What to Look for When Buying Fire Lighters

Fire lighters make it easy to light a wood fire or coal burning stove. 

They can send kindling up into flames in a matter of minutes.  You can buy fire lighters such as Anzünder through many different outlets, including on the internet. 

There are a few things to look for when buying them. 

* Are the ingredients natural?  It is better to get fire lighters that are environmentally friendly.  Even if you are lighting a coal burning stove, it makes no sense to add synthetic materials.  Natural ingredients are easier to work with and to clean up. 

* Are the fire lighters easy to light?  Some fire lighters may disintegrate when you try to strike them.  If this happens to you, never fear.  There are other brands that are much easier to light.  Some may not have a strike bar on the box.  This, you can learn from the description given by the manufacturer. 

* Are the fire lighters waterproof?  Most of them are, but you should not take it for granted.  A good choice is a type of fire lighters that is infused with vegetable wax to keep the burnable material dry. 

* Do the fire lighters have a long burning time?  You need the lighters to last long enough to ignite the material you are going to burn.  The burning time should be listed on the box or on the website.  A standard time for many fire lighters is about seven minutes. 

* Are the fire lighters noxious?  You will want fire lighters that are non-toxic.  This means that handling them will not make you sick or have an allergic reaction.  It is also good if the sticks are odorless.  This may be in the literature, but you may have to find this out by experience. 

* Is the packaging completely biodegradable?  The last thing you need is to use a good product in a polluting package.  It defeats the purpose of having all natural ingredients in the fire lighters themselves.  You may want to light a campfire in the woods and not leave any destruction behind.  Using fire lighters with biodegradable packaging means you can burn up the package and it will not pollute. 

* How many packs do you have to buy at once?  If you go to your local camping outlet, you may be able to pick them up by the 20-stick box.  However, if you order online, you may have to order as many as 10 boxes per shipment.  For people who use them often, that may be acceptable.  You have to decide if it works for you. 

* Are renewable sources used for the fire lighters?  Some fire lighters are made of vegetable wax and sawdust – both renewable materials.  Others are made of petroleum or other non-renewable materials. 

You may not be able to find the best fire lighters by reading the information on the box.  The description in a catalog or on a website may not answer all your questions.  Sometimes, the best teacher is trial and error.  You only have to know what you want.