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Tin Hut · 08-25-2005, 11:52 AM

A couple of months ago someone shared a good tip with me that maybe most knew but was new to me. To start a campfire, just take one of the low cost road flares, light it and stick in in the kindling to start the fire. I've tried it several times and it works great.

**Janet H** · 08-25-2005, 01:16 PM

I watched the forums own "campcollector" stuff 2 roads flares in a bundle of wet wood (with the bundle straps still on) one in each end...

When one end was lit - the bundle was launched about a half foot or so until the other side was lit - and then it moved back into position. Burned real pretty ~

Peter&Denise · 08-25-2005, 02:53 PM

When I change the gearbox oil in my KTM I save it in old WWAF jugs and mix it with the dirty gas left over from cleaning the airfilter(I like to think of it as red-neck recycling). I wind up with a mix of about 50% gas, 45% M/C transmission oil and 5% air filter oil. It starts the campfire really well. Of course Denise stays back about 100ft. for the initial light-up which is far more dramatic than any road flare that I've ever seen

! P.

Ken J · 08-25-2005, 02:59 PM

Campfire tip - make sure there isn't a rope attached to the end of the log.....

Ken

Iver · 08-25-2005, 05:07 PM

This is off topic but it is a funny story from the Darwin Awards (an annual award given for the most successful effort at removing youself from the gene pool).

A bunch of guys, drunk in a bar, decided to go ice fishing. One of them drove the rest out on a nearby totally frozen lake in his new SUV to show off its capabilities. One wise guy decided to take several sticks of dynamite, bundle them together, put on a long fuse and throw it as far as he could. This was a lame attempt to avoid having to drill thru the ice. He staggered and threw the dynamite. Unfortunately someone had their bird dog along. Yep, the dog retreived it and came running back. Since the ole boys had a hunting rifle handy they started to shoot at the dog in an attempt to stop it from bring the dynamite to them. The dog got scared and went under the new SUV to hide. The explosion blew a hole in the ice large enough for the SUV to sink thru.

Off topic but still funny.

Tin Hut · 08-25-2005, 06:02 PM

Ya, I know that guy, he's my cousin. Here he is in a sober moment

mandolindave · 08-25-2005, 06:41 PM

I was going to try detonating a small nuclear device as a quick way to
start a campfire. But my dog told me that it would be like 500 years before it would be safe to cook hot dogs. So I gathered up some twigs and some
newspaper. I started using the twig method to light charcoal as well.
But now I can't blame the lighter fluid for my bad cooking.

Jaxon · 08-25-2005, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandolindave

I was going to try detonating a small nuclear device as a quick way to
start a campfire. But my dog told me that it would be like 500 years before it would be safe to cook hot dogs. So I gathered up some twigs and some
newspaper. I started using the twig method to light charcoal as well.
But now I can't blame the lighter fluid for my bad cooking.

Man-Do-Lin Dave, where you from? Got a washboard?

redeagle313 · 08-25-2005, 08:31 PM

Take 12 to 18 charcoal briquets, pile them into a little pyramid and soak them with starter fluid and light them and let them burn until light gray, then build your pile of wood around them and you will have a great fire within 15 minutes.

mandolindave · 08-25-2005, 08:47 PM

I am into fairly traditional Bluegrass, which doesn't use percussion instruments. The mandolin actually covers the functions that a washboard would.( I do play country with my girlfriend, and I was in rock bands for
too many years to count) Anywho......accoustic music is well suited
for campgrounds, because it is quiet, and well suited to boondocking, because you don't need power.
My camper lives in Pennsylvania, high on a hill.
SORRY......back on topic.....campfires..........banjos burn real good

Chaplain Kent · 08-25-2005, 09:24 PM

Up here we need to get the fire going quickly, no way can we wait five or ten minutes. A propane torch does the trick regardless of what kind of wood you are using. Another advantage is if you run out of wood you can melt the fire ring and cook over that.

Foiled Again · 08-25-2005, 10:58 PM

Ordinary caution dictates that we shred a lot of paper around the office. These paper shreds make wonderful kindling.

Tin Lizzie

overlander63 · 08-26-2005, 04:52 AM

You can always start a campfire by rubbing two SOB owners the wrong way...

Seriously, one of the charcoal manufacturers markets a giant match made from wax and sawdust, with a suphur lighting end. You can light one of these and put it under the firewood, and have a fire in a few minutes.

85MH325 · 08-26-2005, 05:08 AM

Those of us here in the midwest have a clean, easy, foolproof firestarting method. It involves absolutely no work for any of us, and it works every time. We camp with Silvertwinkie who is one of the finest fire-ring arsonists... uh... I mean... uh... ARTISTS in the midwest!

Roger

smily · 08-26-2005, 05:49 AM

I am suprised that I have not seen any one mention those sawdust bricks that are on sale every year at the end of winter at stores like HD or Wally world.

I think these are the most economical readily available and sure fire way to get it going. CHEAP too!

I keep a package of them with me in the camper. About a dozen or so bricks in a package.

Tin Hut · 08-26-2005, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smily

I am suprised that I have not seen any one mention those sawdust bricks that are on sale every year at the end of winter at stores like HD or Wally world.

I think these are the most economical readily available and sure fire way to get it going. CHEAP too!

I keep a package of them with me in the camper. About a dozen or so bricks in a package.

They're good eatin' too, and keep you regular.

sander17 · 08-26-2005, 07:04 AM

Simply adapt the method used at the world charcoal grill starting championships. Soak the wood in an open top dewar of liquid oxygen. Once it stops bubbling, pull the wood out, put it in the fire ring, throw the match, and RUN! Campfire in 0.3 seconds.

Foiled Again · 08-26-2005, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smily

I am suprised that I have not seen any one mention those sawdust bricks that are on sale every year at the end of winter at stores like HD or Wally world.

Gotta admit I've got a neighbor who makes home-made sawdust bricks. Here's his really cheap recipe: Go to garage sales, you'll always find someone selling really big candles for ten to twenty five cents. Buy a couple of pounds worth. Get sawdust from your own shop or a neighbors. Melt the wax in an old coffee can over the dying ashes of a barbecue or propane torch. Add the sawdust. If you can find cardboard egg cartons, use them as molds for the bricks - just break them apart and toss on the fire. If you can't find cardboard egg cartons, set up empty toilet paper rolls on a board and fill half way. (Somebody HAD to find a use for TP rolls, didn't they?) When cold, store in a bag and use one or two as needed.

Tin Lizzie

ctdair · 08-26-2005, 02:00 PM

Save Your dryer lint and use to ignite the kindling. Youll be suprised how well it works.

jsmith351 · 08-26-2005, 02:24 PM

Last weekend I noticed to my disgust we forgot the firelogs, you know...the self starting kind, just light the paper?

So with the great american ingenuity I poured some lantern fuel in the wood to soak while I went to the generator and took some good ole 10-40w. Poured a little oil across the logs. Told the wife and kids to stand back, threw a lit match 6 feet to the pit and PRESTO!!!! FIRE!!!! Argh! Argh! Argh!..

So the wife told the boys to get out the marshmellows, and I kindly told her that we wouldnt be having fire roasted mellos that night.