Dude made me fire-starters for one of his handicrafts.

We followed the directions I heard one of the last times I went camping with the Girl Scouts, combined with the info here on idestructables.  (disclaimer, indestructables is lousy with ads).

First we set half a box of wax on to melt, it wasn't enough so I think we will use more next time.  I read that any old candle will do.  We used a double boiler set up, though I saw it done with just an old tin over a fire (use a fire to make a fire starter?)  You do not want to use anything you will later need for food, the wax will coat the inside and be a royal pain to clean out.

Then we stuffed lots of old dryer lint into a cardboard egg carton.  Those are hard to come by around here, I think one week my husband specifically bought the brand in cardboard so we would have one.  Next time I think I will ask folk who work in restaurants, usually they get eggs in big boxes with cardboard trays inside.  (least they did when I worked in a restaurant, we wont think about how long ago that was)

When the wax was melted we poured it over the dryer lint getting both the egg carton and the wax 'wet' with wax.  

Then we let it dry, though not long enough.  I think next time I will assume this is a two day procedure so the wax has time to dry.  Actually next time I might save some wax to do my daughters and my fingernails.

We cut apart the carton sections.  Well first I assigned that job to Dude, when he managed to shear off the side of one section I took over for a turn showing him how, and offered him my big Cutco scissors to help.  Then we shared a few and by the end he was able to cut them himself.

We folded up any corners that were still on the section and tied them up 'like presents' with dental floss.  I am not sure how important this step is, but it certainly keeps the pile neater.  I think it also makes them waterproof if they are all dipped in wax.

We lit one as a test, it works rather well.  Tomorrow night we shall get to test it building a fire.  (no outside fires allowed here)

Since we read the directions part way through the process, we didn't read that you only need to dip not pour.  I know I watched them be poured.  I think maybe in the spring for our next camping trip we will do a batch each way and test how well they work.  Some of the campsites have space for more than one campfire, so we can set both up and see what works better, or we could get a foil try and light two and see which burns longer, or higher.  Not sure how to test which burns hotter though.