Starting your fire

[ralhanti]

Re: Starting your fire

Try adding more than one log. I find that one log works with the other to keep the flames burning.

[ralhanti]

Re: Starting your fire

I cut up a couple of 6 inch 2 X 4s into 3/8 strips, put them in a one quart container pour on 91% isopropyl alcohol. I use a few at a time, they burn clean and can start a small fire.

[carl ragel]

Re: Starting your fire

I'm building an Artigiano 100. I was wondering if I would degrade or harm anything in this oven by using a gas log lighter to get the wood burning more rapidly. This thought comes from my experience with my Costco clay chiminea. I used it for 5 years with only wood, ignited with newspaper, small sticks, etc.. When I added the log lighter it really improved the rapid heating experience, with no kindling.

In an FB oven, it appears the wood is lit at the back, then moved to the sides or wherever. Since a log lighter is only an 8" piece of 1/2" black steel pipe with six holes in it, attached to a flexible stainless steel supply line, it wouldn't get in the way too much, I think.

I'm throwing this question out there as the FB folks told me, in 2011 when the oven appeared, that a log lighter would have undefined detrimental effects and void my warranty. Since my oven was damaged in the rear during shipping, cracking the rear exterior of the oven, some transportation company's insurance company paid for it. I even got paid to haul it to the dump- my back yard. No warranty anyhow.

The cracks were fixed by me with 1/2 " hardware cloth and refractory mortar. It's been weakened in the rear, from the shipping damage, yet it may be stronger now with the repair.

Anyhow, any thoughts?

[philpan4]

Re: Starting your fire

got it down to a science
start with a small pc of pine or kindling
menards sells Fatwood sticks, a natural sticky wood for fire starting
lay two or three on kindling
put med size logs on either side
then crisscross stack three layers
light with small torch
Foolproof!

[GarnerAC]

Re: Starting your fire

Not sure where this question should go but I saw it on here that people get their stoves too hot sometimes... What is the best way to cool it if you had very little time?

Happened to my rookie self last week. I shoveled one of the logs out and a few coals. Then I took a wet towel and swabbed the floor a few times. I'll be interested in other replies from more experienced WOOFer's but this worked for me. Took 15-20 minutes to get back to a 750 floor.

[Moose4Life]

Re: Starting your fire

Not sure where this question should go but I saw it on here that people get their stoves too hot sometimes... What is the best way to cool it if you had very little time?

[Greenman]

Re: Starting your fire

What a great idea. There are plenty of pine cones around here. Another little project. Thanks.

[mrchipster]

Re: Starting your fire

Very pretty. I would put it in the category of 'another thing to go bust'. The 'must have' accessory for your primitive oven.

Getting the oven fired up is the easy bit. Plenty of twigs increasing in size as the pile builds and the well dried smallish wood on top. My cheat is one small bit of a 'Natural, non-toxic' firestarter that is 55% wax and 45% wood fibre in the middle of the heap.

If you want to cheat and make it look pretty at the same time take pine cones and dip them in a parifin wax bath for about 30 seconds. Let them drip off and place on parchment paper or tin foil. They make great cheaters, my dad - now 83 used them all the time to start his wood burner, he had a basket full of the cones ready for the next fire in a decorative basket.

I still use a single match and some news print.

[Gulf]

Re: Starting your fire

Very pretty. I would put it in the category of 'another thing to go bust'. The 'must have' accessory for your primitive oven.

Getting the oven fired up is the easy bit. Plenty of twigs increasing in size as the pile builds and the well dried smallish wood on top. My cheat is one small bit of a 'Natural, non-toxic' firestarter that is 55% wax and 45% wood fibre in the middle of the heap.

I haven't tried that. My cheat is to use about 3 crumpled paper towels inside the heap .

But the Looftlighter want be a "total failure" even, if the element does burn out. That looks like a stainless steel silencer on the business end of the tool. It could be dismantled, stuffed with smoking chips, and used to add some great! flavor to the oven .

[Greenman]

Re: Starting your fire

Very pretty. I would put it in the category of 'another thing to go bust'. The 'must have' accessory for your primitive oven.

Getting the oven fired up is the easy bit. Plenty of twigs increasing in size as the pile builds and the well dried smallish wood on top. My cheat is one small bit of a 'Natural, non-toxic' firestarter that is 55% wax and 45% wood fibre in the middle of the heap.

[Les]

Re: Starting your fire

Yea, but does your box of matches have an integrated bottle-opener? It looks like a pretty nice product but I'm with you on the price, I am sticking with matches as well.

[mrchipster]

Re: Starting your fire

Has anyone out there tried a "Looftlighter"? It looks like a glorified hair-dryer that shoots 1250F air on your wood and is supposed to instantly start a fire. I looks like a pretty cool tool - no paper or kindling, no propane. I am thinking about ordering one, but they are about $70.

Looft Industries AB | Looftlighter, lighter, barbeque lighter, firelighter, original Looflighter

I would be willing to bet the heater element will burn out before 70 fires, that would be $1 per fire. Not counting the electricity.

I can buy a lot of matches for that. BTW I am still on my first box of stick matches after 2 years of. Using the oven, and the box is still more Than half full.

[deejayoh]

Re: Starting your fire

That would work!

I read the reviews at Amazon. Sounds like it is a good idea, not well executed - as several reviews said it quit working within a few uses. One reviewer suggested that a Wagner heat gun works just as well. I happen to have one of those, so I am going to try that!

[GarnerAC]

Re: Starting your fire

Has anyone out there tried a "Looftlighter"? It looks like a glorified hair-dryer that shoots 1250F air on your wood and is supposed to instantly start a fire. I looks like a pretty cool tool - no paper or kindling, no propane. I am thinking about ordering one, but they are about $70.

Looft Industries AB | Looftlighter, lighter, barbeque lighter, firelighter, original Looflighter

Here's one!

[deejayoh]

Re: Starting your fire

Has anyone out there tried a "Looftlighter"? It looks like a glorified hair-dryer that shoots 1250F air on your wood and is supposed to instantly start a fire. I looks like a pretty cool tool - no paper or kindling, no propane. I am thinking about ordering one, but they are about $70.

Looft Industries AB | Looftlighter, lighter, barbeque lighter, firelighter, original Looflighter