92. Pinecone Fire Starters

If you live some place where pinecones are plentiful, why not take yourself for a little walk, collect a bunch, and make these simple fire starters?


They use minimal ingredients, although you can punch it up a bit with color and essential oils if you like.

Start with dried pinecones, wrap a wire or string around them to allow for dipping, & dip into melted wax. That's as simple as it can get. The wax will burn off and shouldn't mess up your fire place or wood burning stove, although if you want to be doubly sure, just place the pinecones on some newspaper. As the newspaper burns up, so will the wax.

If you want something more fancy, you can color the wax (with wax colorant or melted crayons) and dip your pine cones several times to get a colored-waxy coating (like in the picture).

If you want something that offers a little aromatherapy, add 6-10 drops of essential oil to the melted wax & stir before dipping your pinecones.

If you want something a bit more dramatic, dip your pinecones into your wax (two coats is best), & while the wax is still warm, sprinkle the pinecones with epsom or table salt. This will cause your flame to burn different colors!

• Epsom salt = white flame
• Table or sea salt = yellow flame
• Potassium chloride (salt substitute) = purple flame

*You can find potassium chloride (salt substitute) in the baking aisle of your grocery store, near the salt. 

You'll Need:

• Dried pinecones
• Soy wax, paraffin, or white beeswax 
• String, candle wicking, or wire
• Double boiler (or a bowl + pot. The bowl should rest on top of your pot without falling in)
• Parchment paper or newspaper

• Wax colorant, crayons, or food coloring (optional)
• Essential oils (optional)
• Epsom salt, table salt, or salt substitute (optional)

Instructions:

1. Melt wax in a double boiler to between 150 and 175 degrees.
2. Hook a length of wire or string onto top of pinecone and, holding wire, carefully dip pinecone into hot wax.
3. Set pinecone on your parchment paper or newspaper and allow to cool for a few minutes.
4. Once cooled, you may need to break off any wax that pooled at the bottom of the pinecone.
5. If using the salt to create different flame colors, dip your pine cone into the melted wax a 2nd time and sprinkle with the salt before the wax cools.
6. If you want the chunkier wax look, dip your pinecones into the wax 3-4 times, letting it cool between dips.
7. Set the pinecone on your waxed paper and allow to cool again.

Sources: Martha Stewart, Something Turquoise