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I've read about dipping pinecones in wax for firestarters. Have any of you used these and do they work? Pros/Cons? Can sweet gum balls be used in place of pinecones? Thanks! Cathy
Someone made me some firestarters like this. They took pinecones, shoved in some dryer lint and then dipped them.
A pinecone burns very hot and starts a fire very well on its own. The wax makes them pretty. The dryer lint makes them not pretty.
I am not sure if they are ok to use often. I am really careful what I put in the fireplace and woodstove. (the wood has to be very dry) and it shows, as after 3 years our chimneys were still very clean and open. (when we ck'd them last spring)
A friend of ours, uses pinecones, and hard wood only dried one year. After 3 months their chimney was clogged. Was it the pinecones, or the green wood? I do not know.
I think colored wax pinecones in a basket are very pretty and used in moderation would be fine. And they make really nice gift baskets I think.
