How To Build a Self-Feeding Fire - Survival Instructor Dan Wowak

[@FFLL2112]

Great video. I’ve built 100 of these over the years. 2 necessities I’ve learned the hard way: 1) always pack dirt around your 45° guide posts and then cover the dirt with rock and stone - guider posts will not burn as easily 2) for a true maintenance free fire - tier your log size up the posts as follows: small > medium > large > medium > large > medium > large etc. the goal is to keep the ember base perfect.. gravity and time take care of the rest

[@bptst.]

🙏

[@markscearse8391]

This fire does work. To protect the upright supports dirt is needed around the bottom to shield the ramp and helps contain the coals. I've watched a time lapse video which the builder piled dirt around the poles and between them to assist the logs and hold the embers from moving out of the burn zone. Great video Dan-O.

[@clintmcmahan3792]

This was my first thought is how do you keep your uprights from burning up and dropping all your fuel. My first thought was stone, but dirt sounds way simpler and accessible. Thanks.

[@VenkmanPhD]

Glad you said this..I really thought what is stopping the uprights from burning away and just letting smoldering logs roll all over your camp?

[@FFLL2112]

@@clintmcmahan3792 rock and stone over dirt is how I build mine.. also tier the logs up the feed from small to medium to large to medium to small and repeat.. zero maintenance 🤙🏼

[@roydelvallePH]

I was just about to ask about those supports. Thanks.

[@bobbreit5244]

I would like to see a time lapse of the logs rolling. Or just try it myself...

[@sam-gs1qu]

Me too

[@FFLL2112]

It works.. stack your log size going up the posts small > medium > large > medium > large etc. also, use green wood guider posts at a 45° angle with dirt, rock and stone around the base. I’ve built these for years 👍🏼

[@oswaldc.3757]

@@FFLL2112 how does he light the fire up? What is that red thing with a match effect?

[@sallysmith7242]

@@oswaldc.3757 Yeah, you’re gonna need more than a few twigs to get a fire started with smooth rounds.

[@johncouch8187]

Literally a life saver. Run a metal pipe at an angle over it into your room and bam warm all night. Thanks Dan

[@kenyenmusic7548]

So you can get the heat radiating from the metal pipe and not have to worry about smoke?

[@Abelj239]

yes, you can make the metal absorb the heat and then radiate into the pipe@@kenyenmusic7548

[@theroyalcapra]

​@@kenyenmusic7548Yes!

[@doctorsteve9476]

I started out watching 200 japanese wagyu steak cooking on a flat top grill,,,, now Im just watching logs burn. ha.

[@johnmutton799]

Try putting another pile of logs at the back at 45° this will help reflecting the heat towards you. Or simply put two stakes at each end, and stack several lengths of timber between them to make a screen to reflect the heat. Then burn those as well! Enjoy watching!

[@brianhickerson4556]

I have used this method ,Dan, couple of times ,it works well. Just watch for wind changes

[@mwmii790]

The main problem I've had with the two-sided self-feeding fires is that they're not much good for heat. You only get a small point of coals radiating heat. It's blocked on two sides so it doesn't keep you very warm. A one-sided self-feeding fire can open a broader bed of coals to face your shelter. You just use two large rocks to keep the stack from collapsing. This also makes the fire useful for ither things like cooking. Another problem wit ALL self-feeding fires is that the ends of the logs don't burn completely. This keeps the other logs from feeding into the fire. They're not a set and forget fire. You still have to tend them. There are other fire lays that will burn all night, require almost no twnding, and project the heat into your shelter.

[@ScottishWanderer]

Awesome video i have seen couple of videos saying this self feeding fire you would need tons of wood to last all night winter here in scotland it gets dark at 4pm till 8am

[@dennisjacques1817]

Here in Mid-Michigan, in the winter it is dark when you get up for work, and it is dark when it's time to start home again.... so what you get to take home from this is: burn nice dry hard wood, and don't muck about too much w that white pine crap...

[@MrTimjwilson]

Have you actually survived anywhere? I notice you don't show it burning all night. Unless one used green wood, the whole thing would go up in flames in short order along with the 45 degree angle posts.

[@chrisholliday1330]

He looks to be a grown man. Seems like he's surviving pretty well 🤙

[@mgillee1]

You can do similar fires with VERTICAL supports... this would be fine, especially in the cold

[@SavageVoyageur]

This guys name on KZbin is CoalCracker Bushcraft. He has about 1/2 million followers and 1000 videos in the last 10 years. He practically lives in the woods. I will stack him up to you any day of the week in knowledge and survival.

[@geoattoronto]

Good, clear, instruction and demonstration in a short video. Thanks,

[@kellyh4035]

You should never have to worry about wood before you go to sleep, in a survival or hobby camping situation! Always be more than stocked

[@TheReal1953]

Your 'frame' will catch fire without something around those poles. In one part of the vid, you can see fire clearly circling the poles on the right side. Siberian fire is more serious for an all night fire.

[@kalfaxplays7899]

you forgot clay soil on the sides so the fire lasts longer. without it, your frame might catch on fire, and the fire will get more air, causing it to burn faster than it should. decent video still.

[@OverOnTheWildSide]

It seems to produce a steady billow of smoke. I’m just glad I don’t see zero degree temps very often and don’t really need to use this.

[@__WJK__]

Tough to tell by the short video how well this method works. A timelapse would have been really cool, maybe next time(?)

[@jameswiblishauser9745]

never seen that b4, that's really smart

[@danno1800]

Brilliant! Thanks- much appreciated…

[@sebataskopi]

Camping di musim dingin keren mungkin aku tidak akan sanggup good beautiful adventure😁👍☕

[@ScientistPrepper]

Thanks a lot. The detail tip of starting it way early sounds helpful for me. And the large size logs.

[@montanadad2223]

I always had questions about how this would exactly work starting it early was the missing link I didn't think through, thanks!

[@danno1800]

Very clever! Thanks - much appreciated…

[@lotos-mudr]

Спасибо за видео, это действительно очень интересный способ!

[@itsonlyafl3shwound]

wouldn't the support timbers just burn and collapse?

[@gordonmackenzie7782]

i would have thought the supports would burn pretty quickly as they seem to be at the centre of the hot zone

[@peterpearse6913]

Don't the supporting logs catch fire though?

[@pixieprepper3317]

This is genius! Can't wait to try it out, I hate the cold and always end up asleep next to the fire lol so this is perfect :D

[@CameronBrown-yo6bf]

couldn't help but noticeing the guitar. jammin

[@420lito]

Would love to see a time lapse or honest picture 8-12 hours later.

[@dennisjacques1817]

Mistrustful much? Sheesh! Is he asking you for money, eh? lol! smh!

[@scarpfish]

@@dennisjacques1817 Too many video creators on social media take liberties with their editing to make you think some "hack" or cool trick works but in practice doesn't, or at least not as advertised. I mean, it's not 5 Minute Crafts level of BS were talking here, but still. I know showing an uneventful, naturally slow process in time lapse isn't exactly fun to watch, but it shows demonstrably how the process works in practice, or shows that it doesn't.

[@Joodahman]

I Got a notification of this video and it was made three years ago

[@southernlonghorn4507]

AWESOME MUSIC 🎶 🎵 Was dancing and whooping and hollering to that bass strumming!!!

[@McRocket]

I know another self-feeding fire. Coal mine fires. Not too good at warming shelters though, if you want to survive in them. ☮

[@ut561]

good video great tip, but not crazy about the music

[@bryanhugh8905]

Whole time in thinking "what stops the flames from traveling up the dry wood?" Oh, nothing at all

[@alencko7114]

It does work 👍but sometimes shit happens, right 😁😂👍

[@guly]

Wont the stick holding the logs catch fire?

[@parappathekappa]

Any tips for keep the uprights from burning?

[@CadillacDriver]

I've always wondered that. Surely they'd burn and snap well before the rolling fuel is expired.

[@richardrudy2834]

Excellent video bud thanks

[@JCharlesoutdoors]

Thanks very informative

[@MrLinkvi]

Very good information, thankyou

[@mr.hollingsworth9224]

Nice......

[@kimblehosey7930]

The ramps will burn and fall.

[@operationseekingtruth]

Trying this, this month. Now to just have some cold weather.

[@Ken-nk6tk]

Won't work because the two logs creating slopes will.catch fire at their bases unless you make them out of stone or metal. Better to just stack uncut logs 3=2=1 and move yourself as the fire burns along them for hours.

[@Peekingduck]

Brilliant, thanks !

[@suzyjackson5514]

Cool !

[@marlonvite4152]

Hmmm? Conceptually looks like it might work, in actuality it needs good experience to make it work.... my own idea that I would love someone to try it is that the long uncut timber on similar slides, with a flat metal collar close to the burning side as heat shield to prevent the whole timber from catching on fire and a deep enough hole in the ground on the burning end may be more reliable ..... too many round pieces on both slides with burning ends unevenly may make the whole thing collapse more often.... I have no experience in this neither on my idea therefore not expert .... thanks for sharing this video free to me.

[@poacher-ec9zo]

I always wonder where these people are. Where I live, if there is snow on the ground you are not pounding wood stakes in the ground.

[@frankie1597]

HAHA so true

[@dennisjacques1817]

Not even in the Fall, before Winter has come ravening in?

[@Mr.G_Rattlesnake]

Also a person will roughly get, half to a full hour of burn time for every inch the long is thick.

[@Japlonewolf57]

No shit? So an 8” log will last 8 hours? What about different types of lumber?

[@sallysmith7242]

@@Japlonewolf57 8” log will burn a whole lot faster than 8 hours.

[@preppingforlife264]

How does that not turn into a great bonfire???? I'm gonna try this

[@miamiwax5504]

Why won't the whole thing catch?

[@alencko7114]

Wouldn't give off that much heat,I bet!I think one ramp would be more better!just my personal view though.btw good job👍❤️

[@TheKamph]

This never works for me... The fire just climbs and in an hour or so the entire collection is on fire and burns hot, but for a short time..

[@boyzinthewood1]

Great video! Just subbed. Going to make one of these myself and film it for my own channel.

[@christiankellner787]

Aren’t the supporting sticks catch fire and break?

[@durrrrburger]

Could be wet and thick, also use living wood.

[@kalfaxplays7899]

not if you use clay soil. but he didn't.

[@DROutdoors18]

Great idea thanks!

[@patrickmsong]

Do the support sticks risk burning/breaking off/collapsing?

[@lowelldevall1348]

they do. this is a terrible idea

[@laptopdragon]

no, you burry them in dirt or sand, and pile dirt over them so there's at least an inch of dirt around them and the logs roll over the dirt at the base. video doesn't show this but it's important. Or use a series of rocks.

[@patrickmsong]

@@laptopdragon Ahhhhh. That's smart - ok thanks!

[@zachsheffield1325]

Could you not put 4 forked sticks to support the top of the sticks the logs are resting on?

[@talpalatnyizold]

Big cons of this fire method is the SMOKE. Can't get enough air. But that is good if you have many mosquitos. :)

[@JoeDGarza-wf6mr]

Kool Fire starter!

[@dylanoakey6236]

Nice can’t wait to try this myself after lockdown

[@frankie1597]

Just go outside whatre u waiting for

[@johnnylightning1967]

Those sticks holding up the logs are gonna burn

[@HiPoint-ql3rs]

Pack dirt around them and use green poles it will work.

[@user-xx5bf5if5j]

I would think the uprights would catch fire and fall! How do you prevent that?

[@alanparadis5061]

Very cool!

[@OrenLikes]

why won't all the logs catch fire? did you use wood branches as the rails?!?!? won't they burn?

[@OrenLikes]

did you use wood branches as the rails?!?!? won't they burn? why won't all the logs catch fire?

[@canadianloon6433]

Great video Thanks

[@BruteWillis]

Doesnt that frame catch fire?

[@ShadeRaven222]

Why is there country music playing when I should be hearing fire crackling? 🔥 also we didn't get to see the logs roll.

[@yeshuaGSF]

Wait this isn't Coalcracker Bushcraft...

[@MarineElectrical]

And the sliding sticks are fireproofed or what?

[@michaelwoodward5787]

How do you pound sticks into frozen ground?

[@dennisjacques1817]

Never seen ground that was covered in snow but not frozen... ??? Man, tis little you know of the out doors!

[@Brandon_Balentine]

Was this guy on "Alone"?

[@punisher9oneone]

Yes

[@arildbergstrm9065]

Have you seen the Norwegian "Nying" ?

[@donprosser7039]

Totally AWESOME vid!

[@karlwhite8897]

Rite the v shape that hold the wood are made of wood. Why don't thay burn and collapse,??? ¿

[@unsocialburrito7179]

What on earth did he use to light it!?

[@charlesmckinney]

Sweet fire match

[@donaldreaves3533]

Must the logs be round shape or can split wood in quarters work?

[@YouTubeAreCommunistScum]

Perfection

[@contentofcharacter]

What keeps the uprights from catching fire?

[@beatbasher]

Pile and compact dirt around the feeder legs.

[@GruntProof]

Nice

[@cubul32]

Do you think this method could be used to thaw frozen earth?

[@HydroTiger]

What did you use to light that fire?

[@niekas03]

The thumbnail looks bizarre

[@bigbraveduck3084]

Wtf kind of match is he using??!

[@charlesmckinney]

Sweet fire match by UCO

[@ambienceofnorway34]

Awesome! :D

[@LittleTea62]

what saw are you using?

[@SuperSouthstreet]

Good luck pounding stakes into frozen ground.

[@rterry2752]

turn, pick up log, put on fire

[@johnjackson9767]

Wake up every hour or so to stoke fire.

[@alencko7114]

It would be funny to see burning logs of wood rolling into the jungle in the middle of the night!😁😁but I guess the chances are low, right 👍🙄😁😂

[@alldog222]

ty

[@theun4giv3n]

No time lapse. No proof it works.

[@dpc0809]

Interesting idea but unless you’re goal is to keep wild animals away, for warmth you’re better off investing in a appropriately cold rated sleeping bag and let your trapped body heat keep you warm. Nice partner or even a dog are good warm options too.

[@reddrw1]

What was that you used to start the fire with ?

[@VeniVidiVici911]

America 🇺🇸

[@SenselessTalk]

Geeze i just wanna see i didn't know this is a tutorial. My attention span is killing me.

[@tomaszstarega2992]

We all know theory. It would be good to see it really worked... So far no proof that it works at all.... Good video and A for efforts though 😉👍

[@spencertuia1232]

Check out bob hansler video. He went 14 hours without adding more wood

[@hmax1591]

Impractical. That doesn't work as intended. Go ahead, where are you going to lay to get warmth? Warm air rises in the middle, little heat to sides.

[@kalfaxplays7899]

build it under some rocky shelter and you'll still keep warm with this type of fire. even without that it's still gonna keep you warm if you're close to it.

[@lowelldevall1348]

@@kalfaxplays7899 it'll keep your midriff warm thats all.

[@scpc2006]

I use a canvas lean to and the fire does help keep warm by reflecting heat. Also helps to use a back board to reflect heat towards your shelter.

[@lowelldevall1348]

y'all don't do this, especially in dry conditions. The support structure catches fire as all flame moves upward. A long fire is much more appropriate and heats a greater area then the fire shown here. There's no such thing as an unattended all night fire. Starting your fire at the top and burning downward is a better idea that can last up to 5-7 hours in a safe manner.

[@jetanefshat5070]

Like

[@wicketuma444]

It's not as good as it sounds. Sorry, doesn't work.