Question on big fires.

[Shotgun]

I admittedly have no experience with big fires when "wild" camping. Usually when I have fires with fuel bigger then my forearm it's with pre-cut, pre-split wood at a drive up campsite. When backpacking I tend to just have a small one for entertainment and to cook on. Not to keep warm with. So my question; is there really a need to split large logs for your fire? I live in Oregon so I know about getting to dry wood etc when starting a fire up but once the fire is established, do you really need to split the large logs for some reason? I see a lot of people spending a lot of time cutting and splitting piles of wood and it always seemed like it would be easier to just throw the logs on and let the fire do the work. Maybe I'm missing something. Or maybe I'm just uber lazy.

 

[CWL]

You're doing it right. All those batoning maniacs will freeze to death if they think that little marshmallow-roasting campfires will keep one warm in real winter survival emergencies.

If you need a real fire to survive, you need a fire-reflector the length of your body and a fire as long as the length of your body. Only easy (calorie conserving) method is to burn full logs or trees.

 

[SubaruSTi]

On a fire that's a few hours old with a ton of coals whole logs are fine. I fine that unless the wood is seasoned or real dry you may not get as much flames with a whole log, especially when it's first put on the fire.

Whole logs last longer.

 

[Translash]

good luck getting a whole log to catch fire with your tinder

 

[Grease]

good luck getting a whole log to catch fire with your tinder

You build a big fire. You can't start with a big fire.


(Unless you have a flamethrower. Then you're set. )



But yeah, whole logs are the simplest method of making a big fire, but the extra work of splitting stuff into smaller bits will make it go much faster. The more exposed surface you have to burn, the more fire and heat you get. The more fire and heat you get, the faster your fuel goes away and needs replenishing.

It's mostly a choice between patience or hard work.

 

[RoyalM]

Kindling-Small Fire- Larger fire with Split logs-Larger fire with unsplit logs.

That's what I do if I am out for the night and need a fire. I will also let the fire do the work if I have to shorten a log to fit in the fire. Just let the fire burn through it then put the 2 halves on side by side. It's a balance of efficiency against using movement to keep warm I guess. Last logs to go on the fire are always whole logs to make sure they last the night or at least have a chance of lasting the night.

 

[Shotgun]

good luck getting a whole log to catch fire with your tinder

Thanks!

(Unless you have a flamethrower. Then you're set. )

Or maybe I could take a bottle of whiskey and just molotov it. Dual purpose item right.

 

[CWL]

good luck getting a whole log to catch fire with your tinder

With big logs and fallen trees, you burn one end and push the rest into the fire as needed.

 

[j_d]

With big logs and fallen trees, you burn one end and push the rest into the fire as needed.

True, or put it in the middle and burn it in half and then you have two logs to feed in. Other than kindling I dont have to cut or split much as long as I can put it on the fire I let the fire do the work.

Josh

 

[Idaho Jarhead]

But yeah, whole logs are the simplest method of making a big fire, but the extra work of splitting stuff into smaller bits will make it go much faster. The more exposed surface you have to burn, the more fire and heat you get. The more fire and heat you get, the faster your fuel goes away and needs replenishing.

It's mostly a choice between patience or hard work.

This is my thoughts too. I don't really like whole logs when I'm out in the wild unless I need to do something besides monitor the fire for a while. Whole logs are more for duration and slow steady heat than they are for the flames and "wow factor" most people expect from a campfire. I guess I fall into that category of those morons who enjoy splitting and batonning. I can get to the dry wood and easily control the heat and flame of my fire. Frankly, burning whole logs is boring; but they do have their place fireside.

 

[remmmm]

You have to build up a fire before you can start putting in large whole logs. U try to move to whole logs before you have a hot established fire and it's not going to burn the whole logs, at least not very well. It's like your building a monster, bigger the monster, more it can eat.

 

[upnorth]

My last larger fire had a base of frozen logs, then I built upon it. No logs were split and it worked well. I have never made a large reflector fire for the winter but understand the concept. I don't think that it would be all that hard with a lot of dead fall nearby. I say this with slight reservation though, as the real world can toss in a few twists at times. Weather conditions etc.

 

[upnorth]

good luck getting a whole log to catch fire with your tinder

Agreed, I have been experimenting with tree resin chunks. A sandwich bag of the dried hardened sap can really give a semi reluctant fire a huge hot boost.

 

[CWL]

True, or put it in the middle and burn it in half and then you have two logs to feed in. Other than kindling I dont have to cut or split much as long as I can put it on the fire I let the fire do the work.

Josh

Nah, you waste time and risk not having the fire catch. Not a good move in winter/survival situations.