A Scandinavian or Finnish candle is a very common fire design among experienced hunters, fishermen and lovers of outdoor activities. This design good because it is represented by one single vertically installed log. Moreover, such a fire is ideal for cooking.
1. Make a Finnish candle with an ax
For this method you will need an ax and a log with even fibers without knots. First, we split the log into 6-8 logs. The wedge of each log is cut off with an ax so that when reassembled, a tube is formed. We lay out the logs in a “daisy” pattern, take the wire and put the log back together. The wire will hold the entire structure. The chain left over from the logs can be used to kindle a Finnish candle.
2. Make a Finnish candle with a chainsaw
One of the most simple ways. We take our chainsaw and divide the log into 6 segments, making cuts approximately 2/3 of the height of the piece of wood. That's all that needs to be done before ignition. All that remains is to place some dry wood chips in the very center and set it on fire. The only “but” is that there is not so much fuel to fit into such a Scandinavian candle. Therefore, you can add a little gasoline directly from the saw’s tank.
3. Make a Finnish candle with a drill
Here we need a feather drill for wood with a diameter of 20-30 mm. The length of the drill must exceed 2/3 of the height of the log. First, drill one hole exactly in the middle. After this, another side hole needs to be made so that it connects with the first one made along the core of the log. Lighting such a candle does not cause any difficulties.
How the candles burn
If a Finnish candle was made with an ax or chainsaw, then it will burn very quickly and will give a lot of heat and fire. This candle will burn out in about 3-5 hours. There is no fundamental difference between fires created by the first two (described here) methods. Another thing is the Finnish candle, created by drilling. This will burn almost twice as long, but the heat will be less. The latter also flares up the slowest.
Video
Continuing the hiking theme to the delight of the traveler.
The original mini-bonfire is also called a taiga, Indian, or Swedish candle. Thanks to the peculiarities of making Finnish candles and the use of intense flame, they successfully replace traditional fires on hikes, at picnics and evening gatherings in the yard. You need a minimum of tools and skills, 5-20 minutes of simple effort, and you will get a source of vertical flame with a burning duration of half an hour to 7 hours.
4 ways to make a Finnish candle
Using any method, a Finnish candle is made with your own hands from chock, sometimes replaced with a block of wood logs. Acceptable use small stumps, if only one piece of log is required. The duration of combustion depends on the length and diameter of the workpieces.
Method 1. Candle with paraffin wick
- Burning time: from 30 minutes.
- Production time: 20 minutes.
Tools and materials:
- drill with drill 20-30 mm;
- saw (manual, electric or diesel engine);
- sawing sawhorses;
- lighter;
- block for a candle;
- a block of larger diameter for counterweight;
- paraffin or wax;
- paper or newspaper.
To get a fire with vertical burning, just light the wick. We recommend installing Finnish candles away from trees on paved or concrete platforms, cleared land, fire-resistant tiles, a metal stand to prevent the surrounding vegetation from catching fire.
Method 2. Candle made from logs
- Burning time: up to 2.5 hours.
- Production time: 7-10 minutes.
Tools and materials:
- axe;
- a log or four logs.
Manufacturing sequence
The whole lump is split into four equal parts. The logs are installed vertically in the form of the original log. When a Finnish candle is made from ready-made firewood, logs of the same length and cross-section are selected, which together form a solid block. The design provides good air flow, but is not wind resistant enough.
Method 3. Three logs
- Burning time: from 7 hours.
- Production time: 5 minutes.
Necessary materials: 3 logs of the same height. No tools required.
Manufacturing sequence
Simplest a way to make a long-burning Finnish candle with your own hands. The blocks are installed in a circle with a small gap between them. Then a fire is built in the inner “well.” Unimpeded access to oxygen contributes to an intense flame, and due to the large diameter, the combustion duration is extended.
Stands out more heat than with other designs of taiga candles. It also ensures the greatest stability of a disposable oven. Disadvantage (the flame can be blown out by the wind. Tip: as it burns out, move the logs to the center to maintain the burning intensity.
Method 4. Primus
- Burning time: up to 3 hours.
- Production time: 20 minutes.
Tools and materials:
- axe;
- saw (optional);
- wire;
- a log or several logs.
Manufacturing sequence
This design provides intense hot flame. In the first two hours after ignition, you can cook or boil water on the mini-oven. The optimal size is considered to be when the length of the block is twice the diameter. You can create mini-bonfires with a height of 20-30 cm.
Tip: if you plan to cook, then make a Finnish candle with two shorter logs to improve air flow to the flame. Useful uses of a disposable stove in the household
The design represents a vertical furnace pyrolysis combustion. The peculiarity of this type of flame is the simultaneous combustion of both wood and the resulting wood gas. As a result, less soot and ash are formed, and the heat transfer of the flame is higher. Even a two-hour use of a Finnish candle helps solve many problems of arrangement and relaxation.
Culinary uses of Finnish candles
In the absence of summer kitchen and on hikes, disposable stoves can be easily adapted for the following tasks:
- cooking in cauldrons;
- singeing carcasses poultry, game;
- boiling water;
- heating food.
Unlike a stationary summer kitchen, a Finnish candle can be used anywhere on the site, or taken with you on a picnic or on a trip.
Landscape decoration
Mini-bonfires are convenient to use for temporary illumination of dark areas without landscape lamps. They create a warm, inviting atmosphere and can complement the decoration of outdoor seating areas for special events. Finally, the spark plugs will be replaced street fires and fireplaces will help you relax by the fire during your evening relaxation.
Repair and construction use
Concentrated combustion has determined the advantage of using a Finnish candle compared to conventional fires for the following work:
- firing, heating of metal;
- melting of roofing felt or lump bitumen;
- firing and drying various surfaces and blanks.
Easy to manufacture, disposable ovens are compact, simple device, intense combustion and easy transportation. This enhances the attractiveness of Finnish candles for home or tourist use.
Video instructions for making a Finnish candle
Finnish candle at work
Finnish candle is the most common name for several fires of similar design, built inside a specially prepared log or between several combined logs standing vertically.
The design of the Finnish candle allows you to light a full-fledged fire with the least amount of fuel, in some cases making do with only one log. In addition, such candles tolerate windy weather well, and some of them tolerate precipitation when using dishes that cover the combustion area.
All versions of the Finnish candle are intended for cooking and lighting the area, and some of them are also used for heating and drying things.
This type of fire is economical, compact, easy to transport, its structure can be built in advance, compared to many other types of fires, it leaves only a small fire on the ground, and in some cases does not leave it at all.
Having been invented in the 30s of the last century by a citizen of Finland, the Finnish candle became widely known among hunters, tourists and other lovers active rest outdoors and is actively used to this day.
Its popularity is evidenced by the many names given to this fire. Among them: a fire candle, a forest candle, a hunting candle, an Indian candle, an Indian torch, a Swedish candle, Swedish fire, a Scandinavian candle, a taiga candle, a Canadian candle, a Roman candle, a wooden kerosene stove, a wood-burning primus stove, an ox, a vertical fire made of logs.
Finnish candle options
The popularity of the fire could not leave the Finnish candle unchanged. As more and more people used it, the fire was built with various design changes and additions, under different conditions. And if the classic fire consisted of two halves of a log split with an ax, placed with the cleaved sides facing each other, then modern designs differ not only in structure, but also in the number of logs used.
I know the following options forest candle:
- The classic version is made from a log split in two. This option consists of two halves of one log, placed with the cleaved surfaces facing each other. A fire is lit between the log halves. This option is easy to make, burns for a relatively long time and requires only one log. The space on the sides of the fire, where the gap is located between the halves of the log, can be used for heating or drying things.
- A log split into four pieces. This option is similar to the previous one, but instead of two halves, four quarters of one log burn in this fire. Due to the larger burning surface, such a fire burns more intensely, but not as long. Thanks to more cracks engulfed in fire, on almost any side of the fire you can dry things or warm up. However, such a torch is less stable and quickly falls apart when the logs burn out.
Swedish candle made from four parts of logs.
- A split log held together with wire. This option is similar to the previous one, but all parts of the log are fastened together with wire. This kind of fire burns less intensely, but longer. Due to the almost complete absence of heat on the sides of the fire (when the parts of the log are tightly connected), it can be freely moved from place to place, but for the same reason this option cannot serve as an effective heater. Another disadvantage of this fire is the need to tie up quarters of logs, because wire may not always be at hand. And it’s not always possible for a beginner to light such a fire on the first try.
- Log with longitudinal cuts. Here, inside a thick log, two to four longitudinal cuts are usually made to a depth of 2/3 or 3/4 of the length of the log. These cuts serve to supply oxygen to the combustion source and at the same time act as this very source. This stove option is compact, easy to transport and can be recommended for organizing a fire if you have a chainsaw. Without a chainsaw the structure is like this Swedish candle impractical, although, of course, cuts can be made with a regular saw. This is a disposable type of forest candle, since it is difficult to extinguish the fire temporarily if necessary. As this stove burns, the middle in the upper part burns out first, the distance between the burning surfaces increases - and the fire goes into smoldering mode. This is not always convenient for cooking, but it is quite suitable for heating, especially since the cracks that emit heat become much larger than when lighting a fire. Among other things, this fire can be moved to a new place even while burning and, unlike most other versions of the Swedish candle, does not leave a fire on the ground unless the burnt out upper part falls to the ground. However, starting this fire without oil, gasoline or other flammable liquids requires some skill and can be challenging for a beginner.
When using a chainsaw, such a fire is not only stable, but also beautiful.
The compactness and simplicity of this type of forest stove have made it very popular. There are advertisements on various websites on the Internet offering to buy such a wooden primus stove wholesale and retail, and on Youtube there are many videos on its manufacture and use. However, in my opinion, this torch is not entirely suitable for a hiker, and even more so for someone who is in an emergency in the wild. natural environment, due to the complexity of manufacturing the described structure without the proper tools. This is an option not for a person surviving in nature who needs to make a fire with his own hands, but for a tourist who goes out into nature on vacation with all the necessary equipment.
These are the main four ways to create a candle fire, but there are other options:
The classic version of a log split in two is good if you have brushwood, which needs to be thrown into the fire from time to time, and a thick log. It is simple and can be recommended for cooking and boiling water in survival situations if you have a saw and an ax.
A log split into four parts can be recommended for short-term illumination of the area in those situations in which the classic version is made, but if it is necessary to warm up a group consisting of more than two people. However, if the fire is lit specifically to warm the group, it is better to use one of the taiga options, for example, Nodya.
A split log held together with wire is useful in situations that require cooking or lighting without the need for heating. Of course, it is used only when there is wire or other material available that allows you to securely fasten all parts of the log.
A log with longitudinal cuts is made with a chainsaw and a sufficient amount of gasoline. It is also convenient to use it if you have pre-prepared logs for picnics, fishing and other outdoor events.
A log with two holes, like a candle with cuts, is convenient for use outdoors in a pre-prepared form during the warm and rainy season.
Three logs placed side by side, as for me, along with the classic one, are one of best options Finnish candle in emergency survival conditions. But unlike the classic one, this option requires the use of thinner logs, which means it is most appropriate if you have a saw and no ax.
The classic version of a log split in two
For classic version You can use a log with a diameter of 20–30 cm. The height of the log should be twice as large as the diameter. It is this ratio of diameter and height that is most acceptable for stability and uniform burning of not only the classic version, but also other types of fire-candles.
The log is split in two, and one part should be thicker than the other. Kindling chips are cut off from the thicker part and crushed for faster ignition. Both parts of the log are installed at a short distance from one another with the cuts facing each other. For stability, they can be supported with sticks or stones. Kindling is placed in the middle. The kindling is ignited, after which the fire gradually enters operating mode.
The photo shows the beginning of making such a fire:
When a sufficient amount of smoldering coals have formed on both parts of the log, this Finnish candle can burn without throwing additional brushwood into the middle. To do this, it is enough to adjust the gap between the parts of the log: too close a position will reduce the flow of oxygen to the combustion center - the fire will go into smoldering mode, and too far away will prevent the coals from heating each other until the fire appears, and the fire will go out.
If cooking is necessary, dishes with food are placed on the ends of both parts of the log. Additional tricks, as in some cases, which will be discussed a little later, in in this case not required. You can see what it looks like in the photo or video.
If the fire is temporarily not needed, parts of the log are moved away from one another - and the fire goes into smoldering mode, and after a while it finally goes out.
A log split into four pieces
This Finnish candle is prepared, lit and extinguished in the same way as the previous version, only in this case the log is split into four identical parts.
If you have good kindling, such a fire is relatively easy to start.
The kindling for this candle is collected separately or cut from the core of another split log, where it is usually dry even after prolonged rains.
To prepare food, the dishes are placed directly on the top end of the split log.
Split log held together with wire
For this Finnish candle, a sawn log is split into four equal parts. All parts are marked on the outside with a knife so that later all parts of the log can be assembled together with the smallest gaps between them. For each of the resulting parts, cut off the corner that was adjacent to the core in the log. The resulting shavings are used as kindling.
The core of logs is usually drier than the outer fabric, and therefore kindling from it is easier to light. Photo survival.com.ua
Also, for future ventilation, you can cut the lower edges of the log parts at an angle.
All parts of the log are connected in accordance with the marks on them and form a cylindrical structure with square hole in the middle and triangular gaps at the bottom (if they were cut out, of course), which are connected to the central hole.
The central hole formed after removing the core will act as a hearth.
In this position, the log is fastened with wire. A small stick is inserted under the wire and twisted until the wire securely holds all parts of the log together. What it looks like in the end is shown in the photo:
If there were no lower gaps for ventilation, this version of the Finnish candle can be installed on a small groove so that fresh air can freely penetrate from below into the central hole where the fire will burn.
A small fire is lit at the upper end of this candle, the coals of which fall into the hole and gradually ignite the entire structure.
According to some unverified data, such a candle can also be lit from below if wood shavings are loosely placed in the hole so as to provide free passage for air. Be that as it may, this version of the fire-candle remains one of the most inconvenient to light.
To cook food on such a candle, place three or four small identical flat stones under the dishes or place two green sticks in parallel. Sometimes, instead, 3-4 nails are driven into the top end so that they rise above the wood. This is necessary so that the gases released as a result of combustion can freely exit through the upper hole and not impede the flow of fresh air to the burning coals. If this is not done, the cookware will block the top hole and the fire may go out.
Log with longitudinal cuts
During production this option taiga candles most often use a chainsaw.
In a block of wood, usually two to four longitudinal cuts are made, going deep into 2/3, and sometimes 3/4 of its length. Although, if you plan to make a torch, then cuts are made on a long straight log only in the upper part. That's it - the Finnish candle is ready.
Today, the production of blanks for Finnish candles has been put into production due to their high demand among tourists and vacationers.
Such a candle is most often lit using alcohol, gasoline, machine or sunflower oil, or another flammable liquid. To do this, pour into the center of the candle a small amount of the specified liquid and, having removed the container with this liquid to a safe distance, set fire to the fire.
Attention!
It is prohibited to pour gasoline, alcohol and other flammable substances into an already burning or smoldering fire! Failure to comply with this rule may result in burns and an explosion of a container with flammable liquid.
For cooking, the dishes are placed directly on the top flat surface of the candle.
Such a candle is usually extinguished with water, after which it needs to be dried before relighting.
Log with two holes
For this candle, the log is placed on its end. A hole is made in the center to a depth of 3/4 of the height of the log with a gimlet or drill.
Afterwards, the log is placed on its side and a second hole is drilled in it, which should connect to the “bottom” of the first. This creates a log with an L-shaped tunnel. Residual chips from the tunnel are removed.
Such a candle is lit in two ways: from above or from below.
To ignite from above, a small fire is lit at the working end of the candle, the coals of which, falling into the hole, lead to the ignition of a vertical tunnel along the entire length of the structure.
To ignite from below, a flammable liquid is dripped into the upper hole, and the fire is brought on a splinter from the side hole.
The photo shows a candle that has already lit up:
If you have the tools, such a candle can be made from a stump, which is difficult to use as fuel in a regular fire. An example is shown in the photo:
Like the version with wire, this candle is lit with great difficulty compared to the same classic Finnish candle.
In this version of the oven, it is necessary to place stones or sticks under the dishes so that the bottom of the dish does not cover the outlet hole.
Such a candle is extinguished by blocking two holes at the same time.
Three logs placed side by side
To make this candle, three logs of equal height are cut out. On each of the three logs, the bark is removed from one side and shallow cuts are made to damage the wood fibers.
The logs are placed horizontally, one next to the other, so that the cleaned sides are as close to each other as possible and point upward. Kindling is placed on the logs and the fire is started.
When some of the logs under the fires become charred and begin to actively smolder, the logs are placed on their ends and the smoldering parts are pressed against each other. The gap between the logs is filled with embers from burnt brushwood and the brushwood itself. After this Finnish candle enters the operating mode, there is no need to add additional fuel: the coals of the logs heat each other, due to which a stable flame appears in the center of the structure.
An example of a candle made from three logs, not fastened to each other in any way.
The dishes are installed on top without additional tricks, since the gaps between the logs are sufficient to remove burnt gases from the combustion center.
If the logs are slightly different in length and for this reason do not allow you to place dishes on top of them, small depressions are made in the ground for longer logs. This way, when setting up a fire, the tops of the logs are leveled and allow you to place dishes on them without any problems.
In order to extinguish such a fire-candle, you simply need to move the logs away from one another.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Finnish candle, like other fires, has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, due to the fact that there are many options for this fire, here we will list only those that are characteristic of most of them.
The advantages of such a fire include:
- Economical. For a taiga candle, often just one small log is enough; you can make a stove with your own hands or buy it in a specialized store.
- Compactness. It is convenient to transport the preparation for this fire in a car or put it under an awning while outdoors.
- Safety. Some options allow you to use fire even on peat bogs. However, if there is no urgent need, you should not take unnecessary risks, and it is better to light a fire far from the peat bog.
- Mobility. Some versions of the Swedish candle can be easily transported over long distances even while burning.
- Eco-friendly and discreet. Some versions of the Indian candle leave no traces of combustion on the ground at all.
- Insensitivity to weather conditions. Almost all candle fires are resistant to strong winds and precipitation when using dishes that can be used to cover the combustion area.
- Possibility to “preserve” the fire. Some versions of the taiga candle, being extinguished and stored in a place protected from precipitation, allow you to re-ignite the flame without much difficulty when the need arises. Often this requires only a spark, struck by striking a flint against a high-carbon steel knife, or sun rays, concentrated to a point using a lens.
- Need for tools. Without a saw or an ax, making a Finnish candle will be problematic.
- The need for a tree trunk of a certain thickness. Not in every area you can find dead wood suitable for a fireplace. required diameter. For example, such raw materials may not be available in the tundra, field or steppe.
- The failure of a fire-candle as a heater. A Finnish candle often produces less heat compared to more well-known types of fires, for example, a “hut” or a “well”.
- Possibility of installation above Indian candles only one dish. Cooking food or boiling water at the same time in several large cauldrons is unlikely to be possible due to the small work surface fire-candles.
Since a survivalist usually does not have a chainsaw, this type of candle is not suitable for survival purposes.
It is useful to focus on this information when you know the conditions in which the fire will be lit and the tasks that need to be solved with its help.
Security measures
Despite the “carefulness” of a taiga candle when burning, as with any other fireplace, safety precautions must be observed when using it.
So, a place for a forest candle is chosen away from dry trees and thickets of dry reeds. This place is cleared of dry leaves and grass, pine needles and cones, in a word, everything that can cause the spread of fire.
When using flammable liquids to light a Finnish candle, the canisters with these liquids must be removed to a safe distance.
To prevent a pre-prepared candle from getting wet from precipitation, it can be placed under the tent awning or covered with a piece of polyethylene, pressing its edges to the ground with stones. If it rains lightly while this fire is burning, the container in which the food is cooked will protect the candle from extinguishing.
From the above, we can conclude that Finnish candles are good for cooking and lighting the area, and in some cases, heating. These fires can be recommended for a group of several people located in a forest area with a shortage of dead wood and the availability of tools for processing it.
Interesting video: how to make a Finnish candle in the wild
Somehow in summer holidays, and as always unexpectedly, the gas cylinder at the dacha ran out. An old electric stove and microwave oven came to the rescue. What if there was no electricity? I've heard a lot about Swedish fire, which is made from dry logs and is said to be convenient for cooking. The design is simple - a dry log is sawn from the end along the axis two or more times. I decided to check the operation of this thing as an emergency heat source.
Preparing the log
I made two cuts from the end of a piece of dry pine log with a chainsaw. A log is taken with a diameter of 23 cm and a length of 60 cm, the cut is made to a depth of 40 cm. If the log is placed on its butt, then a flat area remains on top on which you can place a pot or frying pan.
If you are going to cook food, then the log should be installed steadily so that it does not move if accidentally impacted. Lighting a fire is simple - pour a small amount of lighter fluid into the center. It is enough to water the edges of the cuts from above. We set fire to the log. At first, the fire is supported by the liquid and combustion occurs in the upper part of the log, but as it warms up, the flame goes down and intense combustion begins and the flame bursts out of the crack with a characteristic noise.
There are many types of fires, and we need them, like the fire itself, in the forest for various purposes - for cooking, heating, illumination in the dark and scaring away wild animals. Let's look at the main types of fires and talk about how to light them.
It is important to light a fire with care to prevent the possibility of a fire. It’s best to use the previous fire pit. Make sure there are no stumps, dry grass, leaves, or bush branches nearby. Clear the area thoroughly. Do not leave the fire, but carefully extinguish it. To do this, pour a bucket of water over the fire and cover it with earth.
Bonfire - hut
You will need: kindling, tree branches, matches or other ignition material.
This known species fire. Small branches are placed in the shape of the hut, and kindling is placed in the center. As it burns, larger branches are added.
This type of fire is good for cooking, heating and lighting. The downside is that it requires constant addition of fuel.
For kindling, birch bark is suitable - the “paper” bark of a birch tree, which is spaced from the trunk. It happens both on standing wood and on fallen wood. If there is none, then bark that fits tightly to the birch trunk will do. In this case, in order not to injure the tree or expose the trunk, remove only upper layer birch bark To do this, a longitudinal cut is made, and half of the birch bark is easily removed. Also suitable for kindling are spruce bark with resin, dry grass, small twigs, moss, etc.
Bonfire star
You will need: an axe, kindling, up to 10 long logs, matches or other means for lighting.
Such a fire does not burn intensely, but is economical and does not require frequent addition of new branches. It requires up to 10 long logs. The logs are laid in the form of an asterisk, so that they diverge from one point in a circle. The center of the star is set on fire, and as it burns, the logs are moved towards the center.
Bonfire well
You will need: axe, kindling, logs, matches or other kindling material.
The logs are stacked in a log house. We put kindling - wood chips, twigs, dry grass, chopped small firewood - inside the log house and set it on fire. After some time, the logs themselves are engaged.
In such a fire, the logs burn slowly, and a lot of coals will be created, releasing high temperature. It is suitable for cooking, heating and lighting.
The advantage of this fire is good air circulation and oxygen access to the burning wood.
Log fire - Finnish candle
You will need: saw, axe, log, kindling, matches or other kindling device.
Another simple way to start a fire, which will also allow you to easily cook food. Take a log, 15-35 cm in diameter, or saw off part of the log. It is important that the log is cut from the log clearly vertically, so that it can stand securely on its base, and on top there is a horizontal surface on which to place a saucepan or kettle.
Chop the log with an ax or saw into four to six pieces. Gather the pieces back into the log so that they stand vertically, but slightly apart, about two centimeters. In the resulting space, place kindling - twigs, dry grass and birch bark. Place the twigs and wood chips horizontally, in different directions, in the space between the parts of the log, and then set fire to the resulting filler. The kindling will burn out, and then the firewood itself will take over. You will get a reliable, upward-pointing flame. Since the logs are vertical and bunched together, high temperatures are generated on top. Adjust the temperature by moving the logs apart and moving them apart. And since there is space between the firewood, this promotes air circulation, as a result of which the flame does not go out. Place a pot or frying pan on top of this firewood for cooking, or place a kettle and boil water.
U this method there are variations. Instead of splitting the log into pieces, you can make cuts to the middle of the log. Another option is to use several whole logs instead of parts of one log; this will increase the operating time of the Finnish candle.
Bonfire Pyramid
You will need: axe, kindling, logs various sizes, matches or other igniter.
It's a slow fire, but long burning. It is useless when the logs are damp, since they are stacked tightly and there is very little air circulation. However, in dry weather this is great guy fire, allowing you to practically not worry about its maintenance.
The fire pyramid consists of several layers. At the bottom there are two large logs laid parallel. Several logs of smaller diameter are placed on them, in a continuous layer across the bottom two logs. The third layer is even thinner logs and the same across the second layer, and then we continue in the same spirit up to 8-10 layers. Kindling is placed on top, which is set on fire.
Bonfire Dakota
You will need: a shovel, kindling, firewood, matches or other means of ignition.
It is done in the ground. A hole is dug 30-50 cm deep and 30 cm in diameter. After the cylindrical hole has been dug, step back 10 cm from the top and expand the bottom of the hole so that the hole takes the shape of a light bulb. And then, stepping back 30 centimeters from the dug hole, dig another hole with a tunnel to the first one. Dig the second hole in relation to the wind: if the wind blows from the left, then dig a hole to the left of the first, if the wind blows from the right, then dig a hole to the right. This is needed for traction. Next, we put kindling in the first hole and set it on fire, and then gradually add larger branches and logs.
This type of fire is suitable for windy areas where it is difficult to light a fire on the surface. Such a fire does not smoke and is hardly noticeable, therefore, if you want to hide your presence, it is better to place the fuel no higher than the edges of the pit, otherwise the fire will smoke. At night, this fire is also not noticeable, since the flames are mainly concentrated below the surface of the earth.
On a Dakota fire you can quickly boil water or cook food in a pot. It is convenient to regulate the draft of this fire by opening and closing the second pit.
Bonfire in the winter forest – Nodya
You will need: an axe, kindling or coals from another fire, two logs same size- 2-3 m in length, two poles - 4-5 meters in length, two twigs-hooks, matches or other means for ignition.
This is actually not even a fire, but a smoldering powerful source of heat. It is reliable, long lasting, warm and discreet as it does not burn brightly. This good way making a fire in the snowy winter. Nodya heats for a very long time, but it is better to take into account that it is designed to heat only one person.
The node looks like two logs 2-3 m long, laid on top of each other horizontally, with a wall with a small gap of 2-2.5 cm. To prevent the top log from rolling off, a special one is made suspension system from two poles and two hook branches.
For nodes, it is better to take standing wood, as it is important that it be dry. Two large logs of equal length are required. You also need 4-5 meter poles with a fork at the end. It is important that the poles are elastic. We insert them into the snow or under a tree trunk at an angle to the top log. You also need two hook branches.
We hang the top log. We make a nick from the top of the edge of the log with a strong blow and hammer the hanger hook into the nick. We do the same on the other side. We take a log and hang it on poles by the hangers. The poles should rest against the hooks. To do this, you can support the poles from below with logs, branches, etc. The poles hold the top log, preventing it from rolling down during the burning process.
There are two ways to light a node.
- IN bottom log Wedges are driven into the sides, on which the pole is placed. It turns out to be a shelf on which coals from a regular daytime fire are placed. And the node flares up from these coals.
- Second way. We need to stuff kindling between the logs. To do this, initially create a gap between the logs using support sticks. Having stuffed the kindling, we set it on fire, the knot flares up, and we remove the supports.
Nodya should burn along the entire length of the logs, this is very important. If you do not use the ends of the logs, the middle will burn out, the gap between the logs will increase and the node will go out. If it smolders throughout the log, it will work for up to 15 hours.
Important! You won't be able to install the node the first time! In order to start winter sleepovers with Nadia, you will need a lot of training setups first.
Fire in a wet forest
You will need: axe, knife, logs, branches different diameters, matches or other source of fire, tarpaulin or awning.
To light a fire in a wet forest, you will need to get dry wood chips. How to do it?
Wet twigs are not suitable for this. Take thick log, split into pieces and plan dry shavings from the core, which will turn out to be dry. You can cut the lower branches from the trees, and by cutting away the damp upper wood, you will get to the dry center. Thin, dead spruce trees are also suitable, and for the fire you need fragments of trunks coated with resin, because It protects the wood from moisture penetration, and it is also possible to plan dry chips from this wood.
The process of collecting shavings and wood chips is long – an hour or even two. However, if you have a lot of fine wood shavings, the fire will burn quickly and easily. During rain or snow, to prevent the shavings from getting wet, cover yourself and the shavings with a piece of polyethylene or tarpaulin, or collect the shavings under an awning.
When there are a lot of shavings, melt them and place small wet sticks around them - vertically, in the form of a hut. As they dry, they will start to burn. Next, install larger sticks, etc.
To maintain a blazing fire, collect spruce bark with resin, as well as birch bark, which contains flammable tar.
Gas burners instead of a fire for cooking
You will need: gas-burner and a balloon.
Gas-burner- an excellent source of fire for cooking; with its help you can easily and quickly heat up a kettle or cook food for 1-3 people. You don't have to waste time making a fire, getting coals, and after cooking, putting out the fire.
Also, by using a burner, you do not harm nature. Fires leave burnt circles for several years; a burner allows you to avoid this.
The disadvantage of a burner compared to a fire is that it weighs a lot, and you have to carry the cylinders on yourself. Also with low temperatures and in the mountains the burners do not work well. But the rest is good source fire. Especially if you go to nature reserves where fires are not allowed. Also, a gas burner is a good option for a fire source in a wet forest, where it is difficult to organize a fire, and you don’t want to spend hours preparing coals.
