Pine cones as fire starter?

L

LeeCQC

Joined
Oct 30, 2007
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I have some big pine trees near my house, and today I noticed that the cones that have fallen off the tree have these huge gobes of sap on them. So, I picked one up and tried to light it with my Bic. Well, this thing lit. You would have thought it was doused in kerosene. I figure that these could be used, with great success, as a fire starter. Might even work when it's wet, but I dont know since I didnt try it in the rain.
 
Yup they work great, I use them for getting my woodstove going all the time !!!
 
I use them in the hibachi all the time. No smoke smells better!
 
Stuff a PJCB into it, hit it with a ferro rod and you've got a great fire going.

I'm blessed with a huge pine tree in my backyard and it produces fist size cones. They are beautiful, fun to throw into the creek, and burn great. Love those evergreens.

Charlie
 
CShepherd said:
Stuff a PJCB into it, hit it with a ferro rod and you've got a great fire going.

I'm blessed with a huge pine tree in my backyard and it produces fist size cones. They are beautiful, fun to throw into the creek, and burn great. Love those evergreens.

Charlie
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Actually, I just got back from trying it out making a real fire. That's exactly what I did. PJCB, hit it with the firesteel, and it was blazing. The wind is blowing pretty hard, and it stayed lit, so I'm fairly happy with that. Good thing to know, if you're stranded and near some evergreens. :thumbup:
 
I have the kids collect them in my yard when lighting the fire pit - they are rewarded with roasting marshmallows. I know my wife and probably my neighbors think I'm a little strange in using a fire rod and natural tinder when starting fires.
 
pinetree said:
I know my wife and probably my neighbors think I'm a little strange in using a fire rod and natural tinder when starting fires.
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Once at deer camp I had other men think I was weird because I was using a flint to start a fire. One came up and offered a BIC, and he actually told me I couldn't start a fire without a lighter or matches...

I showed him... come to think of it, I think he is the only one that didn't get a deer either.
 
When we used to live outside of Pasadena, CA., we used to hike in the high desert of Angeles National Forest. For our fires we'd pick up 2-3 Coulter Pine cones and that would do for boiling water and frying up a quick meal. Each cone weighed about 2-4 kilo (5-10lbs) and would burn quite a while. No need for other fuel unless we wanted a long, evening fire.

We would also collect smaller pinecones, soak them in different chemicals such as copper sulphate, potassium chloride, borax, etc., so that when lit would burn with different bright colors, and give them to friends as Christmas presents.

Stitchawl
 
stitchawl said:
When we used to live outside of Pasadena, CA., we used to hike in the high desert of Angeles National Forest. For our fires we'd pick up 2-3 Coulter Pine cones and that would do for boiling water and frying up a quick meal. Each cone weighed about 2-4 kilo (5-10lbs) and would burn quite a while. No need for other fuel unless we wanted a long, evening fire.

We would also collect smaller pinecones, soak them in different chemicals such as copper sulphate, potassium chloride, borax, etc., so that when lit would burn with different bright colors, and give them to friends as Christmas presents.

Stitchawl
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Hmm... not sure I'd want to inhale the smoke that comes off of those chemicals, but I'm sure it made the fire pretty. :)
 
stitchawl said:
When we used to live outside of Pasadena, CA., we used to hike in the high desert of Angeles National Forest. For our fires we'd pick up 2-3 Coulter Pine cones and that would do for boiling water and frying up a quick meal. Each cone weighed about 2-4 kilo (5-10lbs) and would burn quite a while. No need for other fuel unless we wanted a long, evening fire.

We would also collect smaller pinecones, soak them in different chemicals such as copper sulphate, potassium chloride, borax, etc., so that when lit would burn with different bright colors, and give them to friends as Christmas presents.

Stitchawl
Click to expand...

Yep, coulter pine cones would make a big fire. Here's one with a sugar pine cone (coulter pine cones are the heaviest in the world, and sugar pine cones are the longest in the world):
Cones.jpg
 
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