So you want to know how to start a campfire? It’s not as hard as you might think. You do need some firewood to start with but that’s it. Then you need to get a fire, some fuel (usually vegetable oil), a boxful of newspaper and a propane lighter. When I was younger we used a propane grill from Home Depot. I’ll post a link to that later on.
If you need more than just some light, then you need to construct that campfire, there’s more than one way to go about it. You could probably build them right over unlit dry fire starting typing, or simply place the fuel wood on top of the paper before the fire is built up. This is actually a great kind of campfire for generating lots of heat but, because it burns so fast, the flames can come crashing down right away, sometimes even away from your fire! Better burn, next time.
A fire ring is another way to start a campfire. It’s basically a circle with two sides. To start a fire ring, all you need to do is start the circle with the paper and add the fuel. You could also use a small log, covered in paper, stacked inside the circle with some dry leaves or dry wood chips.
Another good idea is to create an open fire pit. Just set up all of the equipment and stake your firewood to it. Then, lean two large branches or twigs against the walls to act as a chimney and allow the hot fuel wood to flow out of the pit. When you’re done, just lean the other two branches against the opposite walls and tie them into place with dry wood.
If you want to try something really creative and a little different, try using star firewood. Star firewood is small pieces of wood that have been specially dried. Because it has not been exposed to the air, star wood is less likely to ignite, and therefore, it burns faster. Dried star firewood is great for starting fires.
If you’re going to do this project, make sure that your pieces of fuel wood are dry. Ideally, they should be sitting out for a long time. Any time a log is sitting around, it is harder to get it going properly. As long as your logs are dry and in good shape, they will work.
If you don’t know how to videos or how to read instructions, try searching YouTube for tutorials. There are plenty of videos out there on YouTube that can help you get your project started. In particular, if you’re going to make a campfire fire this summer, search “campfire”, “YouTube” and “fire” together to find videos on this topic. There is even a gallery of pictures called Campfire Pictures at the top of YouTube right next to videos. The first picture you see there may even be enough to make your head spin.
You can also purchase a how to book on fire. These books usually contain step-by-step instructions for building a fire, from building the basic fire pit all the way up to building long-lasting firewood fireplaces. The book would be a great addition to your toolbox, especially if you plan to go camping or do backyard BBQs often. It would keep you from having to cut fire wood yourself every time you need some.
Another useful how to book on starting and maintaining fires would be a lean-to fire. This is a type of fire that allows you to cook on the outside of your house. Lean-tos usually have a built-in fireplace so you won’t need to buy a chimney. All you need is a long piece of newspaper or cardboard and some kindling.
You can make your own fire using newspaper, kindling, a long piece of wood and a small amount of wood oil. You can even use soybean wax or vegetable oil if you prefer a more natural kindling. You simply pour the ingredients into your pan, spread them out and wait for the coals to get hot. Once they do, just cover the top with the newspaper or other kindling and put your pot in the grill to start cooking.
If you’d like a more authentic look, you can buy an outdoor propane fire pit and place your pit in the ground next to your yard. Start by lining up sticks six inches apart and putting a handful of wet leaves inside the pit. Cover the open top with the newspaper or another flammable material and set your sticks six inches apart. Turn on the igniter and watch as the coals start to glow orange. When the coals are completely orange, remove the stick from the pit and set aside, allowing the dry tinder to burn until the stick is cool.
