Start Your Fires

Start Your Fires

Light a fire for someone, and they’ll be warm for a day. Teach someone how to start a fire… well, now it’s a party. We’re here to help you master the basics and share some easy-to-find fire starters (in case you run out of your Solo Stove Fire Starters) that’ll get those fire pits roaring—no matter if you’re chilling, cooking, or roasting some s’mores.

Build the Basics

The key to any successful fire is good airflow (check, your Solo Stove already has that built-in), small kindling, medium kindling, and larger logs. To begin, you want to build a little "log cabin" with your wood—set medium to small logs about six inches apart, parallel to each other. Then, place two more logs on top of your base logs, perpendicular to the first ones, like you’re building a mini cabin. At the base, in between your logs, create a small nest out of wood shavings or crumpled paper to hold your fire starter. Keep some smaller twigs or wood strips handy to feed your fire as it gets going.

Then use one of our fire starters and get those pits lit.

But, what if you’ve run out of Solo Stove Fire Starters?

Don’t worry. First, order some more. Then, use one (or more) of these quick DIY options you might find lying around the house and start those fires.

Quick Fire Starter 1: Ping Pong Balls

Got a few old ping pong balls lying around? They make a great little hack for fire-starting. Believe it or not, ping pong balls will burn intensely for about 30 seconds. They’re made with a fast-burning material called celluloid. Firefighters even use them to do controlled burns while they’re working to contain wildfires. And if you’ve built a good nest, that burst of heat can ignite your fire quickly.

Quick Fire Starter 2: Dryer Lint and Wax Paper

Do some laundry, save some lint, and now you’ve basically got a DIY firestarter. Wrap the dryer lint in wax paper from your kitchen for a quick little fire starter. It may need a little more time under the lighter, but once it catches, it’ll burn for quite a while, giving your kindling plenty of time to ignite.

Quick Fire Starter 3: Corn Chips

Let’s be honest, corn chips are usually the last bags left in a variety pack, but don’t toss them out just yet! The oils in the chips light up and burn easily. Toss a few chips into your nest for a quick, makeshift fire starter.

Now Feed Those Flames

Once you’ve got your fire starter going, it’s time to feed the flames. As your fire starter catches, carefully add smaller kindling over the top to help build up the flames. Be careful not to smother it—plenty of airflow will keep the fire burning strong. Once it’s established, you can start adding bigger pieces of wood.

Test and experiment with these simple at-home fire starters. And if you want a foolproof solution, our Starters and Starter Packs are here to make fire-building easier than ever—guaranteed to spark it up.