When hiking or traveling as a “savage”, on a picnic or fishing, there is always the question of preparing hot food. Someone makes a big fire, someone drags a primus stove or a packet of dry fuel with them.

I want to introduce you to one old method, or rather a device, with the help of which you can cook food, heat yourself, or illuminate your way. According to legend, it was borrowed from the North American Indians by the colonialists of Christopher Columbus. That is why it got the name “Indian candle”.

The principle of operation of the Indian candle is extremely simple. As in a samovar, combustion occurs in the firebox, and the draft is provided by a pipe. A sort of mini-oven. But in an Indian candle, the role of both the firebox and the pipe is played by the fuel itself - a log that is hollow inside. The inner walls of the log itself are burning.

From my travel experience, I can safely say that an Indian candle is one of the most effective and cheapest ways to prepare hot food.

Anyone can make an Indian candle in a few minutes.

To make it, you need to take any log with a diameter of 10 cm or more. Up to 30-40 cm. Preferably without knots, so that it can be split fairly evenly. The tree type does not have of great importance, but it should be remembered that resinous trees “shoot” and give off a lot of sparks. It is not recommended to use a Christmas tree or pine candle for heating. Birch burns hot and does not shoot, but its flame is strong and you need to be careful. In addition, birch bark contains a lot of tar and the flame smokes a little, especially at the end of combustion. An almost perfect candle is made from well-dried aspen. It burns extremely evenly, the flame is light and colorless.

In any case, it is good to use dead wood (but not rotten wood). Otherwise, the candle or its preparation will have to dry for a long time.

So, we cut a piece 15-40 cm long from a log. If you plan to use a candle for cooking, then it is better to take short but thick pieces. Then it will be possible to place the dishes directly on the candle, and it will stand stably on the base. If lighting is important, then it is better to take a longer and thinner piece. To make it comfortable to wear. And if heating is required, then you need to take a thick and long piece. This candle can burn for many hours.

1. The log is split lengthwise approximately in the middle. This is why it is important to use a part of the log without knots. They are very easy to split. If you come across a hollow log, this is generally an ideal option! This is a ready-made Indian candle; you just need to cut it into pieces 20-30 cm long and clean out the rotten insides of the hollow.

Using a hatchet, the core of the tree is cut down so that a channel with a diameter of 5-7 cm is subsequently formed.

2. Both halves are folded again and fastened together in any way. For example, wire, adhesive tape, nails, glue... Thus we got a wooden pipe. It is important to ensure minimal gaps at the junction of the halves. Otherwise, it is through these cracks that the candle will quickly burn out.

3. To light a candle, a little birch bark (birch bark) is stuffed into the pipe. At the same time, make sure that the free passage of air through the pipe is not blocked, otherwise there will be no draft. If there is no birch bark, you can use several splinters. The spark plug itself is installed so that there is a small gap at its lower end for air to enter. For example, on stones or a couple of logs.

4. The birch bark is set on fire and pushed with a splinter inside the pipe approximately to its center. If it is at the top of the pipe, the candle will burn for a long time, but with a weak flame. This mode is good for heating or warming up small amounts of food. And if you push the birch bark almost to the very bottom (or light the candle from below), then the candle will burn faster, but the flame will be strong. This mode is good for cooking or lighting.

5. When a candle burns, it is enough to simply regulate the flame strength by blocking the access of air from below the candle (for example, with earth or snow). For cooking, a flame height of 10-15 cm is sufficient.

6. The candle can be used as a torch. Wood is an excellent heat insulator, and even a very burning candle can be held freely by hand, lighting your way, or you can install several of these torches to illuminate a tourist camp.

7. To heat food, keep it hot or for heating, it is important to be able to switch the candle to intense smoldering mode. In this case, the candle smolders from the inside with virtually no flame. At the same time, quite hot smoke comes out of it. This is achieved by blocking the air from below the spark plug.

8. It only takes a few minutes to heat up, for example, a can of canned food even in winter. It is enough to place the jar on the candle so that there is a small gap for the smoke to escape. If you need to cook food in a pan, then place it on a couple of wood chips - spacers, like on a gas stove burner. If there is a cauldron, it is simply suspended above the candle at a height of 5-10 cm.

Sometimes, to allow air to enter and gases to escape, appropriate cuts are simply made at the ends of the candle. But this is only possible for candles with a diameter of 20-25 cm or more. Tall and thin candles are not stable and are not worth the risk.

When using a candle as a heater in a tent, care must be taken to remove combustion products.

And completely proper heating looks something like this. A burning candle is left outside. A short metal pipe is suspended above it at an angle. The higher end of the pipe is inserted into the tent. The candle heats the pipe and, accordingly, the air in it, which enters the tent. This way the tent is heated with hot, but fresh, clean air, not smoke.

Once a candle is lit, it is not necessary to burn it to the end, until it dies. As soon as the food is cooked, the candle is extinguished by blocking the air from both below and above. For example, by covering it with some non-flammable object such as a pot lid or throwing a damp cloth over it. Thus, with the help of one Indian candle you can cook food several times.

Of course, such a candle is much heavier than a primus or a packet of dry fuel. But dry fuel is quite expensive. And unlike a primus stove, which needs to be carried on both ends of the trip, and also fiddle with a stinking canister of fuel for it, a candle has a one-way ticket. It dies, providing us with hot food, warmth and light.

But when traveling by car or other motorized vehicles through wild, and especially treeless and mountainous places, a candle will serve you faithfully. Spend a little time making it and you will always be full and warm.

Homemade log burner, cooking while camping

When hiking or traveling as a “savage”, on a picnic or fishing, the task of preparing hot food is always faced. Someone makes a fire, someone carries with them a primus stove or a bag of dry fuel. And there is one old interesting way.

According to legend, it was borrowed from the North American Indians by the colonialists of Christopher Columbus. In view of this, it received the name “Indian candle”. The principle of operation of the Indian candle is very simple. As in a samovar, combustion occurs in the firebox, and the draft is provided by a pipe. Such a mini-stove. But in an Indian candle, the role of both the firebox and the pipe is played by the fuel itself - wood, hollow in the middle. The inner walls of the log itself are burning.

An Indian candle is one of the most effective and cheapest ways to prepare hot food.

Anyone can make a Native American candle in just a few minutes. You need to take any log with a diameter of 10 cm or more, up to 30-40 cm. It needs to be without knots so that it can be split fairly evenly. The type of tree does not matter much, but you need to know that resinous trees “shoot” and give off a whole series of sparks. It is not recommended to use a candle made of fir or pine for heating. Birch burns hot and does not shoot, but its fire is strong and you need to be careful. In addition, there is an excess of tar in the birch bark and the fire is slightly smoky, especially at the end of combustion.

Actually the perfect candle comes out of a well-dried aspen tree. It burns very evenly, and its flame is light and colorless. In any case, it’s a good idea to exploit dead wood (but not rotten wood). Otherwise, the candle or its blank will have to be dried for a long time. So, we cut a piece 15-40 cm long from a log. When you plan to use a candle for cooking, it is easier to take short but thick pieces. Here you can place the dishes directly on the candle, and it itself will stand firmly on the base. If lighting is important, then it is better to take a longer and thinner piece. To make it comfortable to wear. And when you need to warm up, we take both a thick and long piece. Such a candle can burn for many hours.

How to make a Native American candle

1. The tree is split lengthwise approximately in the middle.

This is precisely why it is of great importance to use a piece of log without knots. They are very easy to split. If you come across a hollow tree, this is generally the best option! This is a ready-made Indian candle, just cut it into pieces 20-30 cm long and scrape out the rotten insides of the hollow. Using a hatchet, the core of the tree is cut down so that a channel with a diameter of 5-7 cm is formed.

2. Both halves are folded again and fastened together in any way.
You can split it into 4 parts, or whatever you like.

For example, wire, adhesive tape, nails, glue... Thus we got a wooden pipe. It is important to ensure that there are minimal gaps at the junction of the halves. Otherwise, the candle will burn out instantly right through the cracks.

3. To light a candle, a little birch bark (birch bark) is stuffed into the pipe. At the same time, make sure that the unoccupied access of air through the pipe is not blocked, otherwise there will be no draft. When there is no birch bark, you can use several splinters for your own purposes.

You can put sawdust inside, which was planed while you were cooking and splitting the log. The candle itself is installed so that its lower end has a small gap for air to enter. For example, on stones or a couple of logs.

4. The birch bark is set on fire and pushed with a splinter into the pipe, approximately into its middle. If it is at the top of the pipe, the candle will burn for a long time, but with a weak flame. A similar mode will be used for heating or warming up a small amount of food. And if you move the birch bark approximately to the very bottom (or light a candle below), then the candle will burn faster, but the fire will be strong.

A similar mode will be used for cooking or lighting.

5. When a candle burns The strength of the flame can simply be adjusted by blocking the access of air at the bottom of the candle (say, with earth or snow). For cooking food, a flame height of 10-15 cm is sufficient.

6. The candle can be used as a torch. Wood is a brilliant heat insulator, and even a very burning candle can be held freely by hand, illuminating your way, or you can place many such torches to illuminate a tourist camp.

7. To reheat food, keep it hot or for heating, it is important to be able to move the candle into intense smoldering mode. Then the candle smolders from the inside with virtually no flame. At the same time, quite hot smoke comes out of it. This is achieved by blocking the air from below the spark plug.

8. To heat up, say, a can of canned food, even in winter, you only need a few minutes in total. It is enough to place the jar on the candle so that there is a small gap for the smoke to escape. If you need to cook food in a pan, then place it on a couple of wood chips - spacers, like on a gas stove burner.

When there is a pot, it is simply suspended above the candle at a height of 5-10 cm. Sometimes, to allow air to enter and gases to escape, appropriate cuts are simply made at the ends of the candle. But this is only feasible for candles with a diameter of 20-25 cm or more. Tall and thin candles are unstable and there is no need to take unnecessary risks; they may fall.

When using a candle as a heater in a tent, you must take care of the removal of combustion products to avoid burning.

Perfectly correct heating looks something like this. A burning candle is left outside. A short metal pipe is suspended above it at an angle. The higher end of the pipe is inserted into the tent. The candle heats the pipe and, accordingly, the air in it, which enters the tent. This way the tent is heated with hot, but fresh, clean air, not smoke. Once a candle is lit, it is not necessary to burn it to the end.

Once the food is cooked, the candle is extinguished by blocking the air from both below and above.

Thus, with the help of one Indian candle you can cook food several times. Of course, such a candle is much heavier than a primus or a packet of dry fuel. But dry fuel is quite expensive. And unlike a primus stove, a candle can be quickly made when needed. It burns, providing us with hot food, warmth and light.

Spend a little time making it and you will always be full and warm!

Well, a few additions - about matches for the road

Experienced tourists know many secrets that make life easier for nomads. When getting ready for a hike, they will not forget, for example, to dip a bunch of matches into melted paraffin or wax.

Matches after such an operation are not afraid of dampness and light up even in the rain.

When hiking or traveling as a “savage”, on a picnic or fishing, there is always the question of preparing hot food. Someone makes a big fire, someone drags a primus stove or a packet of dry fuel with them.

One of the old methods, or rather a device, with the help of which you can cook food, heat yourself or illuminate your way. According to legend, it was borrowed from the North American Indians by the colonialists of Christopher Columbus. That is why it got the name “Indian candle”.

The principle of operation of the Indian candle is extremely simple. As in a samovar, combustion occurs in the firebox, and the draft is provided by a pipe. A sort of mini-oven. But in an Indian candle, the role of both the firebox and the pipe is played by the fuel itself - a log that is hollow inside. The inner walls of the log itself are burning.

Anyone can make an Indian candle in a few minutes.

To make it, you need to take any log with a diameter of 10 cm or more. Up to 30-40 cm. Preferably without knots, so that it can be split fairly evenly. The type of wood does not matter much, but it should be remembered that resinous trees “shoot” and give off a lot of sparks. It is not recommended to use a Christmas tree or pine candle for heating. Birch burns hot and does not shoot, but its flame is strong and you need to be careful. In addition, birch bark contains a lot of tar and the flame smokes a little, especially at the end of combustion. An almost perfect candle is made from well-dried aspen. It burns extremely evenly, the flame is light and colorless.

In any case, it is good to use dead wood (but not rotten wood). Otherwise, the candle or its preparation will have to dry for a long time.

So, we cut a piece 15-40 cm long from a log. If you plan to use a candle for cooking, then it is better to take short but thick pieces. Then it will be possible to place the dishes directly on the candle, and it will stand stably on the base. If lighting is important, then it is better to take a longer and thinner piece. To make it comfortable to wear. And if heating is required, then you need to take a thick and long piece. This candle can burn for many hours.

1. The log is split lengthwise approximately in the middle. This is why it is important to use a part of the log without knots. They are very easy to split. If you come across a hollow log, this is generally an ideal option! This is a ready-made Indian candle; you just need to cut it into pieces 20-30 cm long and clean out the rotten insides of the hollow.

Using a hatchet, the core of the tree is cut down so that a channel with a diameter of 5-7 cm is subsequently formed.

2. Both halves are folded again and fastened together in any way. For example, wire, adhesive tape, nails, glue... Thus we got a wooden pipe. It is important to ensure minimal gaps at the junction of the halves. Otherwise, it is through these cracks that the candle will quickly burn out.

3. To light a candle, a little birch bark (birch bark) is stuffed into the pipe. At the same time, make sure that the free passage of air through the pipe is not blocked, otherwise there will be no draft. If there is no birch bark, you can use several splinters. The spark plug itself is installed so that there is a small gap at its lower end for air to enter. For example, on stones or a couple of logs.

4. The birch bark is set on fire and pushed with a splinter inside the pipe approximately to its center. If it is at the top of the pipe, the candle will burn for a long time, but with a weak flame. This mode is good for heating or warming up small amounts of food. And if you push the birch bark almost to the very bottom (or light the candle from below), then the candle will burn faster, but the flame will be strong. This mode is good for cooking or lighting.

5. When a candle burns, it is enough to simply regulate the flame strength by blocking the access of air from below the candle (for example, with earth or snow). For cooking, a flame height of 10-15 cm is sufficient.

6. The candle can be used as a torch. Wood is an excellent heat insulator, and even a very burning candle can be held freely by hand, lighting your way, or you can install several of these torches to illuminate a tourist camp.

7. To heat food, keep it hot or for heating, it is important to be able to switch the candle to intense smoldering mode. In this case, the candle smolders from the inside with virtually no flame. At the same time, quite hot smoke comes out of it. This is achieved by blocking the air from below the spark plug.

8. It only takes a few minutes to heat up, for example, a can of canned food even in winter. It is enough to place the jar on the candle so that there is a small gap for the smoke to escape. If you need to cook food in a pan, then place it on a couple of wood chips - spacers, like on a gas stove burner. If there is a cauldron, it is simply suspended above the candle at a height of 5-10 cm.

Sometimes, to allow air to enter and gases to escape, appropriate cuts are simply made at the ends of the candle. But this is only possible for candles with a diameter of 20-25 cm or more. Tall and thin candles are not stable and are not worth the risk.

When using a candle as a heater in a tent, care must be taken to remove combustion products.

And completely proper heating looks something like this. A burning candle is left outside. A short metal pipe is suspended above it at an angle. The higher end of the pipe is inserted into the tent. The candle heats the pipe and, accordingly, the air in it, which enters the tent. This way the tent is heated with hot, but fresh, clean air, not smoke.

Once a candle is lit, it is not necessary to burn it to the end, until it dies. As soon as the food is cooked, the candle is extinguished by blocking the air from both below and above. For example, by covering it with some non-flammable object such as a pot lid or throwing a damp cloth over it. Thus, with the help of one Indian candle you can cook food several times.

Of course, such a candle is much heavier than a primus or a packet of dry fuel. But dry fuel is quite expensive. And unlike a primus stove, which needs to be carried on both ends of the trip, and also fiddle with a stinking canister of fuel for it, a candle has a one-way ticket. It dies, providing us with hot food, warmth and light.

But when traveling by car or other motorized vehicles through wild, and especially treeless and mountainous places, a candle will serve you faithfully. Spend a little time making it and you will always be full and warm.

Another version of the Indian candle, which is easy to make with a chainsaw or electric saw.

Let me remind you that such a candle allows you to use just one log or log for repeated cooking or heating of food in camping conditions. In addition, it does not form a fire like a fire, can be carried during combustion, and is very economical and efficient in terms of fuel consumption. It leaves no traces behind, no fireplace and, accordingly, does not spoil the landscape.

Being prepared in advance, it can also help out a “stationary” summer resident in the event of a loss of electricity or problems with gas. It will allow you to prepare a full meal, heat the room and provide some light.

How to make such an Indian candle and how to use it is clear from the photograph.

1. Take a dry log of the desired diameter and make cuts in its end, 10-15 cm deep. In such a way that a kind of star is formed from the cuts. They will provide air access to the combustion zone, so if you need a candle for lighting or intensive cooking, cuts are made more often. If for long economical burning - less often.

2. Place some birch bark in the center of the log and set it on fire. Charcoal lighter fluid works well.

3. After the candle flares up, a small crater forms in the center of its star - a combustion zone, a kind of firebox. By the way, like a samovar, you can put additional fuel in it - charcoal, wood chips, small cones, etc. This significantly extends the life of the candle.

4. Once a stable combustion zone has formed in the crater, you can begin cooking. As you can see, the combustion zone itself is very insignificant and is located strictly under the dishes. The dishes do not require any special stands, hangers or supports. It is simply placed on a candle, like on a regular gas burner, for example, or a primus stove. The flame only occasionally breaks through the cuts. The pot on such a burner boils literally in a matter of minutes.

5. After cooking, the candle is extinguished. And subsequently can be used many times. You can see in the photo of the candle how economical it is. One such candle will allow you to cook food many times while camping.

Make yourself such a candle - and you will forever save yourself from the possibility of being left without hot food or tea on a hike or in the country.

This is a wooden device with which in the field you can both cook food and provide heat or light your way. According to legend, it was seen and borrowed from the North American Indians by the colonizers of Christopher Columbus. That’s why it got the name Indian candle, and now it is also called a wooden primus stove, Swedish fire, Finnish candle, and the like. The features of making and lighting such a Finnish candle will be discussed below.

For such a Finnish candle, as in the photo below, with a diameter of 8 cm and a length of 10 cm, it will take about 15-20 minutes to make, and it will work for 30-35 minutes. During this time, due to its good efficiency, this wooden primus stove allows you to boil up to 2.5 liters of water. In general, in such small sizes this product is controversial and not for everyone. A Finnish candle with a diameter of 12 cm and a length of 18 cm will be much more effective for its operation. However, in in this case The sizes were chosen based on the fact that only a knife was available. It would be possible for them to do something more, but it would be somewhat difficult.

The type of wood from which the wooden primus stove will be made is not particularly important. However, it should be remembered that, for example, spruce “shoots” during combustion and gives off a lot of sparks, so using such a Finnish candle for heating will not be entirely convenient and comfortable. Birch burns well and hot, does not “shoot”, but its flame smokes a little, especially at the end of combustion. Dry aspen, which burns with an even and colorless flame, is most suitable. In any case, when making an Indian candle, you should use, if possible, as dry as possible, but not rotten wood.

Features of making a wooden primus stove, Indian candle, Finnish candle.

The external proportions of a Finnish candle depend on the intended use - for example, a short but thick one is most suitable for cooking, a long and thin one is most suitable for lighting, so that it is comfortable to wear. But for heating - thick and long, it will burn for several hours. The process of making a wooden primus stove is very simple. First, we saw off the workpiece to the required length.

We split the wooden round timber in half and then the halves in half again. I would like to note that it is not at all necessary to split the workpiece into four parts. The fewer cracks there are, the later the Indian candle will burn out along these cracks. However, cutting a core from two halves of a workpiece takes a long time, is more tedious and more difficult than cutting off the corners of quarters.

We cut out the core from the quarters and make notches on them so that it turns out like this.

We firmly connect the wooden quarters of our future Finnish candle with wire, ensuring that they fit as tightly as possible to each other, and fill the middle with small pieces of birch bark, splinters or sawdust remaining from planing so that the free passage of air through the channel is not blocked, otherwise it will not there will be traction. If possible, the Indian candle should be placed on stones or logs so that there is a small gap at its lower end for air access. If not, then you should cut out a small side air duct at the bottom of the workpiece in advance.

A short video of a finished Finnish candle.

Features of lighting a wooden primus stove, an Indian candle, a Finnish candle.

We fire up the made wooden primus stove. It should be borne in mind that if the main source of fire is concentrated in the upper part of the channel of an Indian candle, then it will burn for a long time, but with a weak flame, and if you light the candle from below, then it will burn faster, but the flame will be strong. The ignition process itself requires some skill and practice, but each time it will turn out faster and faster.

A short video of lighting a wooden primus stove.

Adjusting the flame strength of a wooden primus stove, Indian candle, Finnish candle.

The flame strength of a wooden kerosene stove can be easily adjusted by shutting off the air supply from below. For cooking, a flame height of 8-10 cm is sufficient. When using a Finnish candle as a torch, you can hold it in your hand, even if it is burning strongly; wood is a good heat insulator.

A short video of a wooden stove burning...

When the air access from below is completely blocked, the Indian candle goes into intense smoldering mode, which is convenient for heating ready-made but cooled food. In addition, the Indian candle does not have to be burned out from beginning to end. As soon as there is no longer a need for it, it is simply extinguished by blocking the access of air simultaneously from below and from above. But for example, the same wooden primus stove, but made in larger sizes.

Gradually burning out, the Indian candle begins to collapse, so it is important not to miss the moment. The video below shows the approximate state after which the Indian candle will self-destruct within 5-7 minutes.

This type of fire is also called Finnish or Taiga candle, allows you to use just one log or log for repeated cooking or heating food in hiking conditions. Extremely economical and efficient in terms of fuel consumption.

The most important thing is to find a dry log and cut off an even piece from it - a log half a meter long. It is better that it be at least 12 cm in diameter, and a maximum of 30.

If you use candle planned for cooking, it is better to take short but thick pieces. Then it will be possible to place the dishes directly on the candle, and it will stand stably on the base.

If lighting is important, then it is better to take a longer and thinner piece. And if heating is required, then you need to take a thick and long piece. This candle can burn for many hours.

Preferably without knots so that it can be split fairly evenly.

The type of wood does not matter much, but it should be remembered that resinous trees “shoot” and give off a lot of sparks. It is not recommended to use a Christmas tree or pine candle for heating. Birch burns hot and does not shoot, but its flame is strong and you need to be careful. In addition, birch bark contains a lot of tar and the flame smokes a little, especially at the end of combustion. An almost perfect candle is made from well-dried aspen. It burns extremely evenly, the flame is light and colorless.

In any case, it is good to use dead wood (but not rotten wood). Otherwise, the candle or its preparation will have to dry for a long time.

• Using an ax, split the log lengthwise into four (or 8, if the log is very thick) pieces, preferably identical.
• Cut out the middle of each part. Little by little. Let's plan it.
• Place the split pieces of log together, leaving a gap of a couple of centimeters. If you have wire, you can tie them together. But not tight.
• In the center of the log we put a little birch bark and what was taken out from the middle. Let's set it on fire. Charcoal lighter fluid works well.
• After the candle flares up, a small crater forms in the center of its star - a combustion zone, a kind of furnace. By the way, like a samovar, you can put additional fuel in it - charcoal, wood chips, small cones, etc. This significantly extends the life of the candle.
  The size of the flame and combustion is easily adjusted by moving and pushing apart the quarters (or eights) of the log, but this is only if a wire tie was not used.
• Once a stable combustion zone has formed in the crater, you can begin cooking. As you can see, the combustion zone itself is very insignificant and is located strictly under the dishes. The dishes do not require any special stands, hangers or supports. It is simply placed on a candle, like on a regular gas burner, for example, or a primus stove. The flame only occasionally breaks through the cuts. The pot on such a burner boils literally in a matter of minutes.
• After cooking, the candle is extinguished. And subsequently can be used many times. One such candle will allow you to cook food many times while camping.

In principle, these Finnish (Indian, Taiga) candles there are many variations - for example, the log is not split into pieces, but 4~8 longitudinal cuts are made not to the end of the log.

The simplest option is shown here.