Swedish torch

After experiencing a considerable amount of difficulty with my initial idea, I chose to create my own Swedish Torch using a log in my backyard. The Swedish Torch was used during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). It was an effective way to keep soldiers warm and also to cook meals. In order to create this, a log must be sliced vertically within inches of the base. It must be cut into 4-6 equal sections. The flame then burns up through the middle, using the log as fuel. This concept seemed interesting to me, and motivated me to create my own. Once I had obtained my log, the main concern was slicing it evenly and equally. This proved to be challenging, with the log turning out slightly lopsided in the process. I broke two chainsaws and caused a power saw’s battery to go out, to get to that point, so I figured I’d just continue with the project. With the slices cut relatively evenly, I could finally start the fire. This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, as the wind seemed to pick up every time I’d light a match. Some of my kindling was wet from the previous day’s rain as well, making this even more of a challenge. Eventually, I figured I was not getting anywhere and stepped away from the project until the wind died down. Once the wind stopped, I tried again and found that my fire lit instantly. The seemingly harmless issue of the log’s lopsidedness came back to bite me when I found that the log was burning more on one side than the other, hurting the overall balance of the torch. I was unable to fix this problem, otherwise the Swedish Torch proved to be a success! I didn’t dare cook anything on it for fear of a pan falling off of it, but I did roast a few tasty marshmallows!

Scroll down for some pictures!

The first picture shows the initial pile of kindling that was placed in order to aid the growth of the fire. The second shows the blissful moment when I was finally able to get the fire to light. The final image shows the aftermath. Here you can see how unevenly the torch burned, likely due to the lopsidedness of the overall construction.

Sam R