Making a Campfire Torch

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Making a Campfire Torch

12 February 2010 |

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A campfire torch is the simplest and most effective way to start a campfire. You can make one yourself without too much hassle provided you have all the equipment.

	What you will need: Piece of wood or branch (between 1 to 1.5 meters in length, thick enough to grip easily and fairly dense so that it won't burn through too quickly) Metal wire (not too thick (difficult to shape) or too thin (may burn through too quickly). Around 2 meters is a good length Gunny Sack or any thick cloth material. Towels also do well (take note that your towel will be gone, so don't use your new towels!) Scissors to cut the gunny sack Pliers and wire cutter to shape the wire Kerosene to soak the cloth before using
	Step 1: Cut the gunny sack or cloth into strips. A gunny sack can be cut into either 2 or 3 pieces, depending on how big a torch you would want. Strips work best as you can wrap that cloth around the wood.
	Step 2: Wrap the strip of gunny sack TIGHTLY around the handle. If it is loose, it may slip off the handle and could even burn someone when it is ablaze.
	Step 3: Use the metal wire to wrap around the gunny sack. First tie a timber hitch to form a knot to start coiling around the gunny sack. Make sure the wire is tightly around the gunny sack using the plyers to pull tight. End using the loop made for the starting knot. *It is important for the wire to wrap around the entire length of the gunny sack to hold every part of the gunny sack in place
	Step 4: Your torch is done and ready to be used. Around one to two hours before the campfire begins, soak the head of the torch in kerosene. Around 100 to 200 ml of kerosene is sufficient. Avoid letting kerosene spill on any other part of the torch.
Safety when holding a torch A torch when lit is fairly dangerous to the person holding it. Practice some safety including: Holding the end of the torch and not anywhere else Keep the torch slightly upright and infront of you (a 45 degree angel would be good) Don't swing the lit torch around Don't hold the torch for too long. Around three minutes should be the maximum time it is lit before lighting the campfire Light the torch from below

Looking for firewood for your campfire? Click here to order | Buy a torch instead of making it. Its only $3

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