Starter cubes.

N

Neonnblack

Full Fledged Farker
Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Messages
451
Reaction score
219
Points
0
Location
Reno, NV
So its hard to find starter cubes here, plus i dont want to pay very much for things. Maybe some of you do this, but i didnt see any threads, although i didnt search either, oh well.

First: go to the garage or home depot and get a cup full of sawdust, any will do.



Then go to walmart, or any store really and get a 50 pack of UNSCENTED tea lights, or a block of parafin wax. Get a pot fill with water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile break up the wax and put it in a metal bowl/cup w/e just make sure you can safely put it in boiling water. Melt the wax.



Now, get an ice cube tray and put a small amount of dust in the bottom of each cavity. As soon as your all melted grab the bowl, and pour over the saw dust, maybe half way up, you want the dust swimming in it. Put the bowl back in the water.



Now, take more saw dust and put more into each cavity. Mix with... something, i used a chop stick. keep layering dust and wax until you have a thick oatmeal consistency.

And voila, your own wax starter cubes. If you buy the 50 pack of tea lights from walmart, you'll fill probably two to three ice cube trays. figure one light per cube, about.

I over waxed a few, but thats ok.

 
Also, the sawdust from HD just ask them for some, its free. And if you have the ice trays at your disposal already, you will spend about 2 bucks doing this. 3.50 or so if you need the trays.
 
I've looked at similar recipes online but never made them. Thanks for the pictorial.

You may be able to find tea candles or similar at a dollar store, too.
 
That's a great idea! Here's a suggestion to save you a trip to Home Depot: fill a paper egg carton with the small lump charcoal bits that you can't cook with, add parafin, done. Works great.
 
That's too much prep work and mess for me.

I simply use some smallish pieces of smoking wood......hit 'em for a few seconds with my handheld butane torch and cover with lump.

I'm cooking in under 5 minutes.
 
It's a good idea but 24 cubes for 3.99 at Lowes starts 24 cooks for me. I think 16.7 cents seems pretty reasonable and saves me time.
 
I like this, and if I can use all the lump bits, that is a good idea.
 
Update: dont use that much wax. they are VERY hard to light, i'd keep it looking like my original picture in the tray, next time. I want to try the charcoal bits also.

And i cant go to Lowes to buy them.... we'll leave it a that. lol. I cant find them anywhere else though.
 
I usually use a weed burner to start the UDS. Cotton balls and petroleum jelly is a good fire starter, got that from search and rescue training
 
geez i just 2 sheets of newpaper and my charcoal chimney.

simple enough, always works, never have to buy anything. Always have newpapers around

those cubes would be handy starting the fireplace
 
Last edited:
Instead of an ice tray, you can use an empy egg carton (not the styrofoam ones, of course). After the wax/sawdust mixture has cooled, just cut into 12 pieces. They cardboard edges light very quickly.
 
I have a jar full of cotton balls soaked in alcohol. One of those will get a fire going
 
ButtBurner said:
geez i just 2 sheets of newpaper and my charcoal chimney.

simple enough, always works, never have to buy anything. Always have newpapers around

those cubes would be handy starting the fireplace
Click to expand...

If you live in a windy place, burning embers take flight if you use newspaper.

CD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

PitRow
Smoked Coyote Crap
Replies
13
Views
855
PitRow
PitRow
K
Neese’s Sausage, part 2
Replies
2
Views
765
1MoreFord
1MoreFord
16Adams
Weber Fire Starter Cubes
Replies
16
Views
1K
Happy Hapgood
Happy Hapgood
S
Favorite rubs and marinades
Replies
5
Views
368
IamMadMan
IamMadMan
H
Pretzel Rolls
Replies
5
Views
498
nsbbqguy
nsbbqguy
Back
Top