There's more to lighting a fire than kerosene and good wood. To get a fire started you also need tinder and kindling. In this article, we will discuss what tinder is and how it can help you create the best fire possible.
Tinder is anything that is highly flammable and sparks quickly. Because these materials, like wood shavings or small sticks, light quickly, they also burn out fast. Kindling on the other hand is a thicker material that is usually lit by tinder and helps to keep the larger logs lit in your fireplace or fire pit.
While it may be easier to find small sticks or copy paper that lights quickly, you can not use those things to sustain a fire. Tinder is the first step to building a good fire. Once you get a small flame going with that, then add kindling. After the kindling is lit and burning at a steady rate, add your main fuel logs. This formula will ensure you make a stable fire that is able to last a while.
Wood shavings, cotton balls, dead leaves, or even copy paper can be used as tinder. So, no matter where you are, you shouldn't be far away from something you can throw in your fire to get it started. With that being said, the best things you can use for starting a fire are natural sources of tinder. Man-made materials, like copy paper, if it has been used, may have harmful chemicals embedded in it. Ink on used copy paper is toxic. That is not something you want to inhale or be around when it is lit on fire. So, use copy paper as a last resort and make sure it has no ink on it first.
With all these tips, you should be able to get a roaring fire in your fire pit started in no time. If you have any other questions, give us a call at 800.203.1642
About the Author
Amanda Hurd is a native Memphian, lover of linguistics, and blues music. She has worked in digital marketing for nearly a decade and loves to move people to action with written words. She is the Content Editor for the eFireplaceStore and eCanopy online stores.
Amanda's obsession with writing extends beyond her professional career, bleeding over into her personal life. She has maintained a blog for nearly six years, regularly posts inspirational content online, and is working on completing her first fiction book!
If she isn't off somewhere writing, you better believe she has her nose in a book getting ideas about what to write next!
