Fatwood and Wax Firestarter

From WildernessWiki.org

These instructions show how to make cupcake firestarters from cheap materials. This is the DIY version of commercially sold products such as "Magic Wick." The size of this firestarter can be adapted to suit your needs. The size shown here (that of a cupcake) will burn for 50 minutes with enough heat to boil 16oz. of water in 10 minutes. A smaller version can be made in an empty egg carton, from which individual cups can be torn as needed. This version has been known to boil 1 cup of water in 5 minutes one segment of the egg carton and a sterno camp stove.

Materials and Tools

• Knife
• Paraffin wax
• Cupcake cups or catsup (ketchup) cups from restaurant
• Fatwood or wood of your choice
• Heat source and saucepan
• Cupcake pan
• Candle wick (optional)

Method

1. Shave the fatwood into slivers and 'curly Qs'. I like to crunch these in my hands to make loose dust, as well.
2. Put cupcake cups in a pan and place a 2-3 inch candle wick inside each cup.
3. Fill each cup with the shavings and any loose dust.
4. Melt the paraffin in the saucepan and fill the cups until you see the wax pooling around the top. Don't forget to leave a bit of the wick uncovered! It is best to melt the wax in a double boiler to avoid an accidental flare-up.
5. Place in the freezer or just let them cool on their own

Use

Simply light the wick with a lighter or ferro rod. Even without a wick, the fatwood/wax combo should ignite easily on its own. The LARGER cupcake size will burn for up to one hour (usually about 50 minutes). Normally they will burn for 10 to 18 minutes even wet. In severe weather, this is an invaluable tool for starting fires.

Click to Enlarge

Photos and instructions by langston302 on BF WSS

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