how to build fire lays
Explains the characteristics of bonfires depending on how the firewood is assembled.
Summary
Depending on how the firewood is assembled, there are characteristics such as "it can be used for a long time", "high heat power", and "easy to cook". Let's control the fire.
By the way, I also wrote about the feeling of using it on a bonfire, but basically it is supposed to be used on an open fire.
Types of firewood
This is a summary of the firewood name images used on this page.
Please refer to this and read on.
| Crater | A material that can easily be set on fire with a lighter. Not necessarily a tree |
|---|---|
| Lighting | A tree or branch that burns to nothing but charcoal. as thick as a thumb |
| Firewood | Thick wood that remains as charcoal. A thickness that cannot be called a branch |
| Logs | A tree that cannot be used as firewood without being chopped with an ax. As thick as several sticks of firewood together |
For more information on types of trees, see the Wood/Firewood page.
Teepee type
How to assemble firewood shaped like a teepee tent (one pole tent / Indian tent).
Characteristics
It is made to have a lot of oxygen in the center, and has excellent ignition and high firepower.
However, it consumes a lot of firewood, and there is a possibility that it will collapse when you burn new firewood.
How to make
- Place the crater in the center
- Arrange the branches for burning around the crater
- Make firewood A-shaped (tipi-shaped) from the position where it touches the burning prop
As a tip, it is easier to spread the fire to the firewood by arranging it with a sense of stacking it high instead of arranging it widely.
At the bonfireTeepee type
The teepee type is high and unstable, so if it falls over while you are not watching it, it may become a serious problem, so we do not recommend using it on a bonfire stand.
Since it has heat power, it can be used to process leftover firewood, but let's always be there.
There is also a log cabin type with the same effect type, but if you use it for processing firewood, let's decide which one to use based on the size of the firewood.
lean toe type
How to assemble firewood so that it leans against a large, thick log.
Characteristics
Logs serve as windbreaks, and firewood serves as a roof, making it strong against rain and wind.
However, it is difficult to burn the windbreak log, so it is not suitable for public places.
How to make
- Place the log vertically against the wind
- Place the crater on the leeward side of the log
- Place the kindling so that it leans over the crater
- Lean on the kindling
Always place firewood on the leeward side of the log.
Choose logs that will not burn out as much as possible.
It seems that some people keep it wet by soaking it in water.
At the bonfirelean toe type
It's hard to use a bonfire stand because you need a thick log that can act as a windbreak, but it's possible to make it if you give up its function as a windbreak. It can be used when you want to increase the heat power because it is more ventilated than arranging in parallel.
Long Fire Type
How to braid firewood in the shape of sandwiching fire with thick firewood.
Also known as Parallel Fire or Hunting Fire.
Characteristics
If you widen the space between the logs, it will be a low flame, and if you narrow it, it will be a high flame, and it is easy to adjust the heat.
The design allows air to enter the fire directly, so it burns evenly.
How to make
- Place 2 long logs parallel to each other
- Place craters in several places between the logs
- Teepee or Leantoe type
Add more firewood between the logs as needed once the fire is stable.
Choose logs that are hard to burn out.
At the bonfireLong Fire Type
It is stable and can be made in a small size, so it is recommended for bonfire stands.
If you want to cook, it's easy to place the cooker directly and adjust the heat, so it's easier to set the long fire type by default.
Log Cabin Type
A method of arranging firewood in a well shaped like a log cabin.
Commonly known as a campfire type.
Characteristics
It is easy to ignite and has high firepower. Firewood also serves as a wall, so it burns stably even when the wind blows.
In addition, it can be used as a light source because it is tall.
How to make
- Creating a teepee type with a crater and kindling
- Putting two teepees vertically in between
- Putting two firewood horizontally so that they are placed on two vertical ones
- Repeat steps 2 and 3
The trick is to start with thick firewood and start thinning.
It is ideal to first assemble the crater and kindling in a teepee shape, but if the surrounding wells do not collapse, you can place them so that they are leaning against each other.
At the bonfireLog Cabin Type
If the well part burns out, it will lose its shape, so keep it at about 2-3 tiers on the bonfire stand.
Like the teepee type, it has heat power, so it can be used to dispose of excess firewood.
pyramid
How to set firewood to cook fire on firewood.
It is also called council fire or up-down fire.
Characteristics
It burns for a long time without burning firewood.
However, it's difficult to cook without using a trivet, but you can make a lot of good embers.
How to make
- Place logs apart and parallel
- Place firewood across the logs
- Place firewood that is thinner than the firewood in step 2 in a grid pattern
- Place a teepee-shaped tinder on top
First, place logs on both sides so that air can be drawn in from below.
At the bonfirepyramid
There are many bonfire stands that cannot be assembled because there is a lot of sawing work and you can choose the size of the firewood.
Starfire type
How to arrange firewood so that it looks like a star when viewed from above.
Characteristics
Low firepower, but it burns for a long time while saving firewood.
The amount of heat is small, so it is not suitable for winter.
How to make
- Place a crater and kindling in the center
- Place 5-6 sticks of firewood in a star shape around the crater
You need to shift the firewood to the center as it burns.
In the case of firewood that does not catch fire easily, sharpen the tip to make it easier to catch fire.
At the bonfireStarfire type
It is not suitable for bonfire because it requires a large space. Even if it is placed to lean against the side, it often collapses because it is three-dimensional.
extra edition
crossditch type
How to place a teepee or starfire on top of a cruciform trench.
Characteristics
Intakes air from the grooves, increasing firepower.
The theory is the same as the method of making a slope at the time of direct fire.
How to make
- Dig a cross-shaped groove about 4 cm deep
- Put firewood on top of the groove
Swedish torch
Swedish bonfire that can be used as a stove.
Characteristics
Like a torch, the heat is so high that the sun rises vigorously, and the top is flat, so it is very easy to use as a stove.
It used to be something you made yourself, but thanks to the recent camping boom, it's now on sale.
How to make
- Cut the log
- Make 3-4 vertical cuts
- Fill the cuts with tinder and kindling
Keep the bottom connected without cutting it to the end.
The authentic Swedish torch is basically made with a chainsaw, but you can also make it by cutting commercially available firewood into trapezoids and fixing them with wires. .
Cut the firewood so that there is a hollow in the center when they are combined, and fill the hollow with the crater and kindling.
Lapanenvalkea
Long fire type vertically upright.
Characteristics
It is the prototype of the Swedish torch, and although it has lower firepower, it can be crafted with an axe, so it can be made at camp or bushcraft.
How to make
- Split the log lengthwise
- Split the center of the thicker log about 1 cm
- Make hangnails on both ends
- Stand the log so that the hangnails face downward
- Put the crater and kindling in the gap
By creating a hangnail on the cut, it will catch fire better.
If you widen the space between the logs, it will be a low flame, and if you narrow it, it will be a high flame.
Lacovalkea
Two logs laid vertically
Characteristics
The firepower is weak, so you can make the log last longer.
In addition, it is suitable for use as a heater because it is wide.
How to make
- Flatten one side of two logs
- Place one log so that the flattened part 'Place two thin pieces of firewood on both ends of the log
- Place the crater and kindling on top of the log
- Place the flattened side down on the second log
- Put 2 more stakes on the opposite side of the stake to fix the log
I use a thicker one so as not to lose to the log.
Dakota firehole
Two holes connected underground.
Characteristics
By using the rising air current to pass the intake air through the holes, it is excellent for intake air and heats the air to create a stable bonfire.
Since the fire is underground, cooking is easy.
How to make
- Dig a hole about 20 cm deep
- Dig another similar hole about 20 cm away
- Drill a hole in the wall to connect the deepest part
The feel of the holes depends on the type of soil, so use trial and error to find the spacing.
self-feeding fire
How to assemble logs arranged in a V shape.
Characteristics
As the log burns, new logs come down in a v-shape, allowing you to have a long bonfire without adding more wood.
How to make
- Dig a hole long enough to fit the log
- Make two sets of A-frame type with a log big enough to put the log on
- Created A Put the frame in a hole and fix it in a tilted state by applying a support tree
- Break the logs for combustion from the bottom on both sides
- Place the crater and kindling between the bottom logs
The size of the hole is important to prevent the support wood from burning, so adjust it properly.
Because logs for combustion must be round, commercial firewood often fails.