video: Pine Cone Fire Starters
These fragrant pine cone fire starters are super easy to make, and would make a perfect addition to a gift basket for that person who already has everything, including a fireplace.
Get the Flash Player to see this video.
Items needed include:
- Pine cones
- Straight Paraffin Wax (IGI 1343)
- Candle Dye (Red and Hunter)
- 36 Ply Flat-Braid Wick
- Fragrance Oil (Cinnamon & Spruce Christmas Tree)
- Cookie sheet (for cooling)
The pine cone fire starters are used as kindling for a fireplace, wood burning stove, or camp fire. They are easy to ignite (light the wick) and will sustain a generous flame for about 10 or so minutes while the main fuel source, generally logs, catch fire. Basically, the fire starters make it easier to get a fire going. And they are a bit neater than things such as newspaper.
When they are just sitting around and not being burned, they double as effective air freshners.
Filed under: video
Tried a couple of times to access this video, but the site is "exeriencing technical difficulties".
As Ahhhhhnold says: "I'll be back!"... because these would indeed make great additions to gift baskets!
Thanks!
I can't see either.....would love to try!! Please hurry and fix the problem to view.
This page experiencing technical difficulties. Please visit this page later
I'll try again later.
ditto!!!...Would love to make some of these!
I'VE ALSO TRIED THIS SITE AND NO LUCK. PLEASE CORRECT PROBLEM AS THESE LOOK JUST WONDERFUL. I'LL BE BAAAAACK!
try to pull up video would not work please fix, sounds cool to do cant wait to try it.
mertz
For all who are waiting....I made these with my grandchildren and they were a hit. They made a great flame and smelled great. We wrapped the wicking around the cone pushing to the core of the pine cone and left a tip at the top. Then holding the wick tip we dipped them in our scented and tinted wax. They were left to cool on wax paper. I also saw them in a catalog selling for $35.00 for 10 cones (Pondarosa Pine cones). Wow now I can make them for pennies!!!!
I have wanted to do these for a long time. Just saw the video and can't wait to make these for my Christmas baskets. This was very informational. Thanks to you I'm now off and waxing.
Great Video very well done! I can't wait to try these. They would make such cute gifts.
Just wanted to know if you can do these with soy wax?
Thanks
I saw these in a store in Solvang, Ca yesterday and thought they were beautiful. Then, to my amazement I received an email about how to make them from your company.
Just one question, can these be made using Soy wax successfully?
I also would like to know if these work with soy wax. Great video, great idea!
Re: Soy wax
I tried to make these today with soy flakes and they did NOT turn out well. The wax hardened into granular globs. I just went and purchased some parafin wax, so I'm ready to try it again.
For soy, the part I'd modify is the temperature of the secondary dips.
In the video, we waited until the wax (paraffin) was beginning to congeal. This was done in the interest of getting a wax build-up in as few dips as possible. You don't have to wait for it to congeal. In fact, it would probably look even cleaner if the wax was a bit warmer... for instance, 160F. The drawback is that it would take a larger number of dips to get an appreciable amount of wax on the cones.
So, for soy, I'd go warmer than the congealing point and just expect to do more dipping. Aim for a temperature of 130-150F. Dip once, cool. Dip again, cool. etc. Between each dip, wait long enough for the wax to solidify. It's very much like doing dipped tapers.
I hope that helps. Happy Holidays! :)
At the risk of sounding dumb, how do you use these pine cones in a fireplace?
The pine cone fire starters are used as kindling for a fireplace, wood burning stove, or camp fire. They are easy to ignite (light the wick) and will sustain a generous flame for about 10 or so minutes while the main fuel source, generally logs, catch fire. Basically, the fire starters make it easier to get a fire going. And they are a bit neater than things such as newspaper.
When they are just sitting around and not being burned, they double as effective air freshners.
Cheers!
Excellent information. I wish I could purchase some of your supplies in Australia.
My husband has been using pine cones as fire starters in our fire pit for several years now. But this is a marvelous demonstration about making them much more attractive and useful as gifts! Will definitely add to my Mr. Wong bookmarks.
I forgot to add...they are much too pretty to use!
I was curious but if my father was to use these each time to start a fire in his stove, would the wax create a buildup or is there a chance of starting a massive unwanted fire?
They won't create any more buildup than the wood that is already burned in woodburning stoves, or the various other sources of kindling. Cheers!
Can't seem to view the video on the "Pinecone Fire Starters" I have wanted to make them after purchasing a package at a craft fair. Don't have a stove or fire place to burn, but I display and enjoy the radiant fragrances of cinnamon and pine.
Was able to see the video on Pine Cone Fire Starters. Very imformative. "Thank You." My question is how short do I cut the wick after dipping? Looking forward in making some of these for gifts and oh yes they will work very nice in "gift baskets."
You say they won't cause any more build up, than the wood ash. Is this because wax has such a low melt point? Will it then turn to ash as well, causing it to burn clean? Thank you for the lovely video, and such helpful information. I very much enjoy it!
]
PS- I checked this site because it has 4 stars rating on Stumble. I agree! It gets thumbs up.
Tried to look at viedo on making pinecones it did not come up would appreciate when you can get up and running.Thanks for the great ideas.
u r genious. i like this site very much.u have provide very easy techniques for candle making.
How can I reuse old candles such as the Yankee candles that have a wonderful smell and nice size jars but the wick needs replaced. Could I some how melt these down and use the wax over the pinecones? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated
I loved this demonstration! I used to do something like this with my Brownie troop, and will definitely do it again. Thanks for reminding me about this fun craft! I loved the video.
OMG!!!! just came across this site. living in upstate NY, we have access to tons of pinecones. i usually collect them for crafting the usual stuff. this seems like a fun, easy, economical project for all. with this idea in mind, (i know it is only july) i plan to have a pine cone hunt with my daughter and some friends this fall/winter and have fun with this project.
These are perfect for gifts to my family and friends and even coworkers. The great thing about these are that 1. they are pine cones and not too feminen so men will appreciate them too. 2. I decorate the tree at our work and this will make a great tree hanger and hung on the mantle for the fragrance. thanx so much
ps thanx for answering to "kim" about the soy way. I prefer soy.
I thoroughly enjoyed the video. Great demonstration. In fact, I enjoyed watching it so much, I forgot to watch for and read the text and had to go back and review!!
I'm going to try this tonight, I have a crap load of pine cones in my yard that I'm going to go pick up right now.
Thanx!
The video was awesome! Good job guys. I can't wait to try and make some pine cone candles.
This is so cool!
I am soooooooooooooo gonna make it....
=)
I love this idea and this web site,my only problem is getting up of the chair and getting to work on these ideas just don't which one to start on. I have to wait until tommorrow as today is sunday nowhere open to get supplies.Thank you.
nicole
Ellen - I frequently use candle stubs and wax left over from other projects for something like this. Obviously, dyes and fragrances in the wax remnants will affect the color and scent of your fire starters.
On the other hand, for purely utilitarian starters (mostly ones I'm going to keep for myself :-) I just melt whatever bits I have on hand without much sorting
i love it thank you. i have so much of old canlde and idon't know how to make candle.please let me konw.
I can't wait to make these!! Would it help if I add palm wax to my GW464 soy? What ratio?
Hey, I have watched the video and will be making some of these soon. But in the beginning of the video it shows all kinds of projects that I am assuming you can either get tips or intructions, anyway there is a candle that has a picture of a lab on it and I want to know was this a candle made on here or can I purchase one.
Love this! willing to give it a try for my gift baskets will let you know how it came out.
I'm sure this is silly, but how do you melt the wax? In the can you show? Just one the stove? I've never dealt with wax before. I can't wait to try this. Thanks for the great demonstration.
Sherri...you would put wax in a pan then put that pan inside a pan of water and melt the wax to the desired temp. Called double boiling. Please explore this site to see the different methods of melting wax and the safety methods too. :-)
I have tried making it with the video given on the website and it really worked out. My kids and I loved making it. Thanks a lot for helping us out with making of fire starters. It is a great idea for the gift basket as well.
They are simple to burn (light the wick) and will sustain a acceptable blaze for about 10 or so account while the capital ammunition source, about logs, bolt fire. Basically, the blaze starters accomplish it easier to get a blaze going. And they are a bit neater than things such as newspaper.
Also, with Soy wax I would recommend Pilliar/Tart Wax and not container wax. Big difference!
I'm interested in making various shapes, instead of pine cones. Do you think they will be useful as 'fire starters' if I dip die cut chipboard or cardboard pieces, or will they just immediately burn up. Is it the pine cone keeping the starter going for that appx 10 minutes, or the wax?
Loved the video on the pine cones, great music.
Please do more on other things.
Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong. After the
video I went and got all the supplies. I had pine cones.
I did everything the video showed. All I get is the white
wax allover the pan. I waited before and after each dip
I have diped at least 75 times and so far I don't have
any white on my pine cones.Please email me.
I love, but can be turned on? or are just decoration?
Hi Rebecca,
It sounds like the problem is that you are dipping your pine cones when the wax is too hot. The 180-190 degree temperature for the wax is only for the first prime of the pine cones. For all subsequent dips, you want the wax to be around 135-145 degrees Fahrenheit (the point at which you can see wax buildup sides of your pouring pot). This should allow the wax to stick to the pine cones better and require far fewer dips. I hope that helps!
Cindy-
We haven't tested this method with cardboard but you could certainly try it! However, the cardboard would burn up much faster than the pine cones, we're just not sure how fast. Good luck!
Beth-
These pine cones can be used as decoration if desired, or you can light the wick and place it in a fireplace or fire pit to be used to get your fire going. :)