How the bugger do you light a log burner?

[Monikaar]

I’ve tried kindling but it’s not catching!

Natural firefighters!

I’ve used 20 matches!

https://www.whitehorseenergy.co.uk/express/ecoblaze-natural-firelighters?productId=cb51d439-7967-40cf-af2d-7c53db3881c7&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjvaYBhDlARIsAO8PkE3ULblCHniaCwlsc9VwJUazcXRb827A9Hnm3IyiEj9YO7kJ3r0vzAaAkOiEALww_wcB

You need something else before the kindling...bunched up newspaper...

But if you're a newbie, use firelighters,.like the ones you get for charcoal BBQs

Newspaper can smoke a lot and cause blackening on the glass but will work

Firelighters, kindling, open all the vents, light the firelighters, close the door but don't latch it shut and let it get going before you add firewood/coals.

www.firewoodcentre.co.uk/blog/how-to-light-a-wood-burner/

You’re not going to light kindling with matches! You need fire lighters. Make a little bonfire of kindling. Coal on top (but only about 10 pieces) Open the vents, leave the door ajar. When the coal has caught and is glowing add more.

Firefighters and kindling - let it heat up before adding logs which should be really dry.

Close the door - but keep the vent open until established and then close the vent half way.

Once you've had a fire, don't clear out all the ash. Leave some and build the next on top (ash, newspaper balls, kindling, log). You also need to warm the flue to get it to draw, so twist of paper lit first, then light the newspaper.

Lots of scrunched paper, few bits cardboard, 4-5 bits of kindling, and a fire lighter. We then put coal on top when its established.

Pinecones

A firelighter underneath some kindling with some coal strategically placed around the side and underneath then when it's caught a big seasoned log 🪵 on the top. It is a skill that's worth learning and not easy!

Concertina-ed cardboard (specifically the cardboard from a box of cat food) Or else, firelighters.

https://www.therange.co.uk/outdoor-living/barbecues-and-accessories/bbq-accessories/barbecue-fuel/wood-wool-firelighters/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjvaYBhDlARIsAO8PkE1p1jqu75P3-CtH0UBrIo2zYWNVEmvlyCwDJDhLNArcqMnxwk6GpkaAmqKEALww_wcB#34728

We use these. Stack six pieces of kindling, two then two then two (criss crossed) and pop three of these between. Light them, wait til the kindling catches then pop on a small log. When this is burning well, add another bigger one.

We do ours in a way that seems counterintuitive.
2 logs go in first, with the bark/outside edge down and the pointy cut edge up.
That creates a sort of valley.
On top of this is a jenga arrangement of kindling - 2 at 90 degrees to the logs, 2 on top of that parallel with the logs, then 2 at 90 degrees. There's a gap between the pieces of kindling.
A natural firelighter nestles at the top of the kindling pile.

Light the firelighter and that's it. The flame is high in the chamber which helps heat the air in the chimney, meaning you get a better draw. Once the kindling is burning well, it falls into the valley between the logs.

We were taught to do it this way when the burner was installed, and have a 100% success rate doing it this way.

Logic always says build a fire with small stuff first and light at the bottom, but the opposite works perfectly for us.

Do you have a tumble drier? I save the lint in eggs boxes and use them instead of firelighters - they catch very easily. Lay the gg boxes down, logs angled on top (can put kindling between the egg boxes and logs if really tricky to light). All vents open etc as advised above.

It would never occur to me to use firelighters! Twist or scrumple several sheets of newspaper at the bottom then loosely stack kindling on top. Light the newspaper in a few places with a long match. Close the door over but leave slightly ajar to let air in til it catches. When the flames are high, shut the door properly and leave for a few minutes for the kindling to burn. Then put a couple of logs on at angles to each other and should be all good 😊

You have to make a fire with paper/woodshavings or fire lighters. Kindling won't set fire with matches. You need tinder as well as kindling.

Oh thanks all, this is great stuff!

What’s the best way to clean the black glass? We’ve just moved in to this house!

Ooooooh, great idea. I'm stealing that!

Get a baby wipe and dip it in the door of the fire and it cleans the glass. If bad may need a few goes.

Ours cleans with just warm water tbh

*soot or ash

Damp kitchen role dipped in the ash. Miss my log burner 😭 left it when we moved, no place for one in this house

Google the make and make sure you are using the vents properly. It shouldn’t have black glass really, you need kiln dried wood and to get it really hot before you add more wood. There shouldn’t be many flames.

mine wouldn’t light and the glass was going really black…till I realised I’d got the vents the wrong way round.

flamers natural firelighters are the best…also the upside down method does work well described above,