Making your own fire can be a challenge even for people with a lot of experience. Firelighters are an easy way to give your wood fire a kick start. Although there are many homemade options for firelighters, paraffin-wax-filled paper cups are a convenient and effective option. The wax is melted, mixed with wood shavings or sawdust, and poured into small paper cups. If you have old burnt-down candles, you can opt to supplement your paraffin with them.
Add water to the bottom of the double boiler. Place 2 blocks of paraffin wax into the top of the double boiler and melt it on the stove top. Remove the double boiler from the stove top burner once melted.
Scoop up the wood and wax mixture with the spoon and fill the paper cups 1/2 to 3/4 full.