Paper Fire Lighters
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:07 am
How to make Fire Lighters from old newspaper.
My apologies if I am teaching you to 'suck eggs' ... but some people might not know this:
Scrunched up newspaper isn't very good for lighting coal fires as the burning paper cannot support the weight of coal, and burns too quickly to heat the coal.
Solution: Roll the paper up tightly (see below) - this makes it more robust and burn more slowely (with a blue flame, the ink I guess). One sheet will burn for 5 minutes. 3 will light a coal fire easily, just at the touch of a match.
Method:
Take a broadsheet newspaper (tabloids are possible but small).
Roll diagonally (maximises the distance from end to end) starting in one corner. Use something thinner than a pencil to start the paper rolling - a nitting needle (without any end, so smooth) is ideal. Too thin and it will get fiddly! Place needle on top of the corner so it is parallel with the diagonal line from the other two corners - clear as mud. Wrap the paper around the middle of the needle, just an inch or so, then proceed to roll the needle across the paper towards the middle of the sheet. The paper will wrap up around the needle, forming a tube. Before the needle is completely wrapped in paper, pull it out! There will be sufficient rigidity in the tube of paper to continue rolling it (palms down, pushing away from you, grip and reposition hands, push again with palms, until whole sheet is rolled into a tight, narrow tube (held by your hand to stop it unravelling).
Try it - it is bloody hard to describe!!!
Good technique will keep the tube tight and even along its entire length - too loose and it gets messy.
Trick:
Holding the tube of paper (like a hollow stick) in one hand, grip one end with the other hand and twist it around your 4 fingers into an oval shape, and continue a second twist, and tie a 'knot' by wrapping the paper through the middle 'hole'. (Dont push the paper through tip first but take a "bite" and push this half through - keeps the paper wrapped tight, like a spring).
You should now have a tightly packed parcel of paper, that will remain so as it burns, with rigidity to support the coal, and allow air into the fire.
Light the tip of paper sticking out and ensure this catches fully, and this will light the main twist.
Oh, hell, why did I try to do this in writing?
Give it a go! Will save you £££ and is fun - good excuse to read the papers again, during the summer / autumn, preparing for winter!
Any questions - please ask me!
~Malcolm
PlayingWithFire
My apologies if I am teaching you to 'suck eggs' ... but some people might not know this:
Scrunched up newspaper isn't very good for lighting coal fires as the burning paper cannot support the weight of coal, and burns too quickly to heat the coal.
Solution: Roll the paper up tightly (see below) - this makes it more robust and burn more slowely (with a blue flame, the ink I guess). One sheet will burn for 5 minutes. 3 will light a coal fire easily, just at the touch of a match.
Method:
Take a broadsheet newspaper (tabloids are possible but small).
Roll diagonally (maximises the distance from end to end) starting in one corner. Use something thinner than a pencil to start the paper rolling - a nitting needle (without any end, so smooth) is ideal. Too thin and it will get fiddly! Place needle on top of the corner so it is parallel with the diagonal line from the other two corners - clear as mud. Wrap the paper around the middle of the needle, just an inch or so, then proceed to roll the needle across the paper towards the middle of the sheet. The paper will wrap up around the needle, forming a tube. Before the needle is completely wrapped in paper, pull it out! There will be sufficient rigidity in the tube of paper to continue rolling it (palms down, pushing away from you, grip and reposition hands, push again with palms, until whole sheet is rolled into a tight, narrow tube (held by your hand to stop it unravelling).
Try it - it is bloody hard to describe!!!
Good technique will keep the tube tight and even along its entire length - too loose and it gets messy.
Trick:
Holding the tube of paper (like a hollow stick) in one hand, grip one end with the other hand and twist it around your 4 fingers into an oval shape, and continue a second twist, and tie a 'knot' by wrapping the paper through the middle 'hole'. (Dont push the paper through tip first but take a "bite" and push this half through - keeps the paper wrapped tight, like a spring).
You should now have a tightly packed parcel of paper, that will remain so as it burns, with rigidity to support the coal, and allow air into the fire.
Light the tip of paper sticking out and ensure this catches fully, and this will light the main twist.
Oh, hell, why did I try to do this in writing?
Give it a go! Will save you £££ and is fun - good excuse to read the papers again, during the summer / autumn, preparing for winter!
Any questions - please ask me!
~Malcolm
PlayingWithFire