after Christmas 2012 it was warm and rainy. and we went to the forest.
it was rainy for the third day. Yes, and before NG for half a month it was wet with us.
simply collecting firewood in the forest would obviously not work.
so I decided to make an "Indian candle" and a "Dakota hearth" out of plump logs.
We chose this place for parking:
Here's what the mess was:
BENEFITS"Indian Candle"
- if it rains, which can put out the fire,
- if there is not enough firewood,
- when the soil is a liquid mess,
- when all the firewood around is wet,
then it is the best choice for 1-2 times cooking.
FIREWOOD. the thinner log was completely wet from the inside.
I sawed off a thicker log with a diameter of about 20 cm, it was 60% wet and damp,
but inside it was more or less fit:
BODY FOR THE HEART. I cut it into 4 parts and cut dry chips from the inside:
tied with wire and rope:
and made a hole for blowing air:
KINDLING. then set fire to the wood chips separately.
"according to science" the chips had to be stuffed inside and set on fire there,
but the chips were damp and I wanted them to have enough air
could flare up and dry up:
then I shoved the wood chips inside the log
and gave an additional impulse in the form of lit paper.
pay attention to the spatula, weight 50-60 grams.
I subsequently did a lot of useful things to her:
we tossed some wood chips, I blew a few times,
and after 5-15 minutes they had this (the top was a little narrower than the bottom):
and put water on tea, placing a stick on top under the pot to release smoke and create traction. The water boiled in 10-15 minutes.
VARIATIONS"INDIAN CANDLE". if you saw off a thicker log, then you don’t have to comb the insides and don’t bother with tying:
if you don't have good hacksaws to saw off the log and normal ax , I propose an even simpler option. I advise you to watch from 02:10
another plus: it burns without problems in the snow, in the mud, in the swamp.
AXES. I took the grandfather's, weighing 800 grams, a friend had Iskars, about 500 grams. grandfather's proved to be better: a sharper cutting wedge and a longer arm made it possible to comb thicker chips. in addition, I split a pine tree with a diameter of 20 cm with my ax without any problems.
HACKSAW. there were two of them, the "chain" and my beloved "Stanley", which was beloved among the preppers. chain together we drank a log one and a half times longer than I alone my Stanley. and I spent two times less effort:
while the water was boiling, I decided to make a "Dakota hearth" nearby ...
BENEFITS"Dakotian hearth":
- stealth fire due to its underground,
- concealment of fire due to less smoke:
the heat from the fire does not spread to the sides, but keeps inside the walls:
and the higher the combustion temperature, the less smoke,
- food is cooked faster due to the retention of heat inside the walls,
- it is convenient to place the dishes on the fire.
FOCUS SCHEME.
DIGGING. i used the spatula mentioned above
and to sample the land from the inside, I took a Chinese plastic bowl from the house for 0.3 bucks weighing 30-40 grams. pay attention, I put a bag of sugar under my knees, which is bought on the market for 0.25 bucks:
in 10 minutes everything was ready. main hole diameter about 25 cm, depth about 30 cm, blower hole about 15 cm:
IGNITE. I kindled the wood chips at the top, with the help of an American fire starter, which is inserted into the magnesium body, which is being chipped. from my experience, cotton wool flares up best from a flint:
when the small chips flared up, I lowered it all down on a paper sheet and threw more chips. Five minutes later we had this:
COOKING. when the firewood burned a little more, they put a Chinese double boiler, potatoes on it and covered it with foil. and tea boiled on the "Indian candle":
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS showed that the "Indian candle" will give 3 times more
useful heat than the "dakotsky hearth", since in the candle ALL the heat is spent usefully:
or for heating the pot, or for drying and heating the body of the candle,
which is subject to combustion.
in the hearth, a lot of energy is used to heat the walls.
well, on an open fire, most of the energy generated in general
blown away by the wind.
and we took off the pot and I'm making tea.
check out the power of the flame that flared up inside))
and this despite the fact that 60% of the log was originally wet or damp.
Finnish candle at work
Finnish candle is the most common name for several fires of similar design, bred inside a specially prepared log or between several combined logs standing upright.
The design of the Finnish candle allows you to kindle a full-fledged fire with the least amount of fuel, in some cases using only one log. In addition, these candles are well tolerated by windy weather, and some of them - and precipitation when using dishes that cover the combustion source.
All versions of the Finnish candle are designed 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 design 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 it does not leave it at all.
Being invented in the 30s of the last century by a citizen of Finland, the Finnish candle has become widely known among hunters, tourists and other outdoor enthusiasts and is actively used to this day.
Its popularity is evidenced by the many names that this fire is called. Among them: a bonfire 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 primus stove, a wood-burning primus stove, an volya, 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 bred with various design changes and additions, in different conditions. And if the classic fire consisted of two halves of a log split with an ax, placed with chipped sides one to the other, then modern designs differ not only in structure, but also in the number of logs used.
I know the following options for a forest candle:
- The classic version of the log split in two. This option consists of two halves of one log, placed with chipped surfaces to each other. A fire is kindled between the halves of the log. This option is easy to manufacture, burns for a relatively long time and requires only one log. The space on the sides of the fire, where the gap between the halves of the log is located, can be used for heating or drying things.
- 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 intensively, but not so long. Due to the large number of cracks engulfed in fire, almost on any side of the fire, you can dry things or get warm. However, such a torch is less stable and quickly falls apart when the logs burn out.
Swedish candle made of four pieces of logs.
- Split log, fastened with wire. This option is similar to the previous one, but all parts of the log are fastened together with wire. Such a fire burns less intensively, but longer. Due to the almost complete absence of heat on the sides of the fire (with a tight connection of the parts of the log), it can be freely transferred from place to place, but for the same reason this option cannot act as an effective heater. Also, the disadvantage of this fire is the need to tie quarters of logs, because the wire may not always be at hand. And it’s not always possible for a beginner to kindle 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 site and at the same time are this same site. This version of the stove is compact, easy to transport and can be recommended for organizing a fire with a chainsaw. Without a chainsaw, the construction of such a Swedish candle is impractical, although, of course, cuts can be made with an ordinary saw. This is a one-time type of forest candle, since it is difficult to put out the fire for a while 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 gaps that radiate heat become much larger than during the ignition of a fire. Among other things, this fire can be moved to a new place even in the process of burning and, unlike most other variants of the Swedish candle, does not leave a fire on the ground, unless the burned-out top part falls to the ground. However, starting this fire without oil, gasoline or other flammable liquids requires some skill and can be problematic 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 wood stove made it very popular. On the Internet, on various sites, there are ads offering to buy such a wooden primus wholesale and retail, and on Youtube there are many videos on its manufacture and use. However, as for me, this torch is not quite suitable for a backpacker, and even more so for someone who has an emergency situation in the wild, due to the complexity of manufacturing the described design without proper tools. This option is not for a person surviving in nature, who needs to make a fire with his own hands, but for a tourist who goes to nature on vacation with all the necessary equipment.
These are the main four ways to create a campfire candle, 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 conditions with a saw and an ax.
A log split into four parts can be recommended for short-term illumination of the territory in those situations in which the classic version is made, but if necessary, warming a group consisting of more than two people. However, if the fire is made specifically to warm the group, it is better to use one of the taiga options, for example, a nodya.
A split log tied 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 a 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 in the presence of pre-prepared logs in case of a picnic, fishing and other outdoor activities.
A log with two holes, like a candle with cuts, is convenient for outdoor use in a prepared form in a warm and rainy season.
Three logs placed side by side, as for me, along with the classic one, are one of the best options for a Finnish candle in emergency survival conditions. But unlike the classical one, this option requires the use of logs of smaller thickness, which means it is most appropriate in the presence of a saw and the absence of an ax.
The classic version of a log split in two
For the 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. Chips for kindling are chipped from the thicker part and crushed for faster ignition. Both parts of the log are installed at a small distance from one another with cuts facing each other. For stability, they can be propped up with sticks or stones. Kindling is placed in the middle. The kindling is ignited, after which the fire gradually enters the operating mode.
The photo shows the beginning of the manufacture of such a fire:
When sufficient embers 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 location will reduce the flow of oxygen to the combustion center - the fire will go into smoldering mode, and too far away - will not allow the coals to heat each other until the fire appears, and the fire will go out.
If necessary, cooking 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, are not required in this case. How it looks like, you can see in the photo or in the video.
If the fire is temporarily not needed, parts of the log move away from one another - and the fire goes into a smoldering mode, and after a while it finally goes out.
A log split into four pieces
This Finnish candle is prepared, kindled and extinguished by analogy with the previous version, only in this case the log is split into four identical parts.
With good kindling, such a fire is relatively easy to make.
Kindling for this candle is collected separately or cut from the core of another log split into pieces, where it is usually dry even after prolonged rains.
For cooking, the dishes are placed directly on the upper end of the chopped log.
Split log tied 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 after that it is possible to assemble all parts of the log together with the smallest gaps between them. For each of the resulting parts, a corner is cut off, which in the log was adjacent to the core. The formed shavings are used as kindling.
The core of the logs is usually drier than the outer fabrics, and therefore kindling from it is easier to kindle. Photo survival.com.ua
Also, for future ventilation, you can cut off 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 a square hole in the middle and triangular gaps in the lower part (if, of course, they were cut out), which are connected to the central hole.
The central hole formed after the excavation of the core will act as a focus.
In this position, the log is fastened with wire. A small stick is inserted under the wire and rotated until the wire securely fastens all parts of the log. How 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 enter from below into the central hole where the fire will burn.
At the upper end of this candle, a small fire is bred, the coals of which fall into the hole and gradually kindle the entire structure.
According to some unverified data, such a candle can also be lit from below, if wood chips 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 kindle.
To cook on such a candle, three or four small identical flat pebbles are placed under the dishes, or two green sticks are placed in parallel. Sometimes, instead, 3-4 nails are driven into the upper end so that they rise above the wood. This is necessary so that the gases released as a result of combustion can freely go outside through the upper opening and not interfere with the flow of fresh air to the burning coals. If this is not done, the dishes will close the top hole, and the fire may go out.
Log with longitudinal cuts
In the manufacture of this version of the taiga candle, a chainsaw is most often used.
In a block of wood, two to four longitudinal cuts are usually made, going deep into 2/3, and sometimes 3/4 of its length. Although, if it is supposed to make a torch, then on a long straight log cuts are made only in the upper part. Everything - the Finnish candle is ready.
Today, the production of blanks for Finnish candles has been put on stream due to their high demand among tourists and vacationers.
Such a candle is most often kindled using alcohol, gasoline, machine or sunflower oil, or another combustible liquid. To do this, a small amount of the specified liquid is poured into the center of the candle and, having removed the container with this liquid to a safe distance, the fire is set on fire.
Attention!
Pouring gasoline, alcohol and other flammable substances into an already burning or smoldering fire is prohibited! Failure to do so may result in burns or an explosion in the flammable liquid container.
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 for re-ignition.
Log with two holes
For this candle, the log is placed on the end. In the center, to a depth of 3/4 of the height of the log, a hole is made with a gimlet or a drill.
After the log is placed on its side and a second hole is drilled in it, which should connect to the "bottom" of the first. Thus, a log with an L-shaped tunnel is obtained. Residual shavings are removed from the tunnel.
Such a candle is kindled in two ways: from above, or from below.
For kindling from above, a small fire is made 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 kindle from below, a flammable liquid is dripped into the upper hole, and the fire is brought on a splinter from the side of the side hole.
The photo shows an already lit candle:
With a tool, such a candle can be made from a stump, which is difficult to use as fuel in an ordinary fire. An example is shown in the photo:
Like the wire version, such a candle is kindled with great difficulty compared to the same classic Finnish candle.
Under the dishes in this version of the oven, it is necessary to put stones or sticks so that the bottom of the dishes does not close the outlet.
Such a candle is extinguished by overlapping two holes at the same time.
Three logs placed side by side
To make this candle, three logs of the same height are cut. On each of the three logs, the bark is removed from one side and shallow notches are made that damage the wood fibers.
The logs are placed horizontally one next to the other so that the cleaned sides are as close as possible to each other and point upwards. Kindling is laid on the logs and a fire is made.
When the part of the logs under the fires is charred and begins to actively smolder, the logs are placed on the end and pressed against each other by the smoldering parts. The gap between the logs is filled with coals from the 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 steady flame appears in the center of the structure.
An example of a candle made of three logs, not fastened to each other in any way.
The dishes are installed from above without additional tricks, since the gaps between the logs are enough to remove the burnt gases from the combustion source.
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 logs of greater length. Thus, when installing a fire, the tops of the logs are aligned and allow you to install dishes on them without any problems.
In order to put out such a fire-candle, you just need to move the logs away from each other.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Finnish candle, like other fires, has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, in view of the fact that there are many variants of this fire, here we list only those that are characteristic of most of them.
The advantages of such a fire include:
- Profitability. 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 blank for this fire in a car or put it under an awning, being in nature.
- Security. Some options allow you to use fire even on peat bogs. However, in the absence of an urgent need, it is not worth risking once again, and it is better to make a fire far from the peat bog.
- Mobility. Some variants of the Swedish candle can be easily carried over considerable distances even while burning.
- Environmental friendliness and secrecy. Some variants of the Indian candle do not leave any traces of burning 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 cover the burning center.
- The ability to "preserve" the fire. Some variants of the taiga candle, being extinguished and stored in a place closed from precipitation, allow you to re-ignite the flame without much difficulty when the need arises. Often this requires only a spark struck by flint striking a high-carbon steel knife, or sunlight concentrated to a point using a lens.
- The need for tools. It will be problematic to make a Finnish candle without a saw or an ax.
- The need for a tree trunk of a certain thickness. Not in every locality you can find deadwood of the right diameter suitable for the hearth. For example, in the tundra, in the field or steppe, such raw materials may not be available.
- Failure of the fire-candle as a heater. A Finnish candle often produces less heat than more well-known types of fires, such as a "hut" or "well".
- Possibility of installation over Indian candles of only one utensil. Cooking food or boiling water at the same time in several large cauldrons is unlikely to succeed due to the small working surface of the fire-candle.
Since the 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 under which the fire will be made, and the tasks that need to be solved with its help.
Security measures
Despite the "accuracy" of the taiga candle during burning, as with any other fire, 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, coniferous needles and cones, in a word, everything that can cause the spread of fire.
When using flammable liquids to light a Finnish candle, canisters with these liquids must be removed to a safe distance.
In order for a pre-prepared candle not to get wet from precipitation, it can be placed under the awning of the tent or covered with a piece of polyethylene, pressing its edges to the ground with stones. If light rain started during the burning of this fire, the dishes in which the food is cooked will protect the candle from fading.
From the foregoing, we can conclude that Finnish candles are good for cooking and lighting the area, and in some cases, heating. These bonfires can be recommended for a group of several people who are in a forest area with a shortage of dead wood and with tools for processing it.
Interesting video: how to make a Finnish candle in the wild
Let's clarify right away that in this article with a video on how to make an Indian candle, we will talk about a relatively wide class of fires for cooking in the forest.
These bonfires have different names (Indian, Indian, Swedish, Finnish candles, etc.), but they all have one thing in common: a survival candle is a bundle of split firewood from one block of wood, connected into a whole, with a flat upper surface on which the kettle is placed , saucepan and other utensils. The most common names are “Indian” and “Finnish candle”.
See first how to make one of the most common varieties of taiga candles.
The video below (at the end of the article) presents the results of testing different options for making candles from wooden logs. They will help you find the optimal design, taking into account certain requirements.
Video comments. The simplest taiga candle is made from three logs, which are placed next to each other. The optimal height is 2 log diameters. Advantages of a three-block candle: ease of manufacture, high flame, stability, performance.
The second variety is a log split, for example, into 4 parts. Advantages: intensive burning, high flame. Disadvantage: instability of the structure during rapid combustion.
Bonfire primus
The block of wood is split into pieces, the core is hollowed out, the parts are pulled together with wire so that two opposite logs stick out in the upper part, and the rest are located below. Such a platform with a gap ensures the exit of the flame when a pan or kettle is placed on it. From below, respectively, an influx of air is created. Advantages: intense burning, high concentration of flame, the ability to move from place to place. Disadvantage: a wired candle does not provide heat for warming hands, drying clothes, etc.
The fourth version of the taiga candle
The block of wood is not cut to the ground with a chainsaw into 4 or more parts. To ignite such a candle, as a rule, it is required to pour a little lighter liquid or gasoline, engine oil inside. Advantages: bright strong flame, stability, can be used for camp lighting.
Look visually at these varieties of taiga bonfires-candles and burning test. Watch to the end to find out which of the candles is the best.
If you are not happy with the need to build devices from wood for cooking every time, see how they can be of help in this matter.
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Among the problems that accompany lovers of hiking, fishing and picnics is the problem of quickly cooking or heating using a minimum amount of fuel. In a treeless area or in winter on ice, you can’t build a fire. You can’t spread it in a tent and even in the immediate vicinity of it. The fire is gluttonous, not very efficient and is stable burning. Either it blazes, or it barely smolders, firewood “shoots”, sparks in all directions. In these cases, some specific or special methods of burning fuel, especially improvised ones, help out. firewood.
I have already described two options for the so-called. Indian candle, "classic" and modern. (Indian Candle or Wooden Primus and Indian Candles or Campfire) Alas, both options have some fatal flaws. For a classic Indian candle, this is a rather high manufacturing complexity. Come on, find a ready-made dead wood with a weak core ... And chopping a block of wood, gouging it, and most importantly, again tightly connecting the halves in field conditions is also not very interesting. The second option for its manufacture generally requires a chain saw. Even a hacksaw will not work here - the cuts must be wide so that the air passes through. Almost carpentry work ... And both options are characterized by low combustion stability, the flame quickly gets out of control. Sometimes you don't have time to cook food. And don't call them miniature. Such a strong flame is not always required. In general, something more stable and predictable, controlled, possible in various "weight categories" is required.
Humanity is already a few thousand as the brazier is known. Conditionally - some kind of vessel in which coals burn or smolder. In order for the oxidizer (air, or rather the oxygen in it) to enter the combustion zone, the vessel is either made very flat, or holes are made in its walls. But the brazier is also not the best solution for a trip. Requires specific fuel - coals. And you just throw firewood there - it turns into a banal fire.
Is it possible to find a compromise, I thought, which would not have serious shortcomings, but would combine the advantages of Indian candles and barbecue? It turned out you can! And the solution turned out to be extremely simple.
The brazier has a body, but does not have the stability of burning conventional fuel (wood). Candles have some burning stability, but the absence of a casing makes them fire hazardous, and this stability is worsened. And what if you make a case for an Indian candle? Then the most difficult part - we do not need to connect the split block of wood. Yes, and the candle itself can be "assembled" from just ordinary poles. In order for the combustion of firewood to be controlled, stable in intensity and long, it is necessary to limit the access of oxygen to the combustion zone. Its quantity will determine the intensity of combustion.
For the experiment, I picked up a tin can in the shape of "higher than wide." Those. like a tall glass. To make it a "barbecue" I punched several holes for air access. Only not from the sides, but in the bottom, and it is precisely in the center of the bottom, but not over the entire area. It was necessary to make sure that the holes in the bottom coincided with the air channel in the Indian candle. I didn’t just make a round hole so that the coals would not fall out of the can later. (The capacity of the jar is approximately 350-400 ml in total!)
I pushed small chocks into the jar (and you can call them chocks with a stretch, a finger thick and 10 cm long), then took out the central one. A channel for air was formed, as in a classic Indian candle. I put some birch bark in there, set it on fire ... After a few minutes, the “stove - candle” burned with an even flame and burned for 20-25 minutes! The flame was quite stable in intensity, practically without smoke, low and even. And so on, until almost all the firewood burned down and turned first into a handful of coals, and then a pinch of ash. And there was more than enough time and power to warm up a can of canned food and boil a mug of boiling water and brew tea. And the stove - it can fit in your pocket! And fuel is required "a handful of chips" in the truest sense of the word!
Encouraged by the success, I made the stove bigger. I took a 3-liter tin and also made holes in its bottom. After that, he split a small block of wood, hollowed out the core in it, inserted it into the stove and pressed both halves to each other, wedging them with other chips. Fired up…
On a hike or just on vacation, a log fire can perform more than one function, such as lighting, heating or cooking, scaring away animals, but several at the same time. You can kindle it in a traditional or exotic way, while the tools you need are the most elementary. In addition, such a type of fire as a Finnish candle (other names are Indian, Swedish, wood-burning stove) replaces a tripod for a cauldron.
Step-by-step instructions for making a Finnish candle
Before you make a Finnish candle, prepare a saw, wire or adhesive tape, nails and a log that will become a candle. And then to make an Indian candle, follow the instructions:
1. Find a dry log with a diameter of 10-40 cm without knots. The tree can be anything, just keep in mind that each species has its own characteristics. For example, a Christmas tree and a pine sparkle when burned, so it is better not to take them for heating. You need to be more careful with birch, because it burns very strongly, you can get burned, and it smokes a little because of the tar in the bark. The best option is a well-dried aspen. When burning, its flame is even and colorless.
2. Cut it depending on the purpose of the candle (15-40 cm). If you make a fire for cooking, take a thick and short log so that you can put dishes directly on it. The candle will remain stable. For lighting, on the contrary, a long and thin candle will be convenient, which can be carried if necessary. And for heating, you need a thick and long one to burn for a long time.
3. Split a dry log into four pieces. Of these, a Swedish bonfire will later be assembled.
4. In each part, remove the middle so that when assembling the log you get a hole with a diameter of 5-7 cm, and make small notches. Ideal if you find a hollow tree. After cutting or splitting, you will need to scrape out the rotted middle of the hollow.
5. Fold 4 logs into a single log, winding them with wire, trying to leave as few gaps as possible. So they will not fall apart and will not quickly burn out through large cracks. Thus, you should get a solid log with an empty middle.
6. Put the sawdust that remained after cutting the middle or birch bark into the formed opening for kindling. The filling of a wooden stove and its location affects the degree of combustion. Located at the top of the hole, the birch bark will burn for a long time, only weakly. Such a candle is more suitable for heating food or for heating. Well, if you put birch bark on the bottom, then the fire will be very strong, which is good for cooking or lighting, but the candle will not last long. The best option is to find it in the middle. Also make sure that there is draft for combustion. To do this, put a candle on stones or logs.
That's the whole instruction on how to make a taiga candle.
Now you can use the Swedish fire, which will be very convenient for cooking. Convenience lies in the ability to adjust the strength of the flame, blocking the access of air from below with a lid, earth, snow and other things. The food will be cooked on hot smoke, since the Finnish candle fire will smolder from the inside, and not burn.
Hello dear users of this site. It's summer outside. The most convenient and good time for hiking, picnics, fishing. In general - the best time for an active holiday.
Every time, leaving for nature, many people take with them a bunch of firewood or coals, on which food will be cooked. It is not always possible to find dead wood in the place of recreation in order to use it as a combustible material. Therefore, I want to tell you how you can make the so-called Finnish candle. It is good because it does not take much time to make it and it burns for a long time. To make such a device, you only need a piece of log, a drill with a drill and a chainsaw.
The author of this master class initially took a small log and got confused about making it convenient to cut it. To do this, he drills a hole in a shorter log, drives a stick into it, and also makes a hole in a second, longer log. He puts on a small log and a longer one and is already sawing. Here's how it happens and what comes out of it.
Further, he takes an ordinary paraffin candle and dips the cuts with paraffin from the inside.
Then he takes a newspaper a few centimeters longer than the depth of the cut in the log and crumbles candle shavings into it. The edges are also melted with molten paraffin. The resulting part is inserted into the slot of the block.
Then this wick is lit and the candle flares up.
It's just one of the options. Usually in nature, I and my friends, having prepared a candle blank in advance, a thicker log and no candles with a wick. Extra waste of time. In our slot, already in nature, small wood chips, dry grass are poured and set on fire. Much faster and more convenient. The author, according to him, this candle burns no more than half an hour. And the production time is twenty minutes. In our case, the manufacturing time is not more than five minutes. And it burns longer. But it depends on the thickness of the log. It is easy to install - either it stands on its own, if the lower part of the log is wide enough, or it is dug into the ground. It is enough to cook an ear and boil tea. So like this. But in general - quite convenient and useful thing. Saves time and effort!
A Swedish or Finnish candle is a simple and convenient alternative to a tripod with a pot or a stationary outdoor stove in general.
Let's talk about such a simple, but very effective method to build a fire, a real torch for lighting and cooking, like a Swedish candle. This method has other names: “Finnish primus”, “hunting candle”, “Indian candle”, “Canadian torch”. The option is simple, but very interesting.
How to make a Finnish Primus
For the Finnish primus candles are not needed at all! All that is required to create a Swedish candle is a suitable piece of log, log.
Wood for such an original hearth can be any. According to reviews, pine and spruce are often used as the most affordable options, however, these types of wood sparkle during combustion, care should be taken. Birch burns very strongly and smokes at the same time. But aspen is an ideal tree for a Swedish candle.
A piece of wood about half a meter high is needed, although sometimes a log is taken a little higher or lower. The main thing is that it be even, could stand upright. The diameter of the log can be from 10 to 40 cm.
The dimensions of the log depend on the purpose for which you will use it. If you want to cook food on an open fire, you should take a thicker log, but relatively short, stable. For lighting, a taller log is suitable, but thinner, it can be moved if necessary.
Important! The piece of log must be dry! A damp log burns very badly, it smokes a lot, most likely, it will not work to kindle a fire at all.
Cuts are made in the log using a chainsaw. You can use a regular saw, but the process will be much longer, you will have to make more effort. The cuts should be about three-quarters of the log's height. They are made crosswise. It is very similar to cutting a cake, the pieces on top look exactly like that.
How many cuts to make is up to you. Four is the minimum, you can do six or eight. Remember that the more cuts, the faster your log will burn!
To start the combustion process, we advise you to splash a little gasoline into the center of the cuts, and then set fire to it. A Swedish candle burns much more economically than a regular fire. It burns for a long time, the flame is even, and you can put a kettle, a pot, a frying pan on top of the log. You will definitely have time to cook food on a live fire.
The second way to make a Swedish candle is to cut, split the log completely into four parts. The core is removed a little so that an empty space remains inside. Then four logs are again folded into one log, fixed, wrapped with wire. In this case, sawdust can be put into the hole in the center, which will serve for kindling.
It is very easy to make a Swedish candle or a Finnish primus stove yourself, although you can buy blanks already cut if you go to nature and are not sure that you can find a suitable log in the forest.
A simple, but convenient, bright and long-burning fire can be built on any flat area, sometimes a log is placed on stones or another stand.
With the help of a Swedish or taiga candle, even barbecue is prepared. We are sure that you will appreciate this option for creating a hearth, especially if you often go out into nature. However, during a picnic in your own yard, you can also surprise guests with this way of making a fire. published
If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to specialists and readers of our project.
Long before the sale of camping candles, made of logs soaked in oil or diesel fuel, we made the same ones on our own almost every trip with a long stay in one place. Such a candle is called differently: and swedish fake l, and Indian candle, and taiga fire and a bunch of all sorts of options and are used both for lighting and for cooking.
They are said to have originated in Sweden as early as the 17th century during the long war, when soldiers used them as an effective way to always have heat, light and fire with them in the field for cooking. The Indian version was invented by the North American Indians even before Christopher Columbus. Making them with your own hands will not be particularly difficult. The main thing is to find a suitable log and have a chainsaw, saw or ax on hand.
Beautiful torches that are liked by everyone without exception, especially children, will delight you with their light all evening. If you make the torch thinner, then it can be easily carried without fear of burning your hands. And for cooking it is better to use a low candle with a diameter of 10 cm or more.
Logs of different species have the following properties: resinous trees crack and shoot, as well as emit a lot of sparks. A spruce or pine candle will provide some warmth. But the birch burns perfectly, it is hot and does not shoot. The birch fire is strong and requires some care when cooking. In addition, she has a lot of tar in the bark and she smokes a little, especially at the end of burning. But the ideal type of wood for a candle is dried aspen. Burning is quite even, and its flame is colorless and light. In any situation, it is better to use dead wood, the main thing is not rotten. Otherwise, the split log for making a candle will need to be dried.
So, we take a log that is suitable in diameter and length to your taste. The height for the torch does not play a special role, but it is better to choose the diameter so that it stands quietly and does not fall, although if desired, you can simply dig it into the ground. For cooking, short and thick logs are better suited: the dishes will stand better on them and you will not be afraid that the candle will turn over.
Using a chainsaw from one end of the log, we make deep cuts into 4-8 parts.
The difference between the Indian candle and the Swedish one is that the log is not sawn, but split with an ax along the middle into several parts. Then, with the help of an ax, the core is cut down to make a channel 5-7 cm in diameter. The halves are folded and firmly fastened together with a rope, wire, adhesive tape or glue. In general, what is at hand. The main thing is that there should be a minimum of cracks, otherwise the fire will instantly burn the entire candle.
We pour oil or diesel fuel inside, if there is nothing, then we simply put birch bark, wood chips or dry grass inside. You need to install the Indian candle in such a way as not to block the draft from below, otherwise there will be no fire. With the help of this thrust, by the way, the size of the flame is also regulated. It needs to be reduced - just block the access of air from below, with the help of the earth, for example. The Swedish candle burns due to the access of air from the cracks.
Swedish candle, taiga candle, Indian candle, Finnish candle, Swedish fire, Swedish primus and many other names - it has the simplest, but interesting and popular device, which is easy to make on your own, however, successfully sold in stores at prices from 170 rubles per product.
What is Swedish fire?
Swedish fire, burning log - as the name implies, this is a way of making a fire from a log. The burning time of such a log is 1 ... 1.5 hours. Suitable for frying something in a frying pan placed on this log. Great for picnics, outings and fishing.
Swedish fire is a dry log (made of birch or coniferous wood) with a diameter of 25-30 cm, a height of 40-50 cm.
In the center of the log, you can additionally choose wood, in order to make it easier to place a flammable substance, the so-called kindling - oiled paper, cloth, shavings, tree bark, and so on.
After the log flares up from kindling and the flame stabilizes, you can put a frying pan on it, hang a pot or cauldron over it.
Benefits of Swedish fire:
- High flame temperature
- small size,
- There is no need to "lay" firewood,
- Long burning time.
Swedish fire production in numbers: business plan
The cost of birch round timber for firewood, 30 cm in diameter and 6 meters long, is from 900 rubles per cubic meter. One log occupies about 0.75 m³.
We will assume that you take 100 logs. The cost of this part is 67 500 rubles. From 100 logs you will get 1200 logs, each 50 cm long. With simple and quick actions, wielding a chainsaw, you will get Swedish candles from them. The wholesale price of the finished Swedish fire is 90..100 rubles, the retail price is from 180 rubles. Thus, by selling the batch in bulk, you will receive 120 000 rubles, having sold at retail - 216,000 rubles.
Net profit, at least 2 times the initial costs.
Of course, this type of business is extremely seasonal and cannot be independent. But as a seasonal income or expanding a wood-burning business, it is a great business idea.