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 build a fire, a real torch for lighting and cooking, as 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 available options, however, these woods sparkle when burned, care should be taken. Birch burns very strongly and smokes at the same time. And here is the aspen - perfect 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. Can also be used ordinary saw, but the process will be much longer, you will have to make more efforts. 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.
The main advantage of such a fire is that you don’t have to worry about it, even if there is dirt and slush around. In winter, you don’t have to worry that the snow under the fire will begin to melt and thereby put out the fire. Finally, a "Finnish candle" is safer than an ordinary fire in places where there is a lot of dry grass and leaves. Finally, such a fire can simply be moved from place to place. The “candle” will burn all night, and at the same time it will require only one log. And the shape of the fire is such that it is convenient to use it when cooking - after all, pots or a kettle can simply be placed on top of a log, like on a burner.
How to make a "Finnish candle"
In order to make a "Finnish candle", you need to have a log 30-50 cm thick, as well as a saw. The height of the log is not so important. The saw cut is about three-quarters deep. Most often they are sawn into 4, 6 or 8 parts. After that, a small hole will appear in the log. Kindling will be laid and kindled in it.
If you don’t have a saw at hand (and most likely you won’t have it on a hike), you can use an ax. In this case, making such a fire will be more difficult. The log must be split with an ax into four parts. Each part will have to grind down the middle so that when they are folded together, a hole is made. After that, it remains only to tie the logs with a strong rope, or better, with wire.
Finally, a "candle" can be made by simply stacking several logs side by side. Each should be 5-15 cm thick. Uses 3 to 8 pieces of wood.
A spoon of tar
Finally, it is worth mentioning the disadvantages of the “Finnish candle”. Cooking such a fire requires some skill and experience. Also, as it has already become clear, tools are needed. "Finnish candle" is not very well suited for heating. You also need to take into account the fact that if the fire was extinguished, then it will be extremely problematic, almost impossible to light it again. Easier - to prepare a new candle.
Every person who from time to time gets out of the house into nature should be able to make a fire in order to cook food and warm himself. However, not everyone can afford to make a “Finnish candle” - a fire that never goes out on its own, even if there is snow, slush and gusty wind around.
Advantages of the "Finnish Candle"
The main advantage of such a fire is that you don’t have to worry about it, even if there is dirt and slush around. In winter, you don’t have to worry that the snow under the fire will begin to melt and thereby put out the fire. Finally, a "Finnish candle" is safer than an ordinary fire in places where there is a lot of dry grass and leaves. Finally, such a fire can simply be moved from place to place. The “candle” will burn all night, and at the same time it will require only one log. And the shape of the fire is such that it is convenient to use it when cooking - after all, pots or a kettle can simply be placed on top of a log, like on a burner.
How to make a "Finnish candle"
In order to make a "Finnish candle", you need to have a log 30-50 cm thick, as well as a saw. The height of the log is not so important. The saw cut is about three-quarters deep. Most often they are sawn into 4, 6 or 8 parts. After that, a small hole will appear in the log. Kindling will be laid and kindled in it.
If you don’t have a saw at hand (and most likely you won’t have it on a hike), you can use an ax. In this case, making such a fire will be more difficult. The log must be split with an ax into four parts. Each part will have to grind down the middle so that when they are folded together, a hole is made. After that, it remains only to tie the logs with a strong rope, or better, with wire.
Finally, a "candle" can be made by simply stacking several logs side by side. Each should be 5-15 cm thick. Uses 3 to 8 pieces of wood.
A spoon of tar
Finally, it is worth mentioning the disadvantages of the “Finnish candle”. Cooking such a fire requires some skill and experience. Also, as it has already become clear, tools are needed. "Finnish candle" is not very well suited for heating. You also need to take into account the fact that if the fire was extinguished, then it will be extremely problematic, almost impossible to light it again. It's easier - to prepare a new candle.
In continuation of the topic, which will help in the country and in the forest.
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. Best Option- 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. Perfect option 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 its location 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.
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 with traditional or in an 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.
