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Make fire starters

Make fire starters
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Make supervised fire starters from wax-dipped cotton, dryer lint, and egg carton cups while learning measuring, safety steps, and adult-guided fire precautions.

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Step-by-step guide to make fire starters

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How to Make the Ultimate Survival Pull Pin Firestarter

What you need
Adult supervision required, cotton balls, dryer lint, heatproof tray or baking sheet, metal spoon or tongs, old candles or paraffin wax, oven mitts, paper egg carton cups, small metal pot or double boiler, wax paper or newspaper

Step 1

Put wax paper or newspaper on a table and arrange your materials neatly so your workspace is clean.

Step 2

Fill each paper egg carton cup about three-quarters full with dryer lint so each cup has enough fuel to burn.

Step 3

Press one cotton ball into the center of the lint in each cup so the cotton sits like a little wick.

Step 4

Ask an adult to help break the wax into small pieces and put the pieces into the small metal pot or double boiler.

Step 5

Have the adult melt the wax on low heat until it is fully liquid and not smoking while you watch from a safe distance.

Step 6

With the adult holding the pot and wearing oven mitts have the adult carefully pour melted wax into each egg cup until the lint is fully soaked.

Step 7

Let the filled cups sit undisturbed on the heatproof tray until the wax cools and hardens completely (about 30 minutes).

Step 8

Tear or cut the egg carton so each fire starter is separated into its own piece.

Step 9

Trim any loose lint or cotton bits so each starter has a neat wick that will catch fire easily.

Step 10

Put your finished fire starters in a metal tin or glass jar and store them in a cool place away from heat and children.

Step 11

Take a photo of your finished fire starters and share your creation on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can I use instead of dryer lint or an egg carton if I can't find them?

If you don't have dryer lint, fill each egg carton cup with shredded paper or dry pine needles and, if egg cartons aren't available, use paper muffin cups placed on the heatproof tray while still melting wax in the metal pot as instructed.

What should I do if the wax smokes, doesn't fully melt, or doesn't soak the lint?

If the wax smokes or won’t fully melt, have the adult lower the heat and finish melting in the double boiler, then pour carefully and press more liquid wax into each lint-filled cup so every cup is fully soaked and the cotton wick sits exposed.

How can I adapt the steps for different ages so it's safe and fun?

For younger children let them do steps 1–3 and step 9 (filling cups, pressing cotton, trimming wicks) while an adult handles steps 5–6 (melting and pouring wax), and for older kids let them participate in steps 4–10 with close supervision and photographer duties for the DIY.org photo in step 11.

How can we personalize or improve the fire starters once we've made basic ones?

To personalize and extend the activity, stir crayon shavings into the melted wax in the metal pot (step 5) for color, add a drop of essential oil before pouring (step 6) for scent, and decorate the metal tin or glass jar used for storage (step 10).

Watch videos on how to make fire starters

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Start a Fire in 5 Minutes or Less! DIY Fire Starter!

4 Videos

Facts about fire safety for kids

🧺 Dryer lint is mostly short fibers and is surprisingly flammable—people often use it as emergency tinder (but clogged vents can cause dryer fires).

📏 Making fire starters teaches measuring: a common small-batch recipe is about 1 tablespoon of lint plus a few cotton bits per egg-cup before dipping in wax.

🥚 Many egg cartons are made from molded paper pulp, making them biodegradable and great as compostable cups for small fire starters.

🔥 Paraffin wax melts around 47–65°C (117–149°F), so use a double boiler and adult supervision when melting it.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Adult-guided fire activities help kids learn safety steps—like using heatproof surfaces, keeping water nearby, and never leaving a flame unattended.

How do you make supervised wax-dipped dryer-lint fire starters?

Start by having an adult set up a protected workspace with newspaper and a heatproof container. Children measure dryer lint and cotton wicks into egg-carton cups while the adult melts wax in a double boiler or microwave-safe container. The adult carefully pours melted wax over the lint/cotton, lets it soak, then cools and trims. Teach measuring, counting, and safety steps. Always let an adult handle hot wax and any lighting, with children watching from a safe distance.

What materials do I need to make wax-dipped fire starters?

You’ll need cardboard egg-carton cups, dryer lint, cotton balls or small cotton strips for wicks, and paraffin or old candle wax. Also gather a double boiler or microwave-safe pouring container, heatproof jar, stirring utensil, newspaper or tray, oven mitts, tongs, measuring spoons for counting practice, and a metal or airtight tin for storage. Important: melting and pouring wax must be performed by an adult in a well-ventilated area.

What ages is supervised fire-starter making suitable for?

This project fits children about six and up for measuring and filling cups with constant adult supervision. Ages nine to twelve can handle more steps like arranging wicks and counting measurements while an adult melts and pours wax. Not recommended for toddlers under five because of small parts and hot-wax hazards. Adjust roles to ability: give younger kids measuring and sorting tasks, and older kids safety-check responsibilities.

What safety tips and benefits come with making wax fire starters?

Safety first: always have an adult melt and pour wax, protect surfaces, use oven mitts, and keep fire-extinguishing supplies nearby. Store finished starters in a metal tin away from children and heat, and use them only in controlled fires (campfire or fireplace) with adult supervision. Benefits include measuring practice, fine-motor skill development, and following step-by-step instructions. For a variation try beeswax or add wood shavings instead of lint.
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