How to Make Pinecone Fire Starters

Learn how to make DIY pine cone fire starters.  They look pretty sitting in a basket, and they make a great gift.  Use these outside to start fires quickly and easily.  You can also add essential oils for a light scent.

Living in the country, we have a lot of fires in the fall.  You know, those nights where it's a little cool, but you still want to enjoy every last moment of being outside before the snow starts flying.

We have a nice fire pit and plenty of firewood.  To make starting the fire easier, we use pinecone fire starters that are dipped in wax and have a wick on the end.  

Just light, set in the fire, and sit back and enjoy your evening fire.  

These also make really unique wedding favors.  If you're looking for a favor that's not your typical candy and something that your guests will use, these are perfect.

You can even change the colors to fit the colors of your wedding.

How to Make DIY Pine Cone Fire Starters

These DIY pine cone fire starters are for outdoor use only.

Pine Cones

When I want to make DIY pine cone fire starters, I send the kids to the row of pine trees at the edge of the farm.  

If you're getting your own pine cones, it's important to prep them properly.  If they are too wet when you dip them, you may end up with a basket of moldy fire starters.

To dry them, put them in the oven at 150 degrees for an hour.  This will dry them out and open them up so they will look better when dipped in wax.

Keep an eye on them though, because there is a fire safety issue when putting pine cones in the oven.  

Can't find pine cones locally?  You can get some on Etsy to make these pinecone fire starters.

Wax

I normally mix soy wax and beeswax, but I only use beeswax for my DIY pine cone fire starters.  Beeswax is very hard when it cools, so the wax isn't likely to chip off.  

If you are giving them as gifts, you want to definitely use all beeswax so they look pretty when you gift them.

Since beeswax is so hard, I recommend using pellets or grating it into small flakes.  Otherwise, you will be waiting forever for it to melt.

You can get beeswax on Etsy shipped free.  It's slightly cheaper on iHerb, but you'll need to add something else to get free shipping at $20.

Keep in mind that if you use yellow beeswax, it can change the color of your pine cones.  Use white beeswax for a pure color.

Colorant

You can your favorite candle colorant.  I used mica because I have it, and it also gives a vibrant color. 

You can use a liquid candle colorant or even a solid candle colorant.  

You can even use a crayon to color your wax.  I don't recommend crayons for candles that are burned inside, but they can be safely used in outdoor pine cone fire starters.

Or just use beeswax and leave them uncolored.  They will work the same, and even the uncolored ones are still pretty.

Essential Oils

You don't have to use essential oils in your DIY pine cone fire starters, but I like to add them.  They do add a little bit of a scent to the fire as the pine cone burns.

I like using one of the following:

• Clove essential oil
• Cinnamon essential oil
• Peppermint essential oil
• Sweet orange essential oil
• Coffee essential oil  

Normally, I'm really picky about properly diluting the essential oils.  However, these aren't used topically, so you have a little bit leeway in using them.

I would start with 1/2 teaspoon of essential oils and add more as needed.  If you use too much, it may seep out of the wax.

Double Boiler

Always use a double boiler to melt wax.  If you heat the wax over direct heat, it won't melt evenly.  It can also cause hot spots that can be a fire hazard.  

I usually use a Pyrex measuring cup inside a pan of water.  I set the measuring cup on a canning ring so it's lifted above the bottom of the pan.

Heat over medium heat.  It will take a long time for the beeswax to melt.  Just keep watching it and stirring it.

Pine Cone Fire Starter Tips

Let the wax cool slightly to thicken.  If you use a hot, thin wax, you will have to dip it several times.  If the wax is too cool, it can cause lumps.  Your pine cone fire starters will still work, but they may not be pretty.

You can remelt the wax if it gets too cool.

Let the wax drip off of the pine cone.  This will prevent clumps as it cools off.

You can use a spoon to spoon the wax over the pine cone if your bowl isn't deep enough.

Let the pine cones cool for 15 minutes before coats.  

Hotter wax will give you shiny pine cone fire starters; cool wax will be dull.

Pine Cone Fire Starter Supplies

• 8 to 10 pine cones
• 6 cups beeswax pellets or grated beeswax
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon essential oils
• Candle colorant or mica
• String

Tools

• Double boiler
• Scissors

Directions

Step #1

Cut a foot of string and wrap it around the pine cone.  Tie a loop at the top.

Step #2

Use a double boiler to melt the beeswax.  Once it is melted, add the colorant until you get the desired shade.  Add essential oils.

If you want multiple colors, carefully pour melted wax into bowls and add the coloring and essential oils. 

Step #3

Carefully dip the pine cones.  Let dry between coats.  I used two coats of wax to get these colors.  Let cool on parchment paper for easy clean up.

When you want to use one, light it using the loop on the top and toss it in the fire.

These DIY pine cone fire starters are for outdoor use only.

pine cone, pinecone, fire starter, essential oils, diy

Yield: 10 fire starters

Author: Cari @ Koti Beth

Estimated cost: $10

Pine Cone Fire Starters

prep time: 15 Mperform time: 1 hourtotal time: 1 H & 15 M

How to make wax dipped pinecone fire starters.

materials:

• 8 to 10 pine cones
• 6 cups beeswax pellets or grated beeswax
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon essential oils
• Candle colorant or mica
• String

tools:

• Double boiler
• Scissors

steps:

1. Cut a foot of string and wrap it around the pine cone. Tie a loop at the top.
2. Use a double boiler to melt the beeswax. Once it is melted, add the colorant until you get the desired shade. Add essential oils.
3. If you want multiple colors, carefully pour melted wax into bowls and add the coloring and essential oils.
4. Carefully dip the pine cones. Let dry between coats. I used two coats of wax to get these colors. Let cool on parchment paper for easy clean up.

NOTES:

These pinecone fire starters are for outdoor use only.  Only for use by adults.  Always use caution and common sense when building a fire.

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How to Make DIY Pine Cone Fire Starters was originally published at Everything Pretty.

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