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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: "Reverse campfire"- anybody tried it?
 
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walllee
10/07/2017 05:28PM
 
Came across this technique on line somewhere and it sounds interesting. Has anybody used this method of fire building ? Pros and cons of this method ?
 
LindenTree3
10/07/2017 05:47PM
 
I'm not sure what you are referring to.



I use the Swedish Torch every now and then, gotta have dry Pine. Swedish Torch/Canadian Candle
 
Northwoodsman
10/07/2017 09:57PM
 
This is what is recommended in twig stoves like the Solo Stove. It does work very well. I'll admit it's hard to change something that has been driven in to your head for 40 years or more.
 
Jaywalker
10/08/2017 08:06AM
 
Wood gasification stoves also work this way. Interesting idea for a camp fire. I don't know, but wonder if a top down fire would be hampered by wind more than a traditional?
 
OCDave
10/08/2017 09:38AM
 
quote walllee: "... Pros and cons of this method ?"


Anything works with dry wood in good conditions. Practice good fire building skills so you'll be able to start a fire with wet wood in wet windy conditions.
 
walllee
10/08/2017 09:42AM
 
quote OCDave: "quote walllee: "... Pros and cons of this method ?"



Anything works with dry wood in good conditions. Practice good fire building skills so you'll be able to start a fire with wet wood in wet windy conditions.
Believe me, have started many in wet conditions, even pouring rain..
 
smoke
10/08/2017 09:36AM
 
https://youtu.be/dBFV9cykRuE
The "top down" fire does very well in the wind and is easy to set up. You don't have to feed it as it burns down.
 
smoke
10/08/2017 09:36AM
 
https://youtu.be/dBFV9cykRuE
The "top down" fire does very well in the wind and is easy to set up. You don't have to feed it as it burns down. I could use some help in how to submit a video on this site.
 
SaganagaJoe
10/08/2017 10:14AM
 
quote jhb8426: "quote SaganagaJoe: "...My preferred technique: I light the paper and a few twigs first, without building anything else, then add the split kindling, then add the larger pieces, and then throw the yule log on top when it's really going and blow on it a couple times to keep the oxygen going. Super hot fire every time. "



Mine as well, but rarely use paper. I have a good supply of birch bark. I do this in a camp fire or my fire place with equally good results."



I would prefer birch bark, it's better than paper. We just don't have a whole lot of that where I live. But not peeled off living trees, of course! Dead and downed birch trees supply all the bark I need.
 
awbrown
10/08/2017 07:13PM
 
This is the fire making method recommended by Four Dog Stove.

4 dog
 
walllee
10/07/2017 06:35PM
 
Reverse fire building
 
Mocha
10/07/2017 06:51PM
 
that looks quite interesting.
 
SaganagaJoe
10/07/2017 08:09PM
 
Makes sense. What gets a fire going really well is a lot of heat. By putting paper/other tinder on top and building the fire from the top down, you get lots of heat around your kindling and wood, which causes them to ignite faster.


What I don't like about building the fire with big logs first is that they tend to smother the fire and prevent oxygen from getting the fire going in those early stages. Igniting it from the top could solve that problem, I suppose. I should really test that.


My preferred technique: I light the paper and a few twigs first, without building anything else, then add the split kindling, then add the larger pieces, and then throw the yule log on top when it's really going and blow on it a couple times to keep the oxygen going. Super hot fire every time.
 
jhb8426
10/07/2017 11:53PM
 
quote SaganagaJoe: "...My preferred technique: I light the paper and a few twigs first, without building anything else, then add the split kindling, then add the larger pieces, and then throw the yule log on top when it's really going and blow on it a couple times to keep the oxygen going. Super hot fire every time. "


Mine as well, but rarely use paper. I have a good supply of birch bark. I do this in a camp fire or my fire place with equally good results.
 
Savage Voyageur
10/08/2017 12:58PM
 
quote smoke: "https://youtu.be/dBFV9cykRuE
The "top down" fire does very well in the wind and is easy to set up. You don't have to feed it as it burns down. I could use some help in how to submit a video on this site."



Very easy to do smoke, on the same page you wrote your message there is a area that says add a link to this message. You just add the link you posted and name the link for everyone to click. Link
 
SteveF
10/08/2017 03:43PM
 
On our trip a couple weeks ago my son-in-law build one thought it was a great idea. I almost fell asleep watching the slowburn.
 
QueticoMike
10/08/2017 04:57PM
 
Never heard of it. Get me some birch bark and I will get you a fire......
 
Tman
10/08/2017 08:18PM
 
I have always heard of this called a "Council Fire". It is a great way to build a fire for a group campfire event. We use it for Boy Scout ceremonies.


It makes for a very even, steady burn. A more traditional fire will flare up very big at the beginning, driving people further from the fire ring, and then burn down to a cooler base of coals. The council fire remains a more steady burn and heat. Try it!
 
deerfoot
10/08/2017 09:11PM
 
quote Tman: "I have always heard of this called a "Council Fire". It is a great way to build a fire for a group campfire event. We use it for Boy Scout ceremonies.



It makes for a very even, steady burn. A more traditional fire will flare up very big at the beginning, driving people further from the fire ring, and then burn down to aw cooler base of coals. The council fire remains a more steady burn and heat. Try it!"



+1 - I remember using this fire building system in the scouts 50 years ago.
 
jhb8426
10/08/2017 10:22PM
 
quote SaganagaJoe: "I would prefer birch bark, it's better than paper. We just
don't have a whole lot of that where I live. But not peeled off living trees, of course! Dead and downed birch trees supply all the bark I need. "

Parts of MN have a lot. I collect it when I'm out in the woods and find downed birch. I have 3 shopping bags full in my shed.