How to Make a Swedish Fire Torch

by wold630

47K22835

Intro: How to Make a Swedish Fire Torch

Making a Swedish Fire Torch will definitely be the highlight of your next outdoor fire. I highly recommend it!

When I was a kid we would find old rotted out logs with holes in the center and put them on the fire and watch mesmerizing flames shoot out the top. This is a little more work, but still easy enough to make, and worth every minute of effort.

STEP 1: What You Need for a Swedish Torch Log

You only need a few things to make a torch like this:

  • very dry log
  • chainsaw
  • tinder, kindling, or dried grass
  • lighter or matches

STEP 2: Cut the Fire Log

Stand the log upright. Using a chainsaw cut the log about 3/4 of the way down making sure not to cut through the entire log. (This was slow going with an electric chainsaw. Wish I had a gas powered one!) Repeat this two more times creating six equal sections in the log.

STEP 3: Add Kindling to Start the Swedish Fire Torch

Add kindling in all of the slices of the log rotating as you go along. I used newspaper, twigs, and kindling from a chopped up 2x4. Make sure you can see through the slices, from one side to the other (don't pack it too tight), so air can flow through and keep the fire going.

Build a small teepee fire on the top of the log and light it. Continue to feed the fire until some of the kindling catches fire inside the slices. After that, it's good to go!

STEP 4: Watch the Fire Log Burn!

As the fire starts to burn its way downward it will get bigger and bigger catching the kindling on fire along the way. As soon as the fire has burned down past the top of the log it would be perfect to cook on. Unfortunately, I didn't make anything on this fire (my kids were having too much fun playing in the fire...not recommended!).

Photos show the stages of the torch burning all the way down. Turns out I LOVE taking pictures of fire, but that's a side note! Anyway, the log was pretty much gone when we woke up in the morning.

This is very fun and very entertaining! I hope you try it!

**Never leave fire unattended. I put this torch in a safe place (on hydrated grass) away from anything that could catch fire. A fire pit would be even better!

32 Comments

DUMB8 7 years ago

Any suggestions if I DONOT have a chainsaw. I have the wood, we own an axe.

Could we chop some areas in one end buy hammering with a railroad spike and then axe it a bit?

chilidogg 2 years ago

Howdy from South Georgia, USA.
put the axe on one side pointing down. with a large wooden club or hammer pound down until axe is in about 2-3 inches. in. insert a wooden stick under axe to hold the split open.
repeat on opposite side. don't work too hard at this. it will come to you.do four to six splits about half way down.
Keep moving the stick down. don't wrestle with the axe.
leave sticks there so air can come in the sides.
stuff with shredded paper, grass, wood shavings,etc. consider rubbing a couple of cotton balls with Vaseline, then stuff the rest of the components on top. cotton will catch quickly. place some small sticks or stones across the top so that there is room for the flame to reach out. put pan, coffee pot, on top as fire builds.
a fairly easy project to do in the woods when camping. provides light, heat and a cooking surface.
Consider several small ones (5-6 inches around camping area perimeter for security and ease of walking.
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bodger ed 7 years ago

we used a big hand saw, but you could split it and tie it with wire

jpduroche 7 years ago

After hammering it with the railroad spike, what are you going to "Axe" it??!!.....lol

wold630 7 years ago

If you split the firewood into six (relatively) equal parts, stand them up on flat ground and tie them together around the bottom half of the log (leaving space between the logs), all of the pieces should stay together. It probably won't be as stable and I haven't tried it this way but I have seen it done. Let us know if you try it and how it works!

gralan 7 years ago

you can also split the log inside an old tire to keep them contained prior to tying them up. I've seen this fire log used for cooking as well. Wowser.

Just remember, Old Swedes don't die -- they just drive that way. Ya sure, yabetcha.

TedN10 7 years ago

handheld Jigjaw or power-drill plus extension cord :)

JerryJ8 7 years ago

Dear Dumb:
No, you could not nor should use a spike/axe.
Remember what happened in Oklahoma?
Enough said.
Take care.
JJ

yrralguthrie 7 years ago

I've lived in Oklahoma for 50 years. What happened in Oklahoma with an axe?

bd5 7 years ago

What do you mean? What happened in Oklahoma? What is wrong with using an axe to split wood? I've used an axe before. It worked fine.

PeterT22 7 years ago

You stand the log on end, secure a chain around the circumference to hold it together, and chop into the end with an axe. That should split it into wedges. Now fasten the chain around it the same way, only a little more loose, and that'll give you the same space for airflow as the chainsaw cuts did. Follow the rest of the instructions the same.

garybart 7 years ago

Check out this link, same great idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_eWzsBv9T0&spfreload=10

NathantheGray 7 years ago

Can you give a rough guess on how long YOUR log (in the pictures) burned? Thanks!

bodger ed 7 years ago

we started our chandle with a single piece of charcoal soaked in meths and a bottomless bean tin too make it draw.

Dr. dB 7 years ago

"...kids were having too much fun playing in the fire...not recommended!", but inevitable. Especially the BIG kids... (...like me!)

Pothuset 7 years ago

Sorry for being perfectible, but the fire torch is originally from Finland and is actually a stove. So the heading should be Finnish Fire Stove.

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