DIY Firestarter with Beeswax
These DIY beeswax firestarters are a simple homestead craft that are as beautiful as they are useful. Made with cotton twine, beeswax, and dried herbs or flowers, they light easily and help your fireplace, wood stove, or campfire get going quickly. They also make wonderful handmade gifts for cozy winter evenings or camping trips. Save this easy project so you can make a batch before the next cold night by the fire.
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Cost: Varies
Equipment
- Cupcake liners silicone or paper liners
- Muffin Tin if using paper liners
- Double Boiler
Ingredients
- Beeswax or leftover candle bits
- Kitchen Twine 100% cotton works best
- Add-ins Optional - dried flower heads or petals, herbs, whole spices, and dried citrus slices.
Instructions
- Melt the beeswax (or candle bits) in a double-boiler.
- Cut lengths of kitchen twine for wicks, then soak each piece in the melted wax for about sixty seconds. Stand one wick in the center of each liner (the wax coating helps it to stay upright).
- Carefully pour the melted beeswax (or candle bits) into the liners, filling almost to the top. While the wax is still soft and warm, press in your chosen add-ins.
- Once the wax has fully cooled and hardened, pop the firestarter out of the molds. If they’re in paper liners, leave the liners on - they burn just fine and add a bit more fuel.
Notes
DIY Firestarter Tips:
A few small tips will make this project easier and help your firestarters work beautifully.
- Use Dedicated Wax Tools - Once kitchen tools have been used for wax crafts, it is best not to use them again for cooking. Wax residue is very difficult to remove completely. Picking up a few bowls or utensils from a thrift store works wonderfully for this kind of project.
- Reuse Old Candle Wax - If you have old candles around the house, they work great for this project. Just remove the wax from the jar or container before melting it. Keep in mind that the color and scent of the candle will transfer to your firestarters.
- Support Paper Liners - Paper cupcake liners can soften when filled with hot wax. Nesting them inside a muffin tin gives them extra support and keeps everything neat while the wax cools.
- Display or Gift Them - These firestarters look beautiful in a wooden bowl or basket by the fireplace. They also make a lovely handmade gift. Bundle a few together with twine and tuck them into a basket with matches or kindling.
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