DIY Fire Starter Logs
Have trouble getting a campfire to stay lit? Try a homemade Fire Starter Log for a one-match fire each time.
Have you ever wondered how to make fire starters? We have been creating our own for years using lint and cardboard egg cartons for years.
We have tried them with and without wax and even created these scented fire starters. Those work, but I have found more success with these fire starter logs.
These logs are particularly helpful with getting a fire to stay lit when it is damp out, which is most of the time here in the Midwest. Our kids enjoy making pinecone fire starters.
After getting the fire started, keep warm sitting around it with homemade fire reflectors.
How to Make Fire Starter Logs
You likely have all the supplies for this homemade fire starters project on hand at home. If you are like us and do not keep candles on hand, just pick some up at the Dollar Tree. Scroll down to see how we made these.
It is amazing how these fire starters help get a campfire going so quickly.
We just light the edge of the cardboard and let the log do the rest of the work. For an instant light, we use a homemade cotton ball fire starter.
We have been foolish and tried to start a few fires without these starters and were unable to get the flame going. Our lesson has been learned, so we do not build a fire without one anymore.
These DIY fire starter logs are fun and cost hardly anything to make. Everyone should have empty toilet paper rolls and dryer lint on hand.
We like to add potpourri to our campfire starters. This gives off a good scent and sometimes an interesting flame color. We pick up the scented candles and potpourri at Dollar Tree.
No need to spend money on commercial fire starters when you can follow this easy tutorial. Yes, that is Diana’s hair in the lint.
What is your favorite way to start a fire? Check out the mod we did to our favorite campfire log grabber tool.
DIY Fire Starter Logs
Light a fire with one match each time with these homemade fire starters.
Materials
- 12 Cardboard tubes
- Dryer Lint
- optional: Potpourri
- Cookie Tin
- Candles
- Empty can
- Pan with water
Tools
- potholder
Instructions
- Create a double boiler by placing the empty can in the pan with water. Make sure the can is clean and dry.
- Place the candle into the can.
- Heat the water to melt the candle wax.
- Stand the cardboard tubes up on end in the cookie tin. If you want to keep wax from sticking to the tin, line it with wax paper.
- Stuff some lint into each tube. I like to leave a little gap at the bottom of the tube. That gap provides a little lip of cardboard to catch the flame from the match.
- Stuff potpourri into each tube.
- Stuff more lint on top of the potpourri, leaving a gap at the top of the tube.
- Carefully pour the melted candle wax into each tube.
- Let the wax harden.
- Remove the tubes from the tin.
- Use one fire starter log to start a campfire.
Notes
Create larger logs by using paper towel roll tubes or cut down the cardboard from a roll of wrapping paper.
Fantastic ideas. Have to start saving those toilet roll inners.
This a great idea if you don’t have alternatives. We use pine tree stumps that have turned into what we call “lightered” woof. It is stumps that have aged for a few years in the woods and it turns into something like kerosene soaked wood. We split little pieces off of it and use these to start fires in our wood heaters. It burns for a while so it will get the bigger pieces of wood going easily. My brother had a logging business a few years ago and found some stumps. They save for years or indefinitely. If you know anyone who has this business or know how to find the stumps this is a great product that lasts forever if you keep it dry and it is like homemade gas logs
I’ll keep my eye out!
Hi I absolutely LOVE this idea! My only issue is, mine will be used in my pot belly stove, so I don’t think wax melting inside that would be a great idea. Any thoughts on a dupe or workaround for use in the belly?
Have you seen this post? http://letscampsmore.com/cotton-ball-fire-starters/ If you can’t use oil at all, then just pack it with a lot of lint.
I am currently.aking these as I write this so not sure how well this will work but instead of potpourri I stuffed saw dust and wood chips from a freshly cut pine tree. Seems like the same concept as stuffing potpourri in it, doesn’t it? Anyways I love the idea of this thank you so much.
Yes, those are great to add, Jeff!
Love using toilet paper rolls for this which we always have on hand! I’ve made them by stuffing lint into cardboard egg cartons (which makes a dozen at a time), then just light a candle and drip it over the lint bundles. Self-contained and easy for kids to do too! We don’t eat eggs that often though so the toilet paper holders are a great alternative!
Same with us. I will use cut paper towel or wrapping paper tubes. I’ve even resorted to using small cardboard boxes cut up.
I love this idea and have been collecting lint in a jar to do this but Im wondering what the wax is added for. Is it to keep the lint in place? And also, what happens to the wax after the fire is out? There is wax buildup left behind ?
The wax does help keep the lint in place, but it also keeps the log burning longer. We have only used this in campfires, so we are unsure of any wax buildup. We have never seen wax left after the campfire.
@Vivianne,
The lint acts as a wick for the wax. It’s the wax that provides the starter flame.
It should burn almost completely up…that’s what it’s there for.
You need BOTH. Wax and some kind of wick.
I’ve tried this with dryer lint, didn’t work too well-I didn’t know about adding wax to it.
Yes. Lint will but too quickly to be effective without wax.
Or, instead of lining your pan with was paper, cover it in a plastic grocery store bag, then when you are done, lift it up and tie it. Boom, ready to go
Great idea!
This is such a good idea!
If you add some dried Rosemary, it will keep away the mosquitoes!
Love that idea. I will try with our next batch.
Great idea. Thank you for sharing! I’m going to make a batch and hopefully use them soon!
Great blog! Thanks so much for sharing. Just wondering- how much wax goes into each tube?
It doesn’t take a lot. We just pour a little in.
My 11 year old daughter and I make these all the time. I have cleaned out alot of old candles and I even had friends give us old candles they were planning to throw out. And one day my husband and I stumbled across a second hand store that had 2 huge plastic totes full of candle melts so we are set for a long while. We have experimented with different fillers and shredded paper and lint are by far the best. We have tried wood pellets and wood shavings but they seem to have alot of moisture in them.
Shredded paper is a good idea too!
I own a boarding kennel, so I tried this using the dryer lint from the kennel. I have to tell you, if there is too
much hair in the lint, it doesn’t burn well. Did not have the potpourri in them and that might have helped.
Bummer! We only had a tiny bit of Diana’s hair in our lint so we didn’t have an issue. Try the potpourri and possibly shredded paper.
@Let’s Camp S’more,
It seems burning hair would not have a pleasant odor.
😉
@Holly H, I know this all too well. I have two pugs who she’d like it’s summer all year long and one time I collected dryer lint to make fire starters and figured some dog hair wouldn’t hurt but yes it did. It took forever to start and even after the fire took it still had issues burning correctly. Needless to say i now use the lint with little to no hair if I can help it.
I will try using old wax that has lost it’s scent already melted in my scent pot. Make one or two at a time instead of tossing the wax,
Good idea!
Omg what a great idea I normally just toss the wax that looses its scent. I will do this for now on.
Happy Camping!
@Cheryle, old crayons work well too! Just use the good old double boiler method.
I love these! It’s good to finally have a use for all that dryer lint I normally throw away!
That is good you have a lot because you can really stuff it into the tubes for a longer lasting burn.
This would really save a lot of headache camping. Pinned!
Thank you, Trish!
I have a collection of TP rolls and dryer lint — I’m ready to sit with my husband and make up a batch of these. So glad I stumbled across your blog today. We have a pop-up camper that we pull behind our Jeep and absolutely love our weekend trips. I connected with you on just about every way possible through your links so I can be sure not to miss any great tips or stories!
Fantastic, Susan! Make sure you sign up for the newsletter. We have LOTS of new posts in the works that we hope to get up soon.
Tip: Don’t use a Yankee candle to make these logs. We made some right before our recent trip and they were WAY too strong. In fact, raccoons got into them. We’ve never had an animal mess with the fire starters before.
We see that you did sign up for the newsletter. The first issue should be out sometime in the next week.
Soybeans… critters love them!!!