[mopar65pa]

Fun Fact

Charcoal 101- The History of Kingsford Charcoal

Most of the time when you're grilling, you don't think about the history behind it – just how delicious the food is going to taste when you're done. I explored the history of Kingsford charcoal and was surprised to find a rich history, interestingly tied to Ford Motors. In the 1920s, Henry Ford...

grillgirl.com

I have foiund out through the years that I don't like the easy light charcoal and I don't use lighter fluid. It just seems to attach it's self to the food I'm cooking if I don't let it burn off enough. I found a few other charcoals that don't use lighter fluid to cook my food.

 

[mikeinri]

I haven't made charcoal, but I've bought the wax to make fire starter. I've watched a lot of YouTube videos on making fire starter out of wood (saw) chips and wax. I even stole my wife's old crock pot to melt the wax, but I haven't gotten around to making it yet. I took her crock pot and hid it out in the shop about six months ago, and she hasn't mentioned it to me yet LOL. I'm not sure if she's bought another one to replace it or not, or if she even noticed that hers was missing.

You BOUGHT wax for that? Can't you just use old crayons or candles?

Mike

 

[Just Jeff]

My set of felling spikes came today. Not sure why the chain catcher didn't come with it. If it doesn't come on Monday I'll have to call and see what's up with it. Not a great picture. Crappy cell-phone picture. They're not actually wavy the way they look in the picture. They're precision CNC cut.

 

[Just Jeff]

You BOUGHT wax for that? Can't you just use old crayons or candles?

Mike

I don't have kids, so no crayons, and ya, I just bought some cheap candles at the dollar store. Oh also, it would have taken A LOT of crayons LOL.

 

[Just Jeff]

Oh, and the chain catcher DID come. My wife hadn't given me all of the mail.

 

[mikeinri]

Nice looking saw parts, @Just Jeff!

As for the DIY firestarters, I keep remembering seeing them mentioned in a book back when I was a Boy Scout 40 years ago. I believe they said you can use crayons.

I keep thinking I should make some, since the commercial ones are so expensive. But, I don't use many, and now that I've started using cardboard to start fires here at home, I really only need them for the RV.

Yes, cardboard. I've been recycling it forever, until someone here told me to use it as a firestarter (in the woodstove). I use fatwood (purchased), or DIY kindling for that.

But, for outdoor fires, I'd been using old gasoline (until I didn't have any on hand), then new gasoline (expensive and dangerous). Funny, I never thought to just use cardboard. Turns out, it works better than small firestarters or gasoline!

Mike

 

[Just Jeff]

Nice looking saw parts, @Just Jeff!

As for the DIY firestarters, I keep remembering seeing them mentioned in a book back when I was a Boy Scout 40 years ago. I believe they said you can use crayons.

I keep thinking I should make some, since the commercial ones are so expensive. But, I don't use many, and now that I've started using cardboard to start fires here at home, I really only need them for the RV.

Yes, cardboard. I've been recycling it forever, until someone here told me to use it as a firestarter (in the woodstove). I use fatwood (purchased), or DIY kindling for that.

But, for outdoor fires, I'd been using old gasoline (until I didn't have any on hand), then new gasoline (expensive and dangerous). Funny, I never thought to just use cardboard. Turns out, it works better than small firestarters or gasoline!

Mike

Thanks Mike. I got the idea from watching these guys. I like Mike Morgan a lot, but his equipment makes me green with envy LOL. He's got all of the best equipment available, and it's pretty much all brand new.

Anyway, i got the idea of the fire starter from him, although it's been around for quite a while. After seeing his, I started watching other YouTube videos on it, but most of them are also using cardboard, dryer lint, or other additives/ingredients as well. I like the idea of this "loose" fire starter. So, I'm going to try to duplicate it as best as I can. He sells it on his website, but I want to try making it myself.

 

[mikeinri]

Funny, I was going to mention dryer lint!

I know the Morgans are trying to sell the stuff, but it would have been nice if they showed the process. If they're worried about a competitor stealing their idea, don't worry, those corporate scientists will figure it out once it becomes a big enough seller.

Mike

 

[UrbanTractor]

I just use the dryer lint as is. Put a ball of it under the kindling, and off it goes.

 

[CCMoe]

Funny, I was going to mention dryer lint!

I know the Morgans are trying to sell the stuff, but it would have been nice if they showed the process. If they're worried about a competitor stealing their idea, don't worry, those corporate scientists will figure it out once it becomes a big enough seller.

Mike

Mike,

Different post but, I use one of these to sharpen my chains.

Granberg Chainsaw Sharpener, G106B - Easy File-N-Joint Bar Mounted Guide System - Best Chain Saw Blade Teeth Grinder Sharpening Tool Set - Portable Filing Hand Attachment Sharpen File Accessories Kit - Oregon Chainsaw Sharpener - Amazon.com

They are on eBay also.

Works great for me, it's paid for in one sharpening at your local shops price.

Works best if you put your saw in a vice, either a vice in your shop or one that you drive into a tree trunk.

CCMoe

 

[mopar65pa]

I used to stuff dyer lint in a paper towel tube and start my fires that way.

From what I have heard, the reason the Morgans have so much "new" equipment is because they are sponsored by a dealer that lets them use the tractors/skidloaders on their channel for advertisement. That's what I heard, so don't take it as truth per say. That makes sense though.

 

[Just Jeff]

I just use the dryer lint as is. Put a ball of it under the kindling, and off it goes.

When using the fire starter in the video above, he swears that using that eliminates the need for using kindling. If that's true, the way it appears to be, that's one of the reasons that I like it. Just throw a hand-full of it amongst your firewood, light it and walk away, done. It would be nice to not have to mess with kindling.

 

[Just Jeff]

I used to stuff dyer lint in a paper towel tube and start my fires that way.

From what I have heard, the reason the Morgans have so much "new" equipment is because they are sponsored by a dealer that lets them use the tractors/skidloaders on their channel for advertisement. That's what I heard, so don't take it as truth per say. That makes sense though.

It's partly true. His three Kubota tractors are provided by Kubota, he didn't have to pay for them, and he doesn't own them. Kubota just uses him and his videos for advertising/exposure. But, he did supposedly pay for his Kubota skid steer and mini-ex himself. Also, he does have a partnership with Stihl. They're always giving him new saws. Shoot, I'd be happy with that partnership alone!

 

[mopar65pa]

I meant no offence to the Morgans at all.
Someone was envious of the equipment they have.
I just thought I would explain from what I have read/heard about what I may know about the equipment. Nothing more.

 

[Just Jeff]

I meant no offence to the Morgans at all.
Someone was envious of the equipment they have.
I just thought I would explain from what I have read/heard about what I may know about the equipment. Nothing more.

I didn't think you were being offensive at all. I think I took what you said exactly how you meant it. But yes, he definitely benefits from partnerships with various manufacturers. He also has apparently done well for himself in life, and has also made some large dollar purchases. I was the one who said that I was envious of his equipment, but I didn't mean that in a negative way, just that I wish I had the volume of equipment that he's got.

 

[turboaudi80]

I did play around with making fire starters from sawdust. I used a bunch of candle ends when my wife was done with them. The mix of different candle scents smelled gross in the fireplace. I hate scented candles anyway. After that experience I never tried it again.

I just use newspaper, cardboard and small sticks I pick up from the lawn. I have some plastic tubs that have mesh bottoms. I fill them with sticks and let them dry in the shed. They are free, easy kindling.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[c5rulz]

Save the noodles from ripping very large rounds with the grain. Throw in a bag, feed sacks work great for this. After a day sitting in the sun noodles are scary flammable.

BTW, @Just Jeff, What is up with the aftermarket felling dogs? On smaller saws it effectively makes the usable length of the bar less. A sharp chain should pull itself into the wood, The are used out West cutting extremely large Redwoods or Douglas Firs that have super thick bark.

 

[MARK (LI)]

Instead of kindling, I save all the scraps and splinters from splitting....I just got a garbage can and put it that with the lid on it to keep it dry and I use one piece of Fat Wood .....and throw a handful or 2 of the scraps on and it lights right up...I am ususally burning firewood that has been drying for almost 2 years, so that helps

 

[mopar65pa]

I didn't think you were being offensive at all. I think I took what you said exactly how you meant it. But yes, he definitely benefits from partnerships with various manufacturers. He also has apparently done well for himself in life, and has also made some large dollar purchases. I was the one who said that I was envious of his equipment, but I didn't mean that in a negative way, just that I wish I had the volume of equipment that he's got.

Ok That good to hear. Yes he has done well for himself and continues to. More power to him. Now if I can figure aout how to do the same thing I would be good. 😁

Instead of kindling, I save all the scraps and splinters from splitting....I just got a garbage can and put it that with the lid on it to keep it dry and I use one piece of Fat Wood .....and throw a handful or 2 of the scraps on and it lights right up...I am ususally burning firewood that has been drying for almost 2 years, so that helps

I do the same thing. I collect all the "shavings and bark" from splitting and put it in a bucket. Also since I dump the wood down the bilco-door stairs I get a load of bark and punky slivers on the steps. So I gather them up and put them in a bucket also.

I've been building a "log house" to start fires forever. Outside I do a tee-pee style.

 

[Just Jeff]

BTW, @Just Jeff, What is up with the aftermarket felling dogs? On smaller saws it effectively makes the usable length of the bar less. A sharp chain should pull itself into the wood, The are used out West cutting extremely large Redwoods or Douglas Firs that have super thick bark.

I don't use them on my smaller two saws. Those are for my 72cc saw. I'm aware of their purpose out West with their conifers and their bark. I'm also pretty good at getting my chains sharp. I find them handy when cutting my stumps closer to the ground after dropping a tree. The single anemic felling spike that came on my saw just doesn't cut it when the saw is horizontal cutting stumps. My handle or something seems to prevent me from getting a good bite on the trunk in that position. And I'm not real worried about giving up an extra inch on a 25" bar.