Hi, I'm new here, have been camping for many years and went last year in the snow, will be going again on weekend and was just wondering on tips to get fire going, i am willing to carry something bulky as long as its not to pricey, ie coal, lighter fluid etc... just need some tips and getting it going as i failed (for 2nd time in over 5 year) few weeks back. dont wanna fail again especially in this weather. thanks
You have found the right place to ask - see this UKCS thread for photos of a group of us enjoying some roaring log fires recently.
I'm not sure about coal as a fuel for a campfire - it's heavy and needs a proper grate to burn effectively. Logs are a much safer bet.
To get a log fire established you need kindling (small pieces of dry wood) and to get that going initially you can use either rolled-up newspaper or, better, parafin wax firelighters.
The trick - if there is one - is to get plenty of air round the fuel. So don't pile kindling in a dense heap of horizontal bits but construct a sort of wigwam of sticks around and over your paper or firelighter.
Add more kindling to build up the fire then stack the logs around the incipient fire making sure you don't crush it.
When adding fuel 'little and often' is the most effective technique.
You can Google for techniques or use this search form to search through previous posts to the forums.
I am not very good at bushcraft, but I think the sort of thing to start a fire.dry shavings or cotton wool balls, you can by from any camp shop a tin of sorry I have forgotten the name, kindling described as above by scep, then add larger pieces of wood.
hi scotty! i agree with SC's method but definately take a bottle of squirty fire fluid with you as this can be used when/if its really snowing and wet to help keep things going, we never go on a camping trip without it regardless of how great my hubby is at keeping a good fire going all night!
Because I always have them with me when camping, I use a few sheets of paper kitchen roll screwed into a loose ball, with a very small amount of meths on it. Gives a lot of heat, and burns without smoke for quite a while. Mainly when lighting my kelly kettle. I also keep wet wipes after using. once they dry out which does not take very long, they also burn well with meths on.
I also have three turboflame gas lighters that are a mini blow lamp for this purpose, but found them to be very temperamental, even though I found their web site and followed the instructions to the letter.
Post last edited on 30/11/2010 12:51:06
Post last edited on 30/11/2010 12:51:39
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Quote: Originally posted by a.lawton650 on 30/11/2010
hi scotty! i agree with SC's method but definately take a bottle of squirty fire fluid with you as this can be used when/if its really snowing and wet to help keep things going, we never go on a camping trip without it regardless of how great my hubby is at keeping a good fire going all night!
Squirty fire lighter fluid is great to start a fire but neveruse it to revive a failing fire - hot coals can cause the 'squirt' to ignite and flash back to the bottle - and whoever was holding it!
Best bit of kit for keeping a failing fire going is a small footpump, which we usually have with us anyway for airbeds, etc. You can use it to provide steady flow of air aimed into the base of the fire to get the temperature really hot so that the fire can take hold - just like a set of bellows.
The method I use is as follows, and never lets me down.
Lay a bed of six or seven pieces of wood approx 1" by 6" in length. No need to be too precise with the size as this is just the bed your building your fire on. Next, lay 2 pieces about the same size as the bed in an inverted V shape, with the wide end open for the breeze to enter. Next comes your tinder. Or if you like a Zip natural firelighter. On top of this place a few feathersticks you`ve shaved or very thin pieces of dry wood. Again, on top of this, slightly thicker dry wood, gradually building it up with thicker dry wood until you have a stack of wood built up varying from fine wood at the bottom to thickest up on top. 1 match and you are away. This was taught to me on a course run by a guy called Preben Mortensen in Sweden a few years ago although we used natural tinder and not a firelighter. Preben was the guy who taught the Swedish army their survival skills and this principal is called the.... wait for it................ the 1 match fire.
Many people make the mistake of trying to light a fire with wood that is either too damp or too thick (or both, and the method I`ve described, once used for the first time, makes you realise when it`s so simple, why haven`t I used this before? Here`s a link to a video on the same principle. just substitute the birch bark for a fire lighter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVcHWoT2jmE
wHATEVER METHOD YOU USE i WANNA SEE THE PICCIES COS THERE IS SNOW WAY i AM GOING TILL THE WEATHER warms up
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I assume you've thought of this, but in case not - if the snow is not too deep to clear, it's far better to clear the snow off the ground before you start the fire.
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Topic: Fire tips
