How to Make a Fire on the Beach

by darbinorvar

58K667

Intro: How to Make a Fire on the Beach

Did you ever want to make a fire on the beach? The beach is the perfect place to make a fire, it's very safe, there's often drift wood around, not to mention, it's the perfect place to hang out and relax. So let's go over the steps to making a great fire on the beach!

STEP 1: Pick a Spot


First of all, pick a good spot that isn't too windy. If you can find some rocks around to create a circle that's great.

STEP 2: Gather Materials

Next gather materials, hopefully there is driftwood around. Try to find dry pieces if possible, and include thin, small pieces as well as larger wood too.

STEP 3: Make Fire Starters

Now this step isn't necessary, but it's so awesome. Make a fire starter beforehand.

I covered this briefly in my wax hacks instructable, but it's such a great tip, it's worth mentioning again. Combine sawdust and beeswax, melt and combine. After some trial and error, I've found that adding some mineral spirits, makes the fire starter softer and a lot easier to split in smaller pieces.

I like to use these proportions by mass:

  • 4 parts beeswax
  • 2 parts sawdust
  • 1 part mineral spirits.

Make a simple mold out of screws and wood or you can use silicon molds if you have those around.

STEP 4: Let's Make a Fire!

Now let's make a fire.

Wrap the fire starter if you have one, in some paper, or thin shavings. Otherwise, just use paper or shavings. Then start putting thin sticks around it, like a tepee, you can stick them in the sand around. You need a lot of air in there.

Light the paper. Once the fire is going, you can start adding some larger pieces, just make sure to keep the structure and not collapse the cone shape you've got going.

STEP 5: Enjoy!


The fire starter is great because it makes the process a lot easier, especially if you're working with damp wood or difficult conditions. Then slowly increase the amount of wood on the fire, and enjoy.

Make sure you are allowed to make fires on the beaches you go to, and be safe with fire!

7 Comments

Capt Sam 8 years ago

When the fire is well going, always add wood on the side the wind is coming from...

Hallgate 8 years ago

Also if you are gonna be building a fire on a shingle beach or a beach with lots of stones, go very careful as the stones may explode with the heat.

Jobar007 8 years ago

When I've built fires on the beach here in Oregon, I've always hollowed out a bit of the sand under the fire pit. I've found that it helps to keep the fire going and makes it a little easier to start since it isn't out in the wind (it is always windy at the coast).

One of the things that I find so frustrating is people building fires in the driftwood piles and using them as a wind break. Far too often they leave their fire only to have it catch in the pile and smolder for hours.

pucksurfer 8 years ago

If only we were allowed to make fired on the beach here :(
Instead we have fire pits lining the beaches. Hundreds of the ugly things, yet, even with so many, you have to get there by 2 in the afternoon to reserve one.
Cool Instructable though

kode1303 8 years ago

When you're finished with the fire, water should always be poured over the remains of it - even if it seems burned out. Some people cover the fire with sand, but this does not put the fire out right away, and people walking on the beach might step in burning hot sand. I live near the coast and every year someone gets burned this way. Cheers.