swedish candles

[Fronty Owner]

What wood makes the best swedish candles?
also, does it take longer to season since its a bigger block?
Im not so much concerned about heat output, but would like to get the nice pretty flames going for few hours.

 

[HeX0rz]

I'll say that any wood that will burn hot and leave coals like it would in woodstove. One that still puts off just enough ash to cover those coals though.

If you put your cuts in to make a swede candle when it is green, I would assume that it will season quicker than if it were to season without the cuts, regardless of size.

But, this is all opinion and could be wrong all together. Just thought I might satisfy your question until others can put in some better input.

 

[Blowncrewcab]

I Think sappy like cedar or pine may make better colors and flames. I have a Big cedar stump I'm saving just for this.

 

[Fronty Owner]

I Think sappy like cedar or pine may make better colors and flames. I have a Big cedar stump I'm saving just for this.

I was thinking about a soft, sappy wood, but wasn't sure how well it would burn once dried or if it should be burned green(er)

 

[Winn R]

ok -- fess up time.

I've cut into white oak, dead 4 years. Dry. Cut it about 8 - 10" deep. Three sided cut. Came through from the side at the bottom and took the center piece out.

Saw dust, wood chips, even poured gas in. Can't keep it lit. Newspapers won't burn completely.

 

[Fronty Owner]

so your saying white oak is a bad choice?

 

[HeX0rz]

I have done this with poplar and pine. It burns for a while. BUT, if you plan on using it to cook things with, it may not turn out to be the best. As it does not burn the hottest and lots of smoke and soot.

If I did not split all my red fir, I would have tried it on that.

 

[STLfirewood]

I am going to try and burn one this week. I cut it then put it through the kiln. The kiln dried and cracked the hell out of the block. It was about a 12-14" block also. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Scott

 

[Fronty Owner]

I have done this with poplar and pine. It burns for a while. BUT, if you plan on using it to cook things with, it may not turn out to be the best. As it does not burn the hottest and lots of smoke and soot.

If I did not split all my red fir, I would have tried it on that.

I want something to sit in my firepit on a cool evening and have a glass of merlot with my wife and talk about things for a couple hours. just something to take the chill out of the evening and provide a bit of light.

 

[buzz sawyer]

I hadn't heard of this before so googled it - very cool!

Sassafrass might be good. Burns with a lot of color as regular fire wood but it can pop a lot - might not be a problem as it burns from the inside.

 

[LT100]

We used a knotty old cedar that wasn't even close to seasoned for some Swedish candles and it burned like a champ. One little trick when you are almost finished cutting is the dip the tip of your saw down into the very middle of the log. Do this along each cut so you make a little deep spot in the middle. When you pour your accelerant into it, it will pool up right where it will do the most good. Just remember to not use anything that will flash when it ignites. Gasoline is a bad, bad idea for getting a candel going. We tried a couple candles over the past winter using some dead Elm and they never really got rolling the way we wanted them to. Maybe it was the particular piece of wood, perhaps the sappy softwoods just burn better for this method. Either way, have fun with them and be safe.

 

[slowp]

Setting fire to a pitchy stump in winter, is an old custom in the woods here. Pitch might work as an accelerant but it also puts out a black smoke that isn't always appreciated.

The PNW GTG Scandihoovian Candle was made out of an already been dead a while (seasoned) log. I can't remember what species it was. The way it got started was by dumping some canned premix into the center, which had some chainsaw noodles in it, and then adding a lit match. Yah, it vas gut.

 

[Fronty Owner]

I hadn't heard of this before so googled it - very cool!

Sassafrass might be good. Burns with a lot of color as regular fire wood but it can pop a lot - might not be a problem as it burns from the inside.

I first heard of them here. unfortuneately, my sons split all the big stuff before I could make one last year. so I cut one this year and told them to leave it alone.

 

[thenorth]

I have used a 12'' dia. jack pine..16'' long. with 2 cuts to approx 4'' from botom,, and it worked well......

 

[Winn R]

so your saying white oak is a bad choice?

I don't know if the wood or the operator was the problem. The wood was extremely dense in the center.

I'll try them with the extra hole cut in the center.

 

[Mike PA]

I make mine with an "X" shape, cut down to about 4" from the bottom. I've used chestnut oak, maple, white pine, and black birch. The maple worked best for me because it was the driest log. The white pine lit well and burned well, but it pops more than I would like. I think it makes sense to cut your "X" now if you want to use them in the summer. I have a few candles that I am seasoning this way, as it is absolutely critical that they are dry.

 

[Winn R]

Camped out last night and tryed them again. Old and dry white oak.

I fed the fire with 1" pieces of hickory for an hour or so then it got hot enough to maintain the coals on the side walls.

I'm guessing it burned for about 6 hours.