The Amazing Swedish Fire Torch

The Swedish Fire Torch is a great addition to any base camp or bug-out area. The fire it generates feeds itself, and the contraption is easy to use and build. The technique has been used for many years in Scandinavian countries.

For those who are unfamiliar, a Swedish Fire Torch (sometimes called a Swedish log candle or Canadian Candle), is a fairly large, perpendicular log with three even saw slices.

Once constructed, there are four primary uses for the apparatus. It can be used to produce light, boil water in a kettle on its flat top, slow roast a kebab of meat, and give off steady, reliable heat.

All of these functions are extremely important to successful survive when S.H.T.F. Continue reading for some professional tips on the Swedish Fire Torch and a step-by-step guide to build one of your own.

Tips Before Making a Fire Torch

Before going into how to build a Swedish Fire Torch, there are a few components that must be fully understood to create the best final product.

Log Size

The size of the log you choose will depend on the function(s) you want the log candle to perform. If it will serve primarily as a light source, a smaller log is better. This will allow you create multiple Swedish Fire Torches and line a path or entire campsite with their glow.

If you are looking for a good heat source and cooking tool, use a larger log. Just don’t go overboard. If the fire torch is too long, it won’t be stable. A good rule of thumb is to never build one that is longer than your chainsaw blade.

Lumber Choice

No matter what, the wood on a Swedish Fire Torch must be well seasoned. Moisture will ruin any chance of a powerful flame and make it extremely difficult to season meat.

Birch, fir, and pine are good choices if you are looking to create a light source. They are softwoods, meaning they will burn fast and be very bright.

That being said, softwoods are terrible to cook with for the same reasons. Your meat and kitchen appliances will get covered in ash and soot.

Look for a hard wood like apple, beech, cherry, oak, or hornbeam if you are going to use the Swedish log candle for grilling or roasting meat.

Materials You Will Need

Before you get started with construction, gather all the necessary materials. This will help prevent getting started and realizing halfway through the process that you don’t have all the equipment you need. When SHTF, a quick run to the store for materials won’t be an option.

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To build one you will need:

• A Log (Seasoned, between 2-2.5 feet)
• AStriker or Lighter
• A Functional Chainsaw with Safety Gear
• A Pencil and Protractor
• Kindling (Birch Bark is Best)

How to Make it Step by Step

Step 1: Choose a Log

As stated above, the size and wood type you choose will depend on the function the log will serve. Standard dimension for a multi-purpose log are 32 inches up and 10 inches across. If you are a beginner, make your first log this size and adjust according to your needs. Make sure wood is well seasoned.

Step 2: Choose a Base

A common mistake often made by beginners is to select an uneven log. Both ends of the log must be totally level. Determine the side with the longest width and make it the base of your fire torch.

Step 3: Mark Where to Cut

Once you have chosen a base side, place the log vertical on the ground. Take a pencil and trace, with the help of a ruler or straight edge, where you will cut. Think of the top of the log as a pie and draw it into six slices, like an elementary school exercise.

Step 4: Start Cutting

A chainsaw is the best tool for cutting the grooves in a Swedish Fire Torch. Unless you’re extremely proficient with its use, an axe will likely cause uneven and splintered wood. Make sure the log is secure before cutting. If it tips over mid-cut the whole process will be ruined.

The first cut should go evenly across the log’s midsection. Slice down at slow, steady, and conservative pace. An even cut is key to the final result. Continue moving the blade through the wood until you are five inches from the base.

At this point, aim the chainsaw blade downward and in to make it so the exterior of the wood has a lower angle than the inside. This technique will allow more air to shoot through the log after it is lit, for a more consistent and reliable flame.

Step 5: Continue Slicing

Once you have one solid incision, repeat the process above so that there are three grooves from the top to the base of the log. Always stop five inches from the base and be careful not to splinter the wood.

For each cut, point the blade downward and create the lower angle on the exterior. Creating an up draft in this way will make Swedish Fire Torch much more powerful.

Of note, there is also alternate cutting and slicing method to this one. In it, you cut four sections of the log into completely unconnected and separate sections. Then, you reassemble the pieces of wood to create the original structure.

This technique works and can be done quickly if you are crunched for time. However, the fire produced won’t be nearly as strong because air will escape more easily. And you will need to gather and use much more kindling to create a fire at all.

Step 6: Bury the Base

After you’ve created the structure, it is safest to bury the base of the log in two inches of dirt. This will make it extremely secure to prevent tipping and avoid any accidents that may occur. Clear the area around the log to avoid unwanted fires.

If you are in a hurry, burying the log is not totally necessary. Extremely flat ground will serve much the same purpose. Do not, however, cut corners. Never leave the log tilted at an angle. It’s an accident waiting to happen.

Step 7: Pack Tinder in the Three Divots

The best bet for tinder is little strips of birch bark. Its natural oil content is high, which allows it to burn well even when moist. Don’t pack kindling in too tight or there won’t be enough air to allow the flame to burn.

Practice this process a few times before you go out into the field so you know the right balance between too little and too much tinder. This will give you the confidence that you can make this work when and if you ever need this technique to survive. In no wood is available, you can also use simple paper and sticks as tinder.

Step 8: Light it Up

Always start the flame at the top of the log. Use a spark from a striker or even a simple lighter to get the fire going. Don’t worry if the flame seems to flicker out at first. This is actually important to the process.

Typically, a tiny flame will flash at the top of the log and slowly dissipate. There should still be smoke emanating from the wood. The goal is to make the log burn from the inside. After a few minutes, flames will begin to emerge. A swedish torch typically burns 2 to 3 hours without you having to put more wood.

A Few Helpful Videos

These videos will help you along the way and give you a good frame of reference. They even have some original ideas for how to make swedish torch in a resource scarce environment.

This video demonstrates an alternative method for building a Swedish Fire Torch, using multiple large sticks, in the event a log is not available. Although this isn’t the ideal way to build one because it allows too much air into the structure, it is an interesting alternative.

Pay attention to how the man in the video deals with his wet environment. In a survival scenario, things will rarely be perfect. You will need to be able to adapt.

This is a good example of a survivalist who followed the same steps listed above. Notice how powerful a flame is produced. This is because he had the right amount of tinder and air in the log. He did a great job building the torch and is a good model to follow for making your own.

Conclusion

The swedish fire torch is a great method for making fires. It is easily adaptable to multiple environments and functions for the critical tasks of cooking, warmth, and light.

Perhaps its most beneficial feature is that you do not have to tend to the flame for as much as three hours, which gives you time to work on other needed tasks at your BOL or camp. It’s a great makeshift stove and a good source of light.