The Bunker

We had to make our own fire starters this year as Alaskan Fire-Mite is no longer being produced. Alaskan Fire-Mite was essentially a roll of wax covered gauze with wooden matches rolled in every few inches. I don't have a way of rolling hot, wax covered gauze, but cardboard seems like a logical substitute.



Melt 2 blocks of paraffin canning wax in an aluminum can using the double boiler method.


Remove from heat.




Using metal tongs, coat 2" squares of scrap cardboard in the melted wax. Coat a second time if desired.


Let cool on parchment or wax paper.

[More:]

UPDATE: I was going to make sawdust/wax fire starters in egg carton cups next time, but I'm not going to bother. Sawdust seems like it might be messy to work with and a single-dipped, single layer piece of cardboard burned for at least 5 minutes in the rain on wet ground.