Don't worry about answering all the comments - most of us just want you to know that we LOVE what you're doing and just want to feel a little connection by leaving a comment. We won't feel bad if you don't have time to answer - just keep doing what you're doing! :)
At the risk of sounding a bit arrogant, having grown up camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, biking, canoeing, distance swimming, snorkeling, and earning an Eagle Scout Award along the way, I know a thing or two about getting by outdoors. The first time I had hypothermia was when I was 10. I’ve had frostbite, heat exhaustion, and I’ve almost drowned in the ocean and still got out under my own power. I’ve been bitten by venomous snakes, and I’m still here. I’ve spent years traveling in all different climates and places, and lived in a way where I often only had myself to turn to for the first few hours of any emergency. I’m not Bradford Angiers, but I definitely get by. Most of what I watch on RUclips, as far as bushcraft videos, is purely for entertainment. Every once in a while, I learn something, but for the most part I just like watching other people spend time outdoors when I can’t do it myself. It’s great fun, and I appreciate the effort that people put in these videos, but fun is about all they are to me. Your videos are a large step above so many others. The production isn’t as fancy as some, and your tools are usually ones that most any man can buy (which I appreciate by the way). But, Sir, I don’t watch one of your videos without learning something, and usually learning a LOT. I’m floored by how much you know, and the skill level that you share. One doesn’t have to be super athletic or spend a fortune to put your methods to work. The things you teach could help almost anyone, from the very young to the very old. Thank you for sharing what must have been a real lifetime of learning by doing. I really appreciate it, and I respect you and your abilities. I look forward to watching as many of your videos as I can.
@@andrewstoll4548 I'm curious as to where y'all were eagle scouts. Now I only attended Cub scouts until I was 9 or so however, I've had some privileged training. That said swedish fire logs serve best as pre made fire starters for camping outing. In the wilderness your time is best spend making good kindling and building layers from there. Hope you never have to rely upon this method.
Wow. I have been off grid for 15 years, and your videos are still immanently useful and highly informative. Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom and experience. Great work, excellent tone, very practical how-to videos! Master of physical reality, what a true bad-ass!
@@American-Plague probably more when its rlly rlly hot? i think the trick is in how dry everything is...the colder it gets the dryer the air is and so is the snow so when you step on it the snowflakes makes that sqeuaky sound when you press them together...if it was dampy wet snow it would just stick without sound. maybee its the same thing with sand? the hotter it is it gets more dry so it makes that sound when you step on it?
@@banthapudhu9592 I THINK it's just how dry it is (and possibly the size of the individual grains?). It does this on cool days here too but only up near the sand dunes where the sand is like sugar, not near the shoreline.
Lived in NW MT for almost 4 years. That's a sound that let's you know what part of the winter you're in. Either you are entering the deep or exiting. Once the squeak starts you're entering. Once it stops you're exiting. I love living in northern California, but I do kind-of miss the ice singing as it freezes deep in the lake. Not to mention the pressure pings! Magical, and most people will never experience it outside of the areas.
You a real man. I feel like a fake, city man, dealing with the bullshit of the modern World completely dependent on the the system. You have it figured out. You make it look easy. I know it's not. I have learned a lot from you and enjoy your videos. You don't need to reply, I know you're busy. Just wanted to say thanks.
+Timothy Ryan Fisher Glad you are enjoying the videos. You don't need to put yourself down because you don't perceive yourself as having the wilderness knowledge that I do. If I were put in your world, I would most likely be lost, ineffective and a hindrance to those around me. We all have our strong points as well as weaknesses. I have no desire to learn your life style but you apparently do have a desire to learn more of my lifestyle which, in the end, will make you a more knowledgable person than me since you will have knowledge of both lifestyles.
Timothy do not be decieved and Far North, no offense because you put out great videos and are a great guy, i assume, your comment to this shows you try for your subscribers and have a good heart. but at the end of a day your a RUclips star, so in reality you prolly deal with more modern business shit then we all do. Keep your head up Tim, and learn both sides of life in your own time, your not failing in any way brotha, and neither are you North,
Most city people don't want to learn more about survival and get sick from no heat or fresh water. You are on the right path to becoming rich in good health.
use stones to elevate it that way the fires draws air in from below the wood, also use a vine or other material to wrap around the torch forcing the fire to draw more air from below this creates a more even burn and extends the burn time.
That is exactly how my Grandfather, my Father and I do it. great job. we do use a bit of baling wire in the center around the torch so it will stay put.
In this modern era watching someone just enjoying nature and imparting practical knowledge so others can go out and enjoy it as well is... Really satisfying. This was a beautiful video and I thank you for sharing it.
Hey brother, I must say that I think that you are the real deal. You're an unassuming, no-nonsense guy, and that keeps me coming back! You actually live what you teach in a place where you actually need these skills. - Godspeed (No need for an answer)
Thanks Lonnie, one further improvement suggestion of I may; at the start of the fire the logs relatively stable but as they burn out the balance will change, therefore buttress the base with rocks, logs or digging into the ground to prevent tip over. Cheers Lonnie, stay cosy.
When I learned the technique, in the survival training during the school for forestey workers in Lappland, we never split the log with an axe. we sawed down the log, not quite the whole way down. That way the thing stayed together thru the burn. Albeight, we usually had an chainsaw ready at hand. It wasnt a seen as an survival technique as such, but more of a good way to cook the coffe during lunchbreak. Especially if you got a big pot for a whole crew. For survival, it was thought to burn to fast, since you usually want to stay warm for as long as possible. Mark, we fired it up with gasoline from the jerrycan.
Lonnie I have been to Sweden and learnt many techniques . This is an excellent stove. Splitting in quarters gives more surface area to burn giving more impulse or heat . Rocket core engines are design with holes in the propellant. Thanks for the video . Be well. Make more if you can.
We too discovered the "chimney" cutting to improve the starting of the fire. But, we didn't think to frill the inside. Nice! One more change I might suggest trying: Sometimes the fire is too hot for comfortable pot simmering so; we found you can light the torch from the top and let it burn down into the cracks. Just like an upside-down camp fire, it burns down in just fine and so for a while, you get a smaller fire. I just stuffed some twigs into the top and set a small fire of birch bark on top of that (outside the torch!) and it all went well. Thanks for another good idea!
I am not "trolling" you in any way, but I thought I had to tell you that the easiest way to split wood with your materials, is to take the hatchet handle and invert the log so that the blade is at the bottom and let the mallet end strike a hard surface like a rock, or, take the log in hand and with the hatchet at the bottom, use the log as a mallet to beat on a hard surface. this way you use the weight of the log to do the work. I discovered this years ago, and while I do not have a fifth of your knowledge, this is one method I KNOW works great. Thanks for sharing!
Believe he's referring to just flipping the whole log and hatchet, then using something like a rock hit the end of the log. Larger surface area to hit and you have the weight of the log you're trying to split on top as well
I've made alot of these using both chainsaw and splitting. Best results was always with lighting a fire on top with small branches and leaving the cracks open for air flow. Embers will drop into the cracks and catch fire with alot less smoke. The pieces stay more stable as well. Feathering the inside edge is something I hadn't tried yet but is an excellent addition.
The physics of this design seem to have a "rocket stove" type effect, which burns hotter and more efficiently due to ignition of gasses normally just swept up a normal chimney. Wood isn't the cleanest burning fuel, but secondary ignition cleans the smoke quite a bit. it does require lighting from the bottom as you show. You end up burning most of the sticky, tar like crap that forms on the inside of chimneys for even more heat.
Hey mate. Thanks for this vid .I live in the far north west of Australia ( the Kimberley ) and we only have really hard woods in this area i tried this idea last dry season when our temperature drops and we do most of our camping ( no snow tho !!! ) it worked really well with the eucalypts we have here- once it got going it was like a small jet engine.. Fantastic!
I was really happy to see you use a lighter to start your Canadian candle, most survivalist would try to impress with flint and steel onto a piece of char cloth, but I think a lighter is way better for a novice watching your channel. Always carry a lighter in your every day carry kit. Thanks.
I think i would sacrafice a piece of snare wire to hold it together down by bottom . Always a pleasure watching your vids, Lonnie. I always learn something. Who says a old dog can't learn new tricks.Best wishes from oregon.
Thanks for another take on this fire. I've always used very large diameter logs and cut them half way down with a chain saw. Then build a small fire on top and it falls down into the center. It will burn for many hours. This is a great tip on making it with hand tools.
I just posted a video yesterday that aslo uses one of these as a stove you might be interested in seeing how I did that one since I did it a little bit different than this one. Good luck with your next class. Making And Using A Bushcrafted Log Stove ruclips.net/video/DUY-npgeArE/видео.html
i feel your predicament regarding comments, i had to reach the same with my channel. just not enough time. as for the torch - looks like it worked out very well - ive seen similar with metal wire tied around the middle to prevent collapse. great job and have a merry christmas
I just spent an hour of my beautiful and sunny morning watching a few of your videos. Thank you for taking the time and effort to make these videos and share you experience and knowledge! Thank you and keep up the great and inspiring work.
Nice and simple ! Thanks for Sharing . You could add 4 sticks positionned at 45 deg going from the top of each quarter to the ground to make it more sturdy and still without using any cordage.
Great advice on not hitting metal to metal. First hand experience guy here...... ended up with open heart surgery because of it. It’s real. Take my word for it. I’m here for a reason..... haven’t quite figured it out yet but..........hopefully I will. God bless.
I use your first one (the one you tied together), for cooking and this one for warmth. I do not cook on this one bc you have to wait for it to die down, and it is too much out the sides right from the get go, and standing over a pot was difficult for me to stir. (For me anyway it was too hot on my legs standing near this one.) For cooking, I like the one that you tied shut and which burns slower and milder for cooking, bc it doesn't come out the sides until later, by that time dinner was cooked and eaten. I find for cooking the first method is also more controllable. THIS ONE looks amazing for warmth, and light for a camp area, and would produce EXTREMELY FAST warmth in an emergency situation. How fast and hot that lit up was amazing. It would be great to use for someone who fell in the ice, which DID happen to me far up in the mountains. I was lucky I survived. A friend and I were utterly stupid and went bushwaking in the cold and took NO survival equipment. Not even a knife! Can you believe I'm a biochemist and he's a physician? But we have, or had, at least one excuse on our side, and that was we had obviously long succumbed to that insufferable disease many drs and scientists catch called, TGC (aka "The God Complex.) We "knew everything," and were obviously (in our own minds) much too smart to make fatal judgement errors or get into an accident, let alone any life threatening situation. OTHER, less educated, people do that. (Yea, nauseating isn't it? TGC is a horrible disease and there should be telethons and treatment centers for it.) Well, luckily I was cured of that dreadful arrogance disorder all in one night, because Mother Nature took me out behind the woodshed and whooped my butt! We were on a medical retreat in the mountains and figured we'd just go out and explore a short way, then turn back and be back in time for the supper gathering. We decided to leave the trail. All directional sense ceased to exsist inside the dense wood with trees so high you lost the sunlight, even its rays. Anyway, we came to a river, and I went to cross it on a log that had fallen across its width. It looked shallow bc I could see the river rocks clearly on both sides of the log. The river was a good 75 feet wide maybe more. I started across (we decided to go one at a time), but halfway across the river, the log snapped in half, and I went down about 6 or 7 feet into a dark hole that had been unviewable from the edge. The hole was at least 4 ft wide and I have no idea how deep, but my feet were never able to touch bottom. I could hear doc yelling on the bank from under water, and I was frantically grasping at the side of the hole to pull myself out, but all I managed to do was pull mud into the hole, which only made the hole wider, and me sink deeper. I couldn't tell which way was up, bc it was pitch dark. Then some survival instinct suddenly kicked in. I had been a synchronized swimmer for many years as a kid and teen, and that flash of skills came flying back to my mind like lightening. I suddenly remembered, "stop panicking, stop floundering, remain motionless, flatten out, and you will float." We had learned "anti drowning skills" in synchronized swimming. The hole was just wide enough I could turn onto my torso with my face, feet and arms dangling down. (Like a jacknife) I then simply floated to the top back first. But at the time I didnt know if I had turned toward the top or the bottom, not until my feet stopped kicking and were dangling and I started to slowly was I aware. To stop my frantic body from moving went against my body's fight or flight mode and all that adrenaline, and it was a total struggle of mind over matter to stop moving. But I did. By struggling I was keeping myself submerged. (Like the underwater shots you see on tv...those girls are flayling like crazy to do exactly that....stay under water.) Well a long story short, I did get out after floating to the top, then by grabbing the edge of the snapped log I pulled myself onto it. I could feel the instant sheer cold sticking to me. Doc told me to strip off my clotges. (He was right but I didnt want to walk naked through the woods. He gave me his shirt. I was near frozen by the time we made it back to camp, and my mind was foggy, somewhat delirious, and I had to fight an overwhelming sense of sleep that was overtaking me on the way down the mountain. Luckily the pool area was the first building we encountered back at the resort, so he carried me immediately into the building and put me in the hot tub. It was a while before my consciousness was completely back, where I coukd carry on a cogent conversation, and I did miss the 8pm seminar and the next morning's seminar (my boss was not happy), but I struggled with staying awake for days. Well, I certainly learned that school smarts and street smarts are two very different things, with neither less or more important than the other, as both are required. And I also learned that just when you start getting too high up on the ladder for your own good, (and especially for others), life has a way of taking you back down that ladder. Anyway...it's been 20 years since then, and I'm now adequately skilled in bushcraft. I like that you give two ways to make these torches. I wouldn't say that it's "improved" though, as your other method was still fabulous. They are simply different. One burns faster, hotter, with larger flames and in a 360° direction. The other burns slower, cooler, with smaller flames, and concentrates its flames more vertically. I think BOTH types are serviceable for different needs. My preference for cooking is actually your first method I learned. Works GREAT for immediate skillet meals, pot stews, and yummy coffee. But if I ever fall into a freezing river in winter again, I'll surely use this one 😉
Thank you for that detailed story of survival. Our minds are the greatest resource when it comes to survival and it sounds like you did several things right by using your mind and not letting panic overtake and control your thoughts. I did want to add though that personally I would not choose this Swedish fire torch as a means to warm up after a fall in to cold icy water in the winter unless you already had this fire prepared. It simply takes too long to prep before it can be used in a situation where every second counts. I often carry a survival "fanny pack" on me when in situations that have a potential of turning nasty. My wife and I often travel many miles on river, lake, creek and pond ice during the winter when going to or from our remote cabin in the winter. We also travel many river miles (over 100) each summer in our freighter canoe where the potential to fall into water is always present. In that survival pack I carry a means of getting a fire going fast when I need a fire *NOW*. I did a video on that "fire starter" for cold weather survival emergencies. It is a simple road flare. If interested, the video is at the link below. Emergency Survival Fire Starting Tip ruclips.net/video/YfR4zsjse14/видео.html
I like your videos. However, I think you'd missed the point of the Swedish fire torch. Given that your modify torch burns really hot, and really really fast...this also causes the torch to burn out too quickly. The Swedish torch was designed to be lit from the top, which will burn its way down slowly, and save fuel. Thanks for your other videos.
+Stet Tan The "point" is to have the type of fire you want and to know how to produce it. You are correct, *IF* you want a slow burning, cooler, longer lasting fire. This method here is more appropriate if you want more light and heat and don't need it for as long of duration. I get tired of people telling me that this or that particular fire is no good and that a different fire that they know about is superior. The truth is that every fire has it's good points and it's bad points. A true woodsman understands many different fires with their prospective weaknesses as well as their strengths. The woodsman then has the knowledge to use the type of fire that is required for his needs at the time he needs said fire. If you do not make your fire the same way I make my fire, it does not neccesarily make your fire wrong or visa versa. It is the knowledge of firecraft that is important
Far North Bushcraft And Survival I actually prefer this kind of fire when I want to cook in a pot because burning it from the top would create an uneven surface very quickly
Yes I agree as this helps the stability....also, I like to make a small hole at the bottom about 2/3 of the way down between two of the splits to feed small branches into to help it get going and it seems to help the chimney effect. If stability is a little loose, box it in at the bottom with a horizontal log to aid in being able to put a pot on top. None of this absolutely necessary of course...just some differences. I see these things for sale at outdoor shops with simply a chainsaw cross cut in the top with the bottom remaining solid
@@GamePhysics :- In my pack, first aid kit, car glove box, etc. I always ( read always) have a length of wire...for hundreds of uses, one of which is to wrap around the Swedish "Torch". It makes construction faster, more stable and is reusable. Takes up no room in a back-pack, and usually wrap a 1/2 dozen or so 3 1/2" nails with the wire ...again many uses for the nails in the bush & reusable.
Wow, I can't believe I watched the whole video. I started day dreaming about taking my family camping again. I never watch a whole video of anything before this. This video is really nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
luved the 1st 2 minutes of the vid. Him just sitting there in his lean-to is a great image. I live in los angeles but grew up in New England. Miss the winter snows. Great stuff.
Holy moly that's the biggest folding saw I've ever seen! I laughed out loud when that segment appeared. Within another minute I had paused the video and began surfing the internet trying to find one for sell! Enjoyed your video here, Brother. It was worthy of a sub.
+Brother Breeze Thank you very much for the sub. I appreciate it very much and would like to offer you a personal welcome to the channel. Hope you find many many videos that interest you both from the past as well as videos planned for the future. I don't remember using a saw in the video but I am guessing you are referring to the Katanaboy 650 made by Silky. I did a video review of the saw here if interested. ruclips.net/video/9_UFHuqM9ac/видео.html
Thank you for caring so much about what we say, but I live vicariously through you. You are the reason my husband and I have gained the confidence to build our own home in the mountains without fear. Just keep doing what you're doing. Even if this is an older video. It gives us all inspiration. sending you and wifey love and hugs. You're a God Sent.
No problem answering comments. I enjoy your videos. They are relaxing and very informative. I can imagine myself doing the same thing, however I am stuck in this crazy full speed world. I envy your lifestyle.
I'm new to your channel, and have been gobbling up your videos, watching them a few times over We do a camping trip each year with multiple families, multiple kids. I can't wait to try a few thing you have put out for all of us. Thank you and Connie so much. Your a great teacher.
you are so lucky to live in such a lovely peaceful place, a wonderful simple life is all anyone could ask for. thankyou for doing these videos I would much rather watch stuff like this that the rubbish people watch on TV. keep making them please. I'm in UK dreaming of places like where you are. fantastic stuff.x
Used it several times as a lightgiver or to prepare food on usualy I use slightly shorter logs if I am going to use it for cooking. The princip of it was very well explained. I do enjoye your programs, keep them going you have a lot to teach especially on using tools safly. Thank you.
I only recently stumbled upon your most excellent you tube channel. In my opinion it is one of the best on bushcraft on the you tube. I am a 64 year old scoutmaster in New Mexico in the mountains, and the information you provide has proven very useful to our Boy Scout Troop. The boys (12 & 13 year olds in my Patrol) are practising making these for our annual multi-troop Klondike camp out in January in the higher mountains north of us. The boy's goal is to impress and instruct the boys in the other troops to make these for one time use stoves. No more waiting in the dark for the bonfire to burn down to cooking coals ! Thank you, sir . The boys say my beard makes me look like you. Ha ha ha.
I use old wood shingles on the bottom for spacers, and wrap a piece of old iron wire around the base to hold it together at the base, otherwise just the same even to the feathers inside the chimney. I light it with a wax fire starter wedged in the bottom near the shingle bits, and light it with a single match. Outstanding heat and cooks dinner a treat! Thanks for showing us your idea, its a beauty.
Yeah I made something like this on accident one time. I had a fire going already and pushed up two big logs right up to the coals and man was it cool. I wasn't on all 4 sides because we only had two big logs left but it made its own torch and a very defined touch point In the middle, very cool.
This is called here in Finland something like Lumber man's candle. But here the whole idea of the candle is to light it from the top. Cause the fire goes very slowly down, the candle burns very long time. It is never lighted from down.
That's what I was thinking when I saw this. The original use of this candle was to start a fire in deep snow. In deep snow a fire pit will melt the snow and put the fire out. The bottom of the candle was meant to be buried in the snow while the top of the candle was lit. This "improved" version has lost its original purpose.
Contrary to popular belief, a fire can be built directly on top of snow. The melting snow will never put out the fire. The resulting water is reabsorbed into the surrounding snow. Snow here in Alaska is only approximately 20% water by volume and the snow is highly absorbant.
Far North Bushcraft And Survival . I gotta comment after following you a while now. Hi to you and Connie! You got me with the comment about Strider lol. Gonna try some of your stuff if I get a chance, even if it's in the back yard! Heheh
The Swedish torch should be set up to burn from the top down. The air flow comes in from the side splits and can continue to burn for hours. The flame is actually quite small and allows one to put pots on the top for cooking almost immeadiately after starting the fire. As stated in other comments...use wire or something like wire, to hold the log sections together & upright.
I second viewer comments to plz not worry about commenting and answering each and every viewer. Me personally am having a great time watching and learning from you! I find your verbal skills to be effective; meaning I understand your instructional meaning to the steps per skill, and your calm demeanor. THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge and skills! For those of us that love the outdoors but didn't have the elder generation to pass along knowledge and skills to us/me, having videos like yours is next best thing. I will honor what i learn by sharing/passing down to my kids and grandchildren. Just wanted to be long winded for a moment to assure you(along w/ the rest of your followers) how greatly honored I am to learn from you. Outdoorsman and woman must stick together and support one another so that we do not become a dying breed as the world around us grows at alarming rate with technology.
Cooked breakfast on one ...worked like a charm ..When I was done kicked what was left over added more wood had a great fire going ..great video thanks...forgot to add took some steel wire wrapped it around the peices to hold everything together...
+Chad Valiquette. Lol. I will take that as a compliment. My kids *LOVED* Lord Of The Rings movie series when growing up. I just watched the series myself about 5 weeks ago. Gandalf was one of my favorite characters in those movies. Of course Aragorn was my favorite since he was a "Ranger of the North"
Since your comment is on a positive note, I do have inner peace. :o) Sometimes The edges of my inner peace get sort of ragged with a few tears here and there when the comments are not so positive. lol In reality It is my faith in my heavenly father that gives me peace. Philippians Chapter 4 verses 6 & 7 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4&version=NIV
Merry Christmas Lonnie to you and your family. It's 6am Christmas Day and I'm watching your vid between preparing dinner/lunch and waiting for my daughter to arise from he slumber to see what Santa's brought her. Loved the video btw, we use to make one and take with us on skidoo trips for what we call boil ups, we sectioned it with a power saw and left about a inch from the bottom from being cut, just for keeping it together a little easier and when we were done just turn over the bottom plate and tramp it in the snow to smother it. Im glad to see that your channel is growing,and that people are getting involved in the comments. Here's to a happy,safe and healthy 2016. Loved the vid as always great job😃👍👍👍
+trevor parsons Excellent idea, w/ a nice, sharp saw, there`d be lots of saw chips to use for the tinder. Kind of gives me an idea on how to get rid of an old tree stump I been cussin, lately.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas Lonnie. I've been watching your videos for a couple of years (or 1.5 years), and you've *always* been thankful, grateful, and appreciative of your viewers. You've always answered my questions (I bought my dad and myself an Xmas gift, the magnesium fire stick thanks to your answer on your last video). So I'm extremely grateful in return for sure for your time in replying to me, but I'm 100% happy to leave comments showing my thanks and not hearing from you in return because I know for a fact that you love your fans. I would rather have many more happy videos from you, so thanks for being honest and letting us know your responses will vanish. In return, I'll keep my future comments briefer (excluding this one here) as well. Many youtube creators I follow have become popular and the same fate is allotted to all of us: there simply isn't enough time to read and reply to *every* single message. Thanks as always! :D Keep up the amazing work.
Very cool! I'm thinking that the chimney would be advantageous for getting slightly damp wood to dry out and burn, since the air flow would increase the burning temperature. Excellent video. Keep up the good work!
I like your hat. It reminds me of an 80's hair band wig. I have one similar made of shearling. It would be humorous if you made an air guitar out of a tree branch and pretended to jam while staying warm around your fire. Your innovations help me think of different ideas to try as well. Keep up with your inventions, it helps others to create improvements of their own. You inspire creative thought. Thank you.
Love it, Im not a big "ultra light" gear guy myself and I always carry a decent four foot chain with me. Put an open wood heavy hook into one side of the log, wrap the chain around to sit an end and a link in the loop around it. Then it wont move all over even when your splittin see, and when your burnin you got enough to cinch it up as well to keep it burning the gas off. The chains long enough you can grab that end on the extra and never get burnt as well. Lot less fiddlin with it that way, not to mention you can slide it around if you wanta. Great video Thank you kindly.
A lovely fire - I feel the warmth from the video..... Might mention the chips you cut from the inner edge makes great tinder to get it light. If its seems too heavy, wack it with the butt of the hatchet, to bust it up into easier lit tinder. Great video! Thank you for the time and effort.
I would bet that the thing originates from Finland and the Swedes have just owned it from Finnish jätkänkynttilä = Jack´s candle. Even the name Swedish torch sounds quite new. Well, Swedish tend to do so, the viking heritage.;) Same thing whit sauna. Word comes from Finnish-Ugric language. Swedish history is more sea fearing, Finnish hunter-gatherer wanderers.
You may be correct as I'm not familiar with it's history. I have also seen it referred to as a "Canadian Candle". I would think the true origin of something like this may be hard to track down since several people groups may have used various versions of something similar
***** I did not know about the Canadian Candle. I´we read that Norwegians have also their own. For me the Lumberjacks candle or the Jack´s candle would be the best name because it has no nationality, and in jack culture and because it is used in many countries and not to be certain of it origins or nationality, But at least whit google it seems that the Swedish Candle seems to be the name most often used name, . still, as a Finn, don´t like :)
I would guess that this technique is more than 100 years old which pretty much is how long finland have existed. So if this teknik comes from the area that now is finland it would still be accurate to say it's swedish. Due to the fact that what now is finland where part of sweden for about 800 years. And there where no unified people there before sweden, just tribes. Anyway it's probably hard to know where it's from. In fact it was probably invented in different places during the same time.
Yes, the technique is old, and I would bet it is even older than Swedish state. Duo to the fact that it is not any nations invention, but mainly was used by lumberjacks and it is used in many countries I think Jack´s canddle would be most fit. Even you say it´s hard to know where it´s from.
I love how you appreciate the quiet and take time to enjoy your surroundings. Gonna try this Swedish torch....however it will be about 15 feet from my house in the fire pit : )
I don't see the 'improvemnt'. You removed the 'rough raw edges' formed by 1/4ing the log to improve the draft by making a chimney. Which necessitated you chipping 'rough raw edges' inside the chimney to allow for a better 'catch'. Then put MORE tinder into the chimney to make the flatter edges catch. Where as, on a typical swedish torch using a split log, merely spreading the 1/4s apart with the tinder/kindling creates a 'draft' and leaves the 'rough raw edges' of the 'points' to catch easier. All the swedish candles I've made, the fire has created its own chimney and sufficient draft to make all that work you did unnecessary. They have caught alight just as easily, with proper prep work, All I needed the axe for was to 1/4 the log (excluding making tinder of course). Then I just put it away, no more chopping. What I see is the removal of fuel from the part that NEEDS the fuel the most and in the form it needs it, easily lit small edges. And then you replaced the fuel you removed with tinder and made your own small edges. Yet, spreading the 1/4s with tinder, opens the center up anyway, for more tinder while leaving the easier to light edges. And I've found, I often have to close up the 1/4s after its burned a while, because the naturally burned chimney and draft become too big and slow the fire down as the 1/4s burn away from each other. Maybe its just the way I do it...or there's a point to the chimney other then draft, that I'm not getting. More heat for cooking with a larger chimney? I don't know.
+MrRocque Totally agreed with you! I thought the purpose of the Swedish torch was to save fuel, by lighting the top and let it slowly burn downwards, but his modified version seems to burn fuel a whole lot faster. The modified version will fail and crumble apart once the belly is burnt off.
Stet Tan as I understand the 'swedish candle', its NOT to burn from the top down, but rather give a person a 'contained' fire in as far as the fuel, when built properly, can be easily moved and offers a platform which one can heat a vessel without requiring any pot stand, as well as an easier and smaller fire with less WORK. But mostly, its intended to stop a fire from melting down into snow. They require less maintenance once the log has 'taken' to flame. It was always going to burn from the inside out and from the bottom (once the coals/embers fall). But one CAN set it up to be lit from the top, but most ppl light from the outside bottom, that I've seen. That purpose IS fulfilled in this video, however, there's an old question about fire, "which is easier to light? A 5 pound log or 5 pounds of matches?" The question is trying to point out that smaller pieces offer more surface area and more ignitable edges then one large surface would (think feather sticks). By cutting out the 'center' edges of the 1/4s, he's removed the 'tinder'/edges that were naturally there. Thus, had to replace it by carving such edges back into the 'center' AND tossing in more tinder to close up the gap he created, there is such a thing as TOO much air (cools the tinder not allowing it to spread heat to other sources). Hence, more work then necessary. If the point was to create a 'better' chimney, why not just feather the centers in place (that he took OFF), they would burn quickly leaving a more open space, but require less tinder being added.
i suppose it's an improvement based on his climate and his needs, not necessarily for the original users. his needs are different, and he has modified a great fire design to better accommodate the challenges a person like Lonnie faces.
It is now Christmas night for me and I log onto YT and find a new video from Lonnie and Connie. What a great Christmas present for me. :) It is currently around 33°C, 91.5°F as I write this. It has been a warm day. ;)
Made my first Sweedish torch this evening. Followed the guidance of of video and it worked perfect the first time! Love your channel and a very happy viewer from Texas!
I shaved the 90* edges 3\4 way down and shaved the flat edges 3\4 way down too. Dig a hole and bury the bottom unshaven 1\4 in the ground to hold it all tight (ground never that frozen in Scotland). This gives a chimney and chainsaw type slots to stuff with tinder. I do like the ‘roughing ‘ effect like mini feather sticks to help it catch. Many thank for all the great videos. 🏴
Thanks again, Very smart alteration on the center of the wood & especially the lower inside space, I believe that the space in the bottom would cause a vacuum up draft that would aid the fire. Well done!!!
I have made these in the past, at home, using a chain saw. That way I didn't cut/split the log all the way down. Set them up near the drive way during the holidays Some complained, most thought it was neat.
Great video again Lonny and the one thing I appreciate most is the feeling of the gentle stillness that you talk about and appreciate in the country. One thing that came to mind tgat would be useful for this Swedish torch fire is to have a decent sized rock sitting against each quarter of the log, so to help it keep together and upright, especially whilst cooking or boiling water for coffee. Thank you again for many great videos and God bless.
@@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival sounds good and I imagine that with a much thicker log, the Swedish Torch could potentially make for a good heat source flr a few hours, but would probably require a stack of logs behind to reflect the heat toward the shelter.
This fire really is not a good source of heat. Each flat plane of coals are facing in an internal direction so that very little heat can be radiated outwards. Fire reflectors do very little to "reflect" heat to a shelter. They do sometimes help to increase heat under supporting conditions but through my unscientific testing I have come to the conclusion that it is not due to heat reflection but rather due more to heat retention. In other words, that heat that would have kept right on traveling outward until it dissipated to a level that is undiscernible, is now stopped from doing so thus allowing somewhat of a buildup of heat in the vicinity under the right conditions.
A little trick to help with stability. Get an old metal hanger and wrap in around the log about a 1/3 of the way up.....really helps with mishaps lol. great vid as always
Hello sir ..... I am from Romania ...... a beautiful country ... with more beautiful mountains ..... thanks for everything you learned. with a lot of ADAM health.
This was really nice to see. I wanted to learn the Swedish Torch for my next camping trip, but the first video I found was disappointing. They used a chainsaw to cut the log. I'll only have a hatchet and the forest. This was exactly the video I needed.
Don't worry about answering all the comments - most of us just want you to know that we LOVE what you're doing and just want to feel a little connection by leaving a comment. We won't feel bad if you don't have time to answer - just keep doing what you're doing! :)
+Will Terry I second this
+Will Terry Definitely!
I third that motion
+Will Terry A hearty agreement on that!!!
+Will Terry Awesome comment, Will. Thank's for speaking for all of us.
At the risk of sounding a bit arrogant, having grown up camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, biking, canoeing, distance swimming, snorkeling, and earning an Eagle Scout Award along the way, I know a thing or two about getting by outdoors. The first time I had hypothermia was when I was 10. I’ve had frostbite, heat exhaustion, and I’ve almost drowned in the ocean and still got out under my own power. I’ve been bitten by venomous snakes, and I’m still here. I’ve spent years traveling in all different climates and places, and lived in a way where I often only had myself to turn to for the first few hours of any emergency. I’m not Bradford Angiers, but I definitely get by.
Most of what I watch on RUclips, as far as bushcraft videos, is purely for entertainment. Every once in a while, I learn something, but for the most part I just like watching other people spend time outdoors when I can’t do it myself. It’s great fun, and I appreciate the effort that people put in these videos, but fun is about all they are to me.
Your videos are a large step above so many others. The production isn’t as fancy as some, and your tools are usually ones that most any man can buy (which I appreciate by the way). But, Sir, I don’t watch one of your videos without learning something, and usually learning a LOT. I’m floored by how much you know, and the skill level that you share. One doesn’t have to be super athletic or spend a fortune to put your methods to work. The things you teach could help almost anyone, from the very young to the very old.
Thank you for sharing what must have been a real lifetime of learning by doing. I really appreciate it, and I respect you and your abilities.
I look forward to watching as many of your videos as I can.
Sho nuff
@@richardburgess5215
Lol...
At first glance..
I thought you said
Show off.
😄
He's definitely the real deal.
Oct-14-2018 just found his RUclips channel. I'm also an Eagle Scout and so far I'm totally going to be stealing some of his skills.
@@andrewstoll4548 I'm curious as to where y'all were eagle scouts. Now I only attended Cub scouts until I was 9 or so however, I've had some privileged training. That said swedish fire logs serve best as pre made fire starters for camping outing. In the wilderness your time is best spend making good kindling and building layers from there. Hope you never have to rely upon this method.
I appreciate and envy people like you who know how to do things and are teaching others on how to live in tough conditions. God Bless.
Wow. I have been off grid for 15 years, and your videos are still immanently useful and highly informative. Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom and experience. Great work, excellent tone, very practical how-to videos! Master of physical reality, what a true bad-ass!
No editing. If it’s awkward or difficult, it is shown. This, too, is useful.
The flute playing is so enjoyable and the videos are great to watch.
I just thought the same
Me three
I can tell it's cold out. The snow has that "squeak" to it when you walk around ;) Cool video, thanks
Lovley lovley sound
Weird...while I've never seen snow, sand does the same thing on the beach in Florida.
@@American-Plague probably more when its rlly rlly hot? i think the trick is in how dry everything is...the colder it gets the dryer the air is and so is the snow so when you step on it the snowflakes makes that sqeuaky sound when you press them together...if it was dampy wet snow it would just stick without sound. maybee its the same thing with sand? the hotter it is it gets more dry so it makes that sound when you step on it?
@@banthapudhu9592 I THINK it's just how dry it is (and possibly the size of the individual grains?). It does this on cool days here too but only up near the sand dunes where the sand is like sugar, not near the shoreline.
Lived in NW MT for almost 4 years. That's a sound that let's you know what part of the winter you're in. Either you are entering the deep or exiting. Once the squeak starts you're entering. Once it stops you're exiting. I love living in northern California, but I do kind-of miss the ice singing as it freezes deep in the lake. Not to mention the pressure pings! Magical, and most people will never experience it outside of the areas.
You a real man. I feel like a fake, city man, dealing with the bullshit of the modern World completely dependent on the the system. You have it figured out. You make it look easy. I know it's not. I have learned a lot from you and enjoy your videos. You don't need to reply, I know you're busy. Just wanted to say thanks.
+Timothy Ryan Fisher Glad you are enjoying the videos. You don't need to put yourself down because you don't perceive yourself as having the wilderness knowledge that I do. If I were put in your world, I would most likely be lost, ineffective and a hindrance to those around me. We all have our strong points as well as weaknesses. I have no desire to learn your life style but you apparently do have a desire to learn more of my lifestyle which, in the end, will make you a more knowledgable person than me since you will have knowledge of both lifestyles.
Keep posting so I can keep learning.
Timothy do not be decieved and Far North, no offense because you put out great videos and are a great guy, i assume, your comment to this shows you try for your subscribers and have a good heart. but at the end of a day your a RUclips star, so in reality you prolly deal with more modern business shit then we all do. Keep your head up Tim, and learn both sides of life in your own time, your not failing in any way brotha, and neither are you North,
I am doing ok, have found balance some how in this mad World.
Most city people don't want to learn more about survival and get sick from no heat or fresh water. You are on the right path to becoming rich in good health.
use stones to elevate it that way the fires draws air in from below the wood, also use a vine or other material to wrap around the torch forcing the fire to draw more air from below this creates a more even burn and extends the burn time.
That is exactly how my Grandfather, my Father and I do it. great job. we do use a bit of baling wire in the center around the torch so it will stay put.
This guy is just soo cool to watch. He makes the stuff so interesting as a result of wealth of experience
In this modern era watching someone just enjoying nature and imparting practical knowledge so others can go out and enjoy it as well is... Really satisfying. This was a beautiful video and I thank you for sharing it.
Hey brother, I must say that I think that you are the real deal. You're an unassuming, no-nonsense guy, and that keeps me coming back! You actually live what you teach in a place where you actually need these skills. - Godspeed (No need for an answer)
You my friend are a very humble and caring individual, and the world needs more of those right now!
Thanks Lonnie, one further improvement suggestion of I may; at the start of the fire the logs relatively stable but as they burn out the balance will change, therefore buttress the base with rocks, logs or digging into the ground to prevent tip over. Cheers Lonnie, stay cosy.
When I learned the technique, in the survival training during the school for forestey workers in Lappland, we never split the log with an axe. we sawed down the log, not quite the whole way down. That way the thing stayed together thru the burn. Albeight, we usually had an chainsaw ready at hand. It wasnt a seen as an survival technique as such, but more of a good way to cook the coffe during lunchbreak. Especially if you got a big pot for a whole crew.
For survival, it was thought to burn to fast, since you usually want to stay warm for as long as possible. Mark, we fired it up with gasoline from the jerrycan.
When I teach my scouts how to do this, I split the log with an axe (as in the video), but also use a metal wire to keep it together through the burn.
What was the school in lapland? Kiinnostaa todella paljon
Lonnie I have been to Sweden and learnt many techniques . This is an excellent stove. Splitting in quarters gives more surface area to burn giving more impulse or heat . Rocket core engines are design with holes in the propellant. Thanks for the video . Be well. Make more if you can.
We too discovered the "chimney" cutting to improve the starting of the fire. But, we didn't think to frill the inside. Nice! One more change I might suggest trying: Sometimes the fire is too hot for comfortable pot simmering so; we found you can light the torch from the top and let it burn down into the cracks. Just like an upside-down camp fire, it burns down in just fine and so for a while, you get a smaller fire. I just stuffed some twigs into the top and set a small fire of birch bark on top of that (outside the torch!) and it all went well. Thanks for another good idea!
+Mark Kurtis Thanks for the insight
I am not "trolling" you in any way, but I thought I had to tell you that the easiest way to split wood with your materials, is to take the hatchet handle and invert the log so that the blade is at the bottom and let the mallet end strike a hard surface like a rock, or, take the log in hand and with the hatchet at the bottom, use the log as a mallet to beat on a hard surface. this way you use the weight of the log to do the work. I discovered this years ago, and while I do not have a fifth of your knowledge, this is one method I KNOW works great. Thanks for sharing!
That's correct, but like he said: No metal to metal, stones too.
Believe he's referring to just flipping the whole log and hatchet, then using something like a rock hit the end of the log. Larger surface area to hit and you have the weight of the log you're trying to split on top as well
Needs a stump to slam axe/log onto.....axe head hits first, uses the weight/inertia of the log to split itself....
That looked like a fun Christmas Eve. Tranquility of nature is one of the finest things in life.
I've made alot of these using both chainsaw and splitting. Best results was always with lighting a fire on top with small branches and leaving the cracks open for air flow. Embers will drop into the cracks and catch fire with alot less smoke. The pieces stay more stable as well. Feathering the inside edge is something I hadn't tried yet but is an excellent addition.
The physics of this design seem to have a "rocket stove" type effect, which burns hotter and more efficiently due to ignition of gasses normally just swept up a normal chimney. Wood isn't the cleanest burning fuel, but secondary ignition cleans the smoke quite a bit.
it does require lighting from the bottom as you show. You end up burning most of the sticky, tar like crap that forms on the inside of chimneys for even more heat.
The simplicity making this was revealed by you. Thanks Lonnie. I will remember this and always think of you when I use it.
Hey mate. Thanks for this vid .I live in the far north west of Australia ( the Kimberley ) and we only have really hard woods in this area i tried this idea last dry season when our temperature drops and we do most of our camping ( no snow tho !!! ) it worked really well with the eucalypts we have here- once it got going it was like a small jet engine.. Fantastic!
I was really happy to see you use a lighter to start your Canadian candle, most survivalist would try to impress with flint and steel onto a piece of char cloth, but I think a lighter is way better for a novice watching your channel. Always carry a lighter in your every day carry kit. Thanks.
I think i would sacrafice a piece of snare wire to hold it together down by bottom . Always a pleasure watching your vids, Lonnie. I always learn something. Who says a old dog can't learn new tricks.Best wishes from oregon.
Thanks for another take on this fire. I've always used very large diameter logs and cut them half way down with a chain saw. Then build a small fire on top and it falls down into the center. It will burn for many hours. This is a great tip on making it with hand tools.
Yes, but it seems to me that your chimney would be very small in “diameter”. No?
Pretty awesome is right! Mastering the physics of fire, thanks for another excellent video!
🥰🤝🙏
chisto here,
last winter I taught the kids to build fire in large gallon peach / tomato can,
I'll show this to the kids this winter.
great channel.
I just posted a video yesterday that aslo uses one of these as a stove you might be interested in seeing how I did that one since I did it a little bit different than this one. Good luck with your next class.
Making And Using A Bushcrafted Log Stove
ruclips.net/video/DUY-npgeArE/видео.html
i feel your predicament regarding comments, i had to reach the same with my channel.
just not enough time.
as for the torch - looks like it worked out very well - ive seen similar with metal wire tied around the middle to prevent collapse.
great job and have a merry christmas
I just spent an hour of my beautiful and sunny morning watching a few of your videos. Thank you for taking the time and effort to make these videos and share you experience and knowledge! Thank you and keep up the great and inspiring work.
Nice and simple ! Thanks for Sharing .
You could add 4 sticks positionned at 45 deg going from the top of each quarter to the ground to make it more sturdy and still without using any cordage.
Great advice on not hitting metal to metal. First hand experience guy here...... ended up with open heart surgery because of it. It’s real. Take my word for it. I’m here for a reason..... haven’t quite figured it out yet but..........hopefully I will. God bless.
I use your first one (the one you tied together), for cooking and this one for warmth. I do not cook on this one bc you have to wait for it to die down, and it is too much out the sides right from the get go, and standing over a pot was difficult for me to stir. (For me anyway it was too hot on my legs standing near this one.) For cooking, I like the one that you tied shut and which burns slower and milder for cooking, bc it doesn't come out the sides until later, by that time dinner was cooked and eaten. I find for cooking the first method is also more controllable.
THIS ONE looks amazing for warmth, and light for a camp area, and would produce EXTREMELY FAST warmth in an emergency situation. How fast and hot that lit up was amazing. It would be great to use for someone who fell in the ice, which DID happen to me far up in the mountains. I was lucky I survived. A friend and I were utterly stupid and went bushwaking in the cold and took NO survival equipment. Not even a knife! Can you believe I'm a biochemist and he's a physician? But we have, or had, at least one excuse on our side, and that was we had obviously long succumbed to that insufferable disease many drs and scientists catch called, TGC (aka "The God Complex.) We "knew everything," and were obviously (in our own minds) much too smart to make fatal judgement errors or get into an accident, let alone any life threatening situation. OTHER, less educated, people do that. (Yea, nauseating isn't it? TGC is a horrible disease and there should be telethons and treatment centers for it.) Well, luckily I was cured of that dreadful arrogance disorder all in one night, because Mother Nature took me out behind the woodshed and whooped my butt!
We were on a medical retreat in the mountains and figured we'd just go out and explore a short way, then turn back and be back in time for the supper gathering. We decided to leave the trail. All directional sense ceased to exsist inside the dense wood with trees so high you lost the sunlight, even its rays. Anyway, we came to a river, and I went to cross it on a log that had fallen across its width. It looked shallow bc I could see the river rocks clearly on both sides of the log. The river was a good 75 feet wide maybe more. I started across (we decided to go one at a time), but halfway across the river, the log snapped in half, and I went down about 6 or 7 feet into a dark hole that had been unviewable from the edge. The hole was at least 4 ft wide and I have no idea how deep, but my feet were never able to touch bottom. I could hear doc yelling on the bank from under water, and I was frantically grasping at the side of the hole to pull myself out, but all I managed to do was pull mud into the hole, which only made the hole wider, and me sink deeper. I couldn't tell which way was up, bc it was pitch dark. Then some survival instinct suddenly kicked in.
I had been a synchronized swimmer for many years as a kid and teen, and that flash of skills came flying back to my mind like lightening. I suddenly remembered, "stop panicking, stop floundering, remain motionless, flatten out, and you will float." We had learned "anti drowning skills" in synchronized swimming. The hole was just wide enough I could turn onto my torso with my face, feet and arms dangling down. (Like a jacknife) I then simply floated to the top back first. But at the time I didnt know if I had turned toward the top or the bottom, not until my feet stopped kicking and were dangling and I started to slowly was I aware. To stop my frantic body from moving went against my body's fight or flight mode and all that adrenaline, and it was a total struggle of mind over matter to stop moving. But I did. By struggling I was keeping myself submerged. (Like the underwater shots you see on tv...those girls are flayling like crazy to do exactly that....stay under water.)
Well a long story short, I did get out after floating to the top, then by grabbing the edge of the snapped log I pulled myself onto it. I could feel the instant sheer cold sticking to me. Doc told me to strip off my clotges. (He was right but I didnt want to walk naked through the woods. He gave me his shirt. I was near frozen by the time we made it back to camp, and my mind was foggy, somewhat delirious, and I had to fight an overwhelming sense of sleep that was overtaking me on the way down the mountain. Luckily the pool area was the first building we encountered back at the resort, so he carried me immediately into the building and put me in the hot tub. It was a while before my consciousness was completely back, where I coukd carry on a cogent conversation, and I did miss the 8pm seminar and the next morning's seminar (my boss was not happy), but I struggled with staying awake for days.
Well, I certainly learned that school smarts and street smarts are two very different things, with neither less or more important than the other, as both are required. And I also learned that just when you start getting too high up on the ladder for your own good, (and especially for others), life has a way of taking you back down that ladder. Anyway...it's been 20 years since then, and I'm now adequately skilled in bushcraft. I like that you give two ways to make these torches. I wouldn't say that it's "improved" though, as your other method was still fabulous. They are simply different. One burns faster, hotter, with larger flames and in a 360° direction. The other burns slower, cooler, with smaller flames, and concentrates its flames more vertically. I think BOTH types are serviceable for different needs. My preference for cooking is actually your first method I learned. Works GREAT for immediate skillet meals, pot stews, and yummy coffee. But if I ever fall into a freezing river in winter again, I'll surely use this one 😉
Thank you for that detailed story of survival. Our minds are the greatest resource when it comes to survival and it sounds like you did several things right by using your mind and not letting panic overtake and control your thoughts. I did want to add though that personally I would not choose this Swedish fire torch as a means to warm up after a fall in to cold icy water in the winter unless you already had this fire prepared. It simply takes too long to prep before it can be used in a situation where every second counts. I often carry a survival "fanny pack" on me when in situations that have a potential of turning nasty. My wife and I often travel many miles on river, lake, creek and pond ice during the winter when going to or from our remote cabin in the winter. We also travel many river miles (over 100) each summer in our freighter canoe where the potential to fall into water is always present. In that survival pack I carry a means of getting a fire going fast when I need a fire *NOW*. I did a video on that "fire starter" for cold weather survival emergencies. It is a simple road flare. If interested, the video is at the link below.
Emergency Survival Fire Starting Tip
ruclips.net/video/YfR4zsjse14/видео.html
MUST HAVE DVDS OF ALL YOUR VIDEOS!Great solid smart survival stuff And you re the Bob Ross of learning survival the easy way:SMART way.Thanks!
I like your videos. However, I think you'd missed the point of the Swedish fire torch. Given that your modify torch burns really hot, and really really fast...this also causes the torch to burn out too quickly. The Swedish torch was designed to be lit from the top, which will burn its way down slowly, and save fuel.
Thanks for your other videos.
+Stet Tan The "point" is to have the type of fire you want and to know how to produce it. You are correct, *IF* you want a slow burning, cooler, longer lasting fire. This method here is more appropriate if you want more light and heat and don't need it for as long of duration. I get tired of people telling me that this or that particular fire is no good and that a different fire that they know about is superior. The truth is that every fire has it's good points and it's bad points. A true woodsman understands many different fires with their prospective weaknesses as well as their strengths. The woodsman then has the knowledge to use the type of fire that is required for his needs at the time he needs said fire. If you do not make your fire the same way I make my fire, it does not neccesarily make your fire wrong or visa versa. It is the knowledge of firecraft that is important
+Far North Bushcraft And Survival What a great summation. You have a wise and direct style.
+homerun443 I like it God Bless you
+Stet Tan #exactly, the torch that I saw was wrapped with bailing wire before it was lit.
Far North Bushcraft And Survival I actually prefer this kind of fire when I want to cook in a pot because burning it from the top would create an uneven surface very quickly
For some reason I was unsubscribed by YT. Weird,, I searched and clicked this video. So I watched it. Love this guy.
Welcome back.
Use a piece of small loose wire loosely wrapped around the exterior to keep it upright.
yeah, carrying some metal wire would be great for this purpose.
Yes I agree as this helps the stability....also, I like to make a small hole at the bottom about 2/3 of the way down between two of the splits to feed small branches into to help it get going and it seems to help the chimney effect. If stability is a little loose, box it in at the bottom with a horizontal log to aid in being able to put a pot on top. None of this absolutely necessary of course...just some differences. I see these things for sale at outdoor shops with simply a chainsaw cross cut in the top with the bottom remaining solid
@@GamePhysics :- In my pack, first aid kit, car glove box, etc. I always ( read always) have a length of wire...for hundreds of uses, one of which is to wrap around the Swedish "Torch". It makes construction faster, more stable and is reusable. Takes up no room in a back-pack, and usually wrap a 1/2 dozen or so 3 1/2" nails with the wire ...again many uses for the nails in the bush & reusable.
Wow, I can't believe I watched the whole video. I started day dreaming about taking my family camping again. I never watch a whole video of anything before this. This video is really nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've dreamed of living in Alaska. Thank you for being my connection to this lifestyle. Hopefully I'll get there one day! Great videos!!
Do it NOW. Life has a way of passing by while we say “someday”. I hope you make it to Alaska!
luved the 1st 2 minutes of the vid. Him just sitting there in his lean-to is a great image. I live in los angeles but grew up in New England. Miss the winter snows. Great stuff.
Holy moly that's the biggest folding saw I've ever seen! I laughed out loud when that segment appeared. Within another minute I had paused the video and began surfing the internet trying to find one for sell! Enjoyed your video here, Brother. It was worthy of a sub.
+Brother Breeze Thank you very much for the sub. I appreciate it very much and would like to offer you a personal welcome to the channel. Hope you find many many videos that interest you both from the past as well as videos planned for the future. I don't remember using a saw in the video but I am guessing you are referring to the Katanaboy 650 made by Silky. I did a video review of the saw here if interested. ruclips.net/video/9_UFHuqM9ac/видео.html
+Brother Breeze I literally laughed out loud when I saw it too. That thing is awesome.
Lonnie, keep it up brother!
That was the one! The Katanaboy 650! I had no idea that such a thing existed. I'm saving up for one now!
Theres a even bigger one now with a blade lenght of a full meter
Thank you for caring so much about what we say, but I live vicariously through you. You are the reason my husband and I have gained the confidence to build our own home in the mountains without fear. Just keep doing what you're doing. Even if this is an older video. It gives us all inspiration. sending you and wifey love and hugs. You're a God Sent.
How is your slice of heaven in the woods going?
Cool video Lonnie. Really enjoy your flute playing in them. Merry Christmas to you and yours
No problem answering comments. I enjoy your videos. They are relaxing and very informative. I can imagine myself doing the same thing, however I am stuck in this crazy full speed world. I envy your lifestyle.
lonnie your videos are great, it's OK not to respond me personally would love more videos. your always calm and explain job in hand well. nick
I'm new to your channel, and have been gobbling up your videos, watching them a few times over We do a camping trip each year with multiple families, multiple kids. I can't wait to try a few thing you have put out for all of us. Thank you and Connie so much. Your a great teacher.
I'm glad you found the channel and are enjoying the videos. welcome
Nice Swedish Torch method my friend! Keep those videos coming, and we'll be watchin!
you are so lucky to live in such a lovely peaceful place, a wonderful simple life is all anyone could ask for. thankyou for doing these videos I would much rather watch stuff like this that the rubbish people watch on TV. keep making them please. I'm in UK dreaming of places like where you are. fantastic stuff.x
2020 and it never gets old!
Used it several times as a lightgiver or to prepare food on usualy I use slightly shorter logs if I am going to use it for cooking. The princip of it was very well explained. I do enjoye your programs, keep them going you have a lot to teach especially on using tools safly. Thank you.
Just found your channel. Really like it. Watched a bunch of videos and they are great. Keep them coming. Cheers from Sweden!
Glad you found the channel. Welcome
EW200 85 är du svensk ?
I only recently stumbled upon your most excellent you tube channel. In my opinion it is one of the best on bushcraft on the you tube. I am a 64 year old scoutmaster in New Mexico in the mountains, and the information you provide has proven very useful to our Boy Scout Troop. The boys (12 & 13 year olds in my Patrol) are practising making these for our annual multi-troop Klondike camp out in January in the higher mountains north of us. The boy's goal is to impress and instruct the boys in the other troops to make these for one time use stoves. No more waiting in the dark for the bonfire to burn down to cooking coals ! Thank you, sir . The boys say my beard makes me look like you. Ha ha ha.
I use old wood shingles on the bottom for spacers, and wrap a piece of old iron wire around the base to hold it together at the base, otherwise just the same even to the feathers inside the chimney. I light it with a wax fire starter wedged in the bottom near the shingle bits, and light it with a single match. Outstanding heat and cooks dinner a treat! Thanks for showing us your idea, its a beauty.
Very Nice video on this. I enjoyed it A Lot. Thank You.
Yeah I made something like this on accident one time. I had a fire going already and pushed up two big logs right up to the coals and man was it cool. I wasn't on all 4 sides because we only had two big logs left but it made its own torch and a very defined touch point In the middle, very cool.
This is called here in Finland something like Lumber man's candle. But here the whole idea of the candle is to light it from the top. Cause the fire goes very slowly down, the candle burns very long time. It is never lighted from down.
That's what I was thinking when I saw this. The original use of this candle was to start a fire in deep snow. In deep snow a fire pit will melt the snow and put the fire out. The bottom of the candle was meant to be buried in the snow while the top of the candle was lit. This "improved" version has lost its original purpose.
Contrary to popular belief, a fire can be built directly on top of snow. The melting snow will never put out the fire. The resulting water is reabsorbed into the surrounding snow. Snow here in Alaska is only approximately 20% water by volume and the snow is highly absorbant.
Far North Bushcraft And Survival . I gotta comment after following you a while now. Hi to you and Connie! You got me with the comment about Strider lol. Gonna try some of your stuff if I get a chance, even if it's in the back yard! Heheh
The Swedish torch should be set up to burn from the top down. The air flow comes in from the side splits and can continue to burn for hours. The flame is actually quite small and allows one to put pots on the top for cooking almost immeadiately after starting the fire. As stated in other comments...use wire or something like wire, to hold the log sections together & upright.
I second viewer comments to plz not worry about commenting and answering each and every viewer. Me personally am having a great time watching and learning from you! I find your verbal skills to be effective; meaning I understand your instructional meaning to the steps per skill, and your calm demeanor. THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge and skills! For those of us that love the outdoors but didn't have the elder generation to pass along knowledge and skills to us/me, having videos like yours is next best thing. I will honor what i learn by sharing/passing down to my kids and grandchildren. Just wanted to be long winded for a moment to assure you(along w/ the rest of your followers) how greatly honored I am to learn from you. Outdoorsman and woman must stick together and support one another so that we do not become a dying breed as the world around us grows at alarming rate with technology.
Who gives thumbs down for this guy!!..geee..
Must be city people who does not know what nature is and how to handle it. As we say..get a life.
Cooked breakfast on one ...worked like a charm ..When I was done kicked what was left over added more wood had a great fire going ..great video thanks...forgot to add took some steel wire wrapped it around the peices to hold everything together...
Man you look like the Gandalf of Bushcraft. Cool.
+Chad Valiquette. Lol. I will take that as a compliment. My kids *LOVED* Lord Of The Rings movie series when growing up. I just watched the series myself about 5 weeks ago. Gandalf was one of my favorite characters in those movies. Of course Aragorn was my favorite since he was a "Ranger of the North"
Lonnie, you seem to have found inner peace. Thanks for your informative videos. God Bless.
Since your comment is on a positive note, I do have inner peace. :o) Sometimes The edges of my inner peace get sort of ragged with a few tears here and there when the comments are not so positive. lol In reality It is my faith in my heavenly father that gives me peace. Philippians Chapter 4 verses 6 & 7
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4&version=NIV
Merry Christmas Lonnie to you and your family. It's 6am Christmas Day and I'm watching your vid between preparing dinner/lunch and waiting for my daughter to arise from he slumber to see what Santa's brought her. Loved the video btw, we use to make one and take with us on skidoo trips for what we call boil ups, we sectioned it with a power saw and left about a inch from the bottom from being cut, just for keeping it together a little easier and when we were done just turn over the bottom plate and tramp it in the snow to smother it. Im glad to see that your channel is growing,and that people are getting involved in the comments. Here's to a happy,safe and healthy 2016. Loved the vid as always great job😃👍👍👍
+trevor parsons Excellent idea, w/ a nice, sharp saw, there`d be lots of saw chips to use for the tinder. Kind of gives me an idea on how to get rid of an old tree stump I been cussin, lately.
Always a thumbs up brother. You keep doing these great videos and we will all keep watching. Thank You.
You look like one of the guys of the Jeremiah Johnson old western Movie!
LoL!
John Lamb I love that movie and have wanted to be a Mtn Man since. Glad someone else remembers that movie.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas Lonnie. I've been watching your videos for a couple of years (or 1.5 years), and you've *always* been thankful, grateful, and appreciative of your viewers. You've always answered my questions (I bought my dad and myself an Xmas gift, the magnesium fire stick thanks to your answer on your last video). So I'm extremely grateful in return for sure for your time in replying to me, but I'm 100% happy to leave comments showing my thanks and not hearing from you in return because I know for a fact that you love your fans. I would rather have many more happy videos from you, so thanks for being honest and letting us know your responses will vanish. In return, I'll keep my future comments briefer (excluding this one here) as well. Many youtube creators I follow have become popular and the same fate is allotted to all of us: there simply isn't enough time to read and reply to *every* single message. Thanks as always! :D Keep up the amazing work.
One day you're going to have a heck of a time with that beard lighting that fire...
Beau Mancini Dude that would suck.
Keeps the face nice and warm.
I thought for a second we were going to see a far north Lonnie torch...
it happened once to him already
I'd love to spend Christmas Eve like that. Thanks for sharing!
I admire you sir going back to nature in GODS own handy work
Frank James speak the truth brother!
Frank must be referring to Hephaestus, the God of fire.
I’m going to try this sometime in the next couple days or so. Thanks for sharing your technique and knowledge with us!
excellent vid. I suppose if resources were scarce, your beard would make excellent tinder.
Ian James Need to rub it with Spruce resin first 😆
Ian James lol
hah !
Oh, but the smell of burning hair.... eeeew, :)
Very cool! I'm thinking that the chimney would be advantageous for getting slightly damp wood to dry out and burn, since the air flow would increase the burning temperature. Excellent video. Keep up the good work!
Does your beard ever catch on fire while blowing on a fire?
Yes. :o) Only once so far though.
😂😂😂
I was wondering that too!
I like your hat. It reminds me of an 80's hair band wig. I have one similar made of shearling. It would be humorous if you made an air guitar out of a tree branch and pretended to jam while staying warm around your fire. Your innovations help me think of different ideas to try as well. Keep up with your inventions, it helps others to create improvements of their own. You inspire creative thought. Thank you.
I swear...at 10:30, I smelled smoke!
Love it, Im not a big "ultra light" gear guy myself and I always carry a decent four foot chain with me. Put an open wood heavy hook into one side of the log, wrap the chain around to sit an end and a link in the loop around it. Then it wont move all over even when your splittin see, and when your burnin you got enough to cinch it up as well to keep it burning the gas off. The chains long enough you can grab that end on the extra and never get burnt as well. Lot less fiddlin with it that way, not to mention you can slide it around if you wanta. Great video Thank you kindly.
if im half the Man this guys is by the time im that old I'll have done something right
A lovely fire - I feel the warmth from the video..... Might mention the chips you cut from the inner edge makes great tinder to get it light. If its seems too heavy, wack it with the butt of the hatchet, to bust it up into easier lit tinder. Great video! Thank you for the time and effort.
I would bet that the thing originates from Finland and the Swedes have just owned it from Finnish jätkänkynttilä = Jack´s candle. Even the name Swedish torch sounds quite new. Well, Swedish tend to do so, the viking heritage.;) Same thing whit sauna. Word comes from Finnish-Ugric language. Swedish history is more sea fearing, Finnish hunter-gatherer wanderers.
You may be correct as I'm not familiar with it's history. I have also seen it referred to as a "Canadian Candle". I would think the true origin of something like this may be hard to track down since several people groups may have used various versions of something similar
***** I did not know about the Canadian Candle. I´we read that Norwegians have also their own. For me the Lumberjacks candle or the Jack´s candle would be the best name because it has no nationality, and in jack culture and because it is used in many countries and not to be certain of it origins or nationality, But at least whit google it seems that the Swedish Candle seems to be the name most often used name, . still, as a Finn, don´t like :)
I would guess that this technique is more than 100 years old which pretty much is how long finland have existed. So if this teknik comes from the area that now is finland it would still be accurate to say it's swedish. Due to the fact that what now is finland where part of sweden for about 800 years. And there where no unified people there before sweden, just tribes.
Anyway it's probably hard to know where it's from. In fact it was probably invented in different places during the same time.
Yes, the technique is old, and I would bet it is even older than Swedish state. Duo to the fact that it is not any nations invention, but mainly was used by lumberjacks and it is used in many countries I think Jack´s canddle would be most fit. Even you say it´s hard to know where it´s from.
Yes i agree.
I love how you appreciate the quiet and take time to enjoy your surroundings. Gonna try this Swedish torch....however it will be about 15 feet from my house in the fire pit : )
Skorstensbrand. :)
Thanks for the great demonstration, Lonnie. Great tip also incorporating the chimney!
I don't see the 'improvemnt'. You removed the 'rough raw edges' formed by 1/4ing the log to improve the draft by making a chimney. Which necessitated you chipping 'rough raw edges' inside the chimney to allow for a better 'catch'. Then put MORE tinder into the chimney to make the flatter edges catch. Where as, on a typical swedish torch using a split log, merely spreading the 1/4s apart with the tinder/kindling creates a 'draft' and leaves the 'rough raw edges' of the 'points' to catch easier.
All the swedish candles I've made, the fire has created its own chimney and sufficient draft to make all that work you did unnecessary. They have caught alight just as easily, with proper prep work, All I needed the axe for was to 1/4 the log (excluding making tinder of course). Then I just put it away, no more chopping.
What I see is the removal of fuel from the part that NEEDS the fuel the most and in the form it needs it, easily lit small edges. And then you replaced the fuel you removed with tinder and made your own small edges.
Yet, spreading the 1/4s with tinder, opens the center up anyway, for more tinder while leaving the easier to light edges.
And I've found, I often have to close up the 1/4s after its burned a while, because the naturally burned chimney and draft become too big and slow the fire down as the 1/4s burn away from each other.
Maybe its just the way I do it...or there's a point to the chimney other then draft, that I'm not getting. More heat for cooking with a larger chimney? I don't know.
+MrRocque Totally agreed with you! I thought the purpose of the Swedish torch was to save fuel, by lighting the top and let it slowly burn downwards, but his modified version seems to burn fuel a whole lot faster. The modified version will fail and crumble apart once the belly is burnt off.
Stet Tan
as I understand the 'swedish candle', its NOT to burn from the top down, but rather give a person a 'contained' fire in as far as the fuel, when built properly, can be easily moved and offers a platform which one can heat a vessel without requiring any pot stand, as well as an easier and smaller fire with less WORK. But mostly, its intended to stop a fire from melting down into snow. They require less maintenance once the log has 'taken' to flame. It was always going to burn from the inside out and from the bottom (once the coals/embers fall). But one CAN set it up to be lit from the top, but most ppl light from the outside bottom, that I've seen.
That purpose IS fulfilled in this video, however, there's an old question about fire, "which is easier to light? A 5 pound log or 5 pounds of matches?" The question is trying to point out that smaller pieces offer more surface area and more ignitable edges then one large surface would (think feather sticks). By cutting out the 'center' edges of the 1/4s, he's removed the 'tinder'/edges that were naturally there. Thus, had to replace it by carving such edges back into the 'center' AND tossing in more tinder to close up the gap he created, there is such a thing as TOO much air (cools the tinder not allowing it to spread heat to other sources). Hence, more work then necessary.
If the point was to create a 'better' chimney, why not just feather the centers in place (that he took OFF), they would burn quickly leaving a more open space, but require less tinder being added.
i suppose it's an improvement based on his climate and his needs, not necessarily for the original users. his needs are different, and he has modified a great fire design to better accommodate the challenges a person like Lonnie faces.
This is absolutely the kind of guy I want to teach me how to make a fire torch.
It is now Christmas night for me and I log onto YT and find a new video from Lonnie and Connie. What a great Christmas present for me. :) It is currently around 33°C, 91.5°F as I write this. It has been a warm day. ;)
Made my first Sweedish torch this evening. Followed the guidance of of video and it worked perfect the first time! Love your channel and a very happy viewer from Texas!
Awesome. Thanks for the feedback.
So glad it's getting colder out and winter is right around the corner. I'm so going to try and make one of these this year. Thanks for the video man.
StinkyGreenBud Bet you dont get round to it ;-)
I shaved the 90* edges 3\4 way down and shaved the flat edges 3\4 way down too. Dig a hole and bury the bottom unshaven 1\4 in the ground to hold it all tight (ground never that frozen in Scotland). This gives a chimney and chainsaw type slots to stuff with tinder.
I do like the ‘roughing ‘ effect like mini feather sticks to help it catch.
Many thank for all the great videos. 🏴
Thanks again, Very smart alteration on the center of the wood & especially the lower inside space, I believe that the space in the bottom would cause a vacuum up draft that would aid the fire. Well done!!!
Learned quite a bit from your videos. Enjoy watching every one.
I have made these in the past, at home, using a chain saw. That way I didn't cut/split the log all the way down. Set them up near the drive way during the holidays Some complained, most thought it was neat.
Watching your videos makes me feel like I'm right there alongside you....Great vids !
Great video again Lonny and the one thing I appreciate most is the feeling of the gentle stillness that you talk about and appreciate in the country.
One thing that came to mind tgat would be useful for this Swedish torch fire is to have a decent sized rock sitting against each quarter of the log, so to help it keep together and upright, especially whilst cooking or boiling water for coffee.
Thank you again for many great videos and God bless.
I now carry a short length of stainless steel wire that I use for this and other purposes
@@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival sounds good and I imagine that with a much thicker log, the Swedish Torch could potentially make for a good heat source flr a few hours, but would probably require a stack of logs behind to reflect the heat toward the shelter.
This fire really is not a good source of heat. Each flat plane of coals are facing in an internal direction so that very little heat can be radiated outwards. Fire reflectors do very little to "reflect" heat to a shelter. They do sometimes help to increase heat under supporting conditions but through my unscientific testing I have come to the conclusion that it is not due to heat reflection but rather due more to heat retention. In other words, that heat that would have kept right on traveling outward until it dissipated to a level that is undiscernible, is now stopped from doing so thus allowing somewhat of a buildup of heat in the vicinity under the right conditions.
I've not seen very many videos since you made this one. It just popped up so I watched it again.
All of y’all’s videos are very informative , thank you for making them!
A little trick to help with stability. Get an old metal hanger and wrap in around the log about a 1/3 of the way up.....really helps with mishaps lol. great vid as always
Loved this method. We've been enjoying your videos Lonnie. South Central Alaska sure is a beautiful part of the world. Thanks, from Connecticut.
I just want to thank you for all you share with us, I love it.
Hello sir ..... I am from Romania ...... a beautiful country ... with more beautiful mountains ..... thanks for everything you learned. with a lot of ADAM health.
This was really nice to see. I wanted to learn the Swedish Torch for my next camping trip, but the first video I found was disappointing. They used a chainsaw to cut the log. I'll only have a hatchet and the forest. This was exactly the video I needed.
I agree wholeheartedly with that.. you are doing us all a favour with your videos. Stay with it.! Thankyou