water bath method, rather than heating in old pot, over a open flame.
For those who are curious, TRICK B-day candles that you can't blow out, are that way because the fuse is made of powdered Magnesium which once ignited is almost impossible to put out, unless you deny it Oxygen. You light that fuse and even in pouring rain, it will ignite lint/wax, and even the most stubborn fire.
Thanks S_T -- I haven't used the candles, but I'll try them when I make the next batch this winter.
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