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How difficult can it be to properly stack and light wood in the fire bowl? In fact, this endeavor is straightforward - as long as you use the right wood and the right technique. The wrong type of wood or even damp wood as well as other mistakes quickly lead to smoke and sparks. Both can be avoided.
The classic pyramid shape burns well and looks pretty
Which fuel is suitable for the fire bowl?
To kindle wood, you need two different types of wood: a soft wood (e.g. fir or spruce) and a hard wood (e.g. oak or beech). Softwood has the property of igniting very easily. But it doesn't burn for long and hardly forms any embers. Hard wood, on the other hand, is difficult to ignite, but burns for a very long time and glows well. So you take softwood logs to light the fire - which is why they are placed in the bottom center of the fire bowl - and layer the hardwood logs on top. You can also use charcoal instead of softwood. Only use well-seasoned and dry wood with a maximum residual moisture content of 20 percent. The burning of fresh, damp wood is prohibited due to the strong smoke development.
Layer the wood correctly in the fire bowl
There are various ways of layering the wood, with the two described below having proven to be particularly practical.
The classic pyramid shape
The best way to do this type of stacking is as follows:
- Crumple up two or three pages of a newspaper and place them in the center of the fire pit.
- Arrange thin softwood shavings or twigs in a pyramid shape around it.
- This is followed by a layer of slightly thicker softwood knots.
- First, light this pyramid on the paper.
- The flame should spread to the softwood.
- if necessary, you can also use a grill lighter.
- When the fire is burning, gradually add more, larger logs.
- Now use hardwood.
- However, not too many logs at once, otherwise the flame will be smothered.
The block layering
This stacking has also proven its worth, although you always have to ensure that there is sufficient distance between the logs: this is the only way to ensure that the fire is supplied with oxygen.
- Place blocks of softwood parallel to each other in the fire bowl, three centimeters apart.
- Then there is a second layer, but rotated by 90°.
- Light the wood, if necessary use newspaper and/or firelighters.
- Now add hardwood logs, but not too many at once.
tips
Never use an accelerant such as gasoline. This can quickly lead to a flash fire, which may seriously injure bystanders.