How to Recycle Sawdust as Fire Starting Cakes

If you love to camp and have access to sawdust, this project is for you. Fire starting cakes are a very convenient and effective way to start a roaring campfire. They're easy to make, and a terrific way to recycle sawdust, a useful wood byproduct that often goes to waste.

Things You'll Need

• Paper muffin cups
• Muffin tin
• Recycled sawdust
• Candle stubs or paraffin wax
• Double boiler
• Small pinecones (optional)

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Instructions

• 1

  Place the paper muffin cups in the muffin tin and fill them with a mound of recycled sawdust.

• 2

  Put several candle stubs or a chunk of paraffin wax in the top of a double boiler. Set the double boiler on medium-low heat and heat the wax until it melts.

• 3

  Drizzle the melted wax over the mound of sawdust. Be sure the sawdust is well coated with wax.

• 4

  Allow the wax to set up a few minutes, and poke a small pinecone into the top, if you'd like.

• 5

  Set the fire starters aside to cool and firm up completely.