Firelogs/firestarters from sawdust!

Difficulty

Starter Projects

Easy way to recycle your pile of sawdust into firelogs for your indoor or outdoor fireplace!

This is not a typical building project, but I thought there might be folks out there with piles of sawdust, like me!

It was a rainy day yesterday, and I was planning on cleaning up my work area. I was cleaning up a pile of sawdust, and wondered if I could do something with all of the sawdust. Of course, I would rather work on a project than clean, so I got on the internet to figure out how to make firelogs. I used Gulfwax paraffin, which comes in 4 4 ounce bars. Also, my sawdust was from cutting hardwood. (I don't know if it is a problem if it comes from plywood or other treated wood.)

Easy to make smaller or larger to fit your use. These burned for over an hour.

Preparation

Shopping List

3 cups sawdust
4 oz. paraffin
newspaper
twine
loaf pan (I used an 8" x 4" pan)

Instructions

Step 1

Melt 4 oz paraffin over a double boiler (important to use a double boiler setup, as paraffin is flammable!) Put about a cup of sawdust in loaf pan, add about 1/3 of the paraffin & stir. Repeat with another cup, another 1/3 of paraffin, then add about 1/2 cup of sawdust and rest of paraffin. Stir or mix with your fingers. This will resemble the consistency the mixture when you are making a graham cracker crust. Make sure the paraffin is worked through, mixture will be crumbly. Add sawdust if you think it can take more. Press firmly into loaf pan. Stick in refrigerator for paraffin to harden.
(Ignore the oil and vinegar in the picture - they are not used, they were just sitting on my board)

Step 2

Carefully unmold paraffin/sawdust "loaf" onto a double thickness of newspaper. Roll up loosely.

Step 3

Tie ends with twine like a candy. You are done!

Project Type

Other Projects

Room

living room

Style

Primitive or Early American Style Furniture Plans

Comments

mybartmart

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 09:30

that is so cool.

redhead_61

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 14:59

Awesome

I used to donate all of mine to my sister in law who composts, but then she moved. i have been over run since then! THANKS

darkjuan

Thu, 08/08/2013 - 13:52

don't burn treated wood

Ana,

you don't want to burn treated wood.

http://web.utk.edu/~mtaylo29/pages/Don't%20Burn%20Treated%20Wood.htm

cassiet717

Wed, 01/22/2014 - 07:45

Firestarter "Cupcakes"

I absolutely love these and have used them over several winters.
I make mine in old cupcake tins lined with little squares of newspaper, and they're the perfect size for getting a fire going quickly. I started out using my leftover shop sawdust, but now my husband makes me saw chips with his chain saw from the juniper we cut for firewood. They're easier to make, smell great, and seem to light quicker and last longer.