Hilux 4x4 Forum

I have been using these fire lighters for many years but recently added a "eco friendly" end to it.

Whenever I use pressed wood to build something I keep the off cuts and cut it in little blocks or when the strip is thin enough I sommer break it into blocks.

I used to put these blocks in a can filled with paraffin and then use it as firelighters.

Funny enough, if water comes close to pressed wood it will swell up. But if you put it in a oil based liquid like paraffin or turps it does not swell at all.

When painting I never know what to do with the thinners and turps after you washed the brushes. SO I just started to put it in an empty thinners can. But now I use the pressed wood blocks and fill the can with this second hand thinners and turps to be used as firelighters.

This way I do not have to spill the used turps and thinners and I have a use for all the cut-off pieces of pressed wood.

If you do not use pressed wood every now and then, just go to somebody who is building kitchen cupboards, they normally have stacks of cut off pieces which they do not know what to do with.

This soaked pressed wood fire lighter burns longer than the normal white fire lighters.

I am in-pressed-wood this idea

EEeish this People it 2 cleva :!:

Another idee ............. after making TEA, take the old used teabags, dry them out and then place them in a can / bottle with either diesel or parafien.
Use one or two everytime when making a fire instead of firelighters

My late farer told me to use dried out tea-bags. At both my and swambo's workplace used teabags are not thrown away, but left to dry, and then chucked into a large bottel of parafien/thinners/whatever is flamable & available.

Takes about 6-8 teabags to light a lekka fire....

warthog wrote:My late farer told me to use dried out tea-bags. At both my and swambo's workplace used teabags are not thrown away, but left to dry, and then chucked into a large bottel of parafien/thinners/whatever is flamable & available.

Takes about 6-8 teabags to light a lekka fire....

Snap

But is it not dangerous to braai with them wood?
last time we went to witsands, We ran short of coals for the Sat night braai, shop closed, so we headed to the beach where alot of driftwood from the rivers washed ashore. We collected wood, but inbetween there was alot of processed wood like square and round battons etc.
Buddy told me not to use that, as when burnt, gives off poison from checmicals added to wood during manufacture? So we only used the tree branches washed ashore. Saved our bacon that night though, else it was raw chicken and meat for the crew

0000DS wrote:Another idee ............. after making TEA, take the old used teabags, dry them out and then place them in a can / bottle with either diesel or parafien.
Use one or two everytime when making a fire instead of firelighters

Will this work with coffee as well?

CasKru wrote: Will this work with coffee as well?

Cassie, haven't tried the coffee bags yet since we have coffee bags, will have some now and try

dalkill wrote:But is it not dangerous to braai with them wood? Buddy told me not to use that, as when burnt, gives off poison from checmicals added to wood during manufacture?

Not with pressed board, and besides, by the time you get to braaing there is nothing left of the pressed board blocks to give off poisonous gas. The dangerous stuff is the treated wood used for roof trusses etc that gets soaked in chemicals to prevent bugs from boring into them.

I have also been using this pressed board blocks and paraffin fire starters for years now and I am still here... I would just be careful with thinners though, it is very volatile so make sure the can is closed and put away before lighting the fire. I have singed my eyebrows more than a few times like that.. Mixed with enough turpentine it should be okay though.

0000DS wrote:

CasKru wrote: Will this work with coffee as well?

Cassie, haven't tried the coffee bags yet since we have coffee bags, will have some now and try

Was actually referring to percolator coffee.... Just ignore me... I'm not making any sense... nor am I

The nice thing about the wooden block is that I need only one to light the fire. (always use wood to braai, no donkie stools)

About the toxins, I agree with Kaspaas by the time the it is time to braai there won't be any left. I've been using this for 8 years now and I am still fat, healthy and fit.

I use Charcoal that soaks in a tin of paraffin till I need it, when you take it out to use, just replace it with a new one. It burns as good as blitz, if not better. I don't think briquettes will work, it will disolve :wth:

pietpetoors wrote:The nice thing about the wooden block is that I need only one to light the fire. (always use wood to braai, no donkie stools)

About the toxins, I agree with Kaspaas by the time the it is time to braai there won't be any left. I've been using this for 8 years now and I am still fat, healthy and fit.

Maar jy sien... dan moet jy die topic heading verander want dan is dit nie Eco Friendly nie