Back in around the late 1940s and early 1950s all the houses in our suburb had wood stoves. Every household used to have firelighters which was a small block of porous material held in a wire frame and handle. These were kept soaking in a jar of kerosene, exactly as Grahamg suggests. After the fire was going the firelighter was removed using the handle, allowed to cool off and put back into the kerosene.

Isn't it amazing how things come around again?

So anyone wanting to use pumice stones all you have to do is enclose it in a wire frame with a handle and you are back into the middle of the last century.

Murray

If you haunt Vinnies shops and such other bargain places in the used cutlery areas you may be able to find and old chrome plated tea infuser or soap bubbler (cage that holds bar of plain soap - swished in wash up dish to make foamy).

I use a used tea bag, soaked in kero in a jar or tin with tight lid. One bag starts any size fire.

Thanks all good ideas, save on buying firestarters.

We use a cotton wool ball scooped into a jar of Vaseline. Never fails.

Cant go past a looflighter sold at Bunnings :) .

I carry kero or metholated spirits for outside smoker, oven..

Pinch a few cheezels from the grandkids. They are almost pure fat and burn like crazy. Great for starting a fire.
Pete