For first-timers out there who are thinking of going for their ultimate outdoor experience, this article will teach you how to make your own light in the middle of the forest.

Congratulations! You have just gathered all the courage to put details on your camping trip. I’m so proud of you.

Now, you have to start making a list to prepare for your adventure in the middle of the forest. The first item on your checklist is knowing how to make a torch in the woods.

We all have been taught in Science class how to make a fire without fuel or a lighter. We were all amazed and thrilled that we did. So, now, what?

Aside from having a light, there are different ways where a torch can be helpful. It is useful when you need to sterilize water, prepare food, signal for help, protect yourself from wild animals, and provide light and warmth.

Let’s jump right into it and make a DIY torch you can use on your nature trip.

3 Ways to Make a Torch

Making a torch in the wild can be hard, but here are three methods to choose from that are doable.

1. The Primitive Way

Making a torch in the woods is an essential survival skill that has been used for centuries. It requires knowledge of which type of wood to use, how to wrap it with something flammable, and what chemical materials will help ignite the flame.

Choosing the right kind of wood plays an important role when making a torch because different types have varying burn durations; cattails or river cane are good choices since their moist or green branches and, therefore, less likely than dry wood to catch fire easily.

Wrapping several wooden sticks together creates a sturdy base for your torch. You don’t need anything else besides these natural resources available in most forests, where torches can be made outdoors without any specialized tools required!

To ensure there’s enough light while building your DIY project before nightfall, search out birch bark if possible.

This material provides excellent fuel once bundled up into circles filled with grass leaves or other organic matter, providing the oxygen flow necessary for combustion.

Then add some oil, animal fat, tree sap, pine pitch (or even gasoline if supplies permit) into the mixture on top of that.

Afterward, strike a match against a freshly-made bundle and watch sparks engulf the entire torch within minutes creating a stable source of illumination during the dark hours ahead!

It may take practice, but learning how to build an essential torch from scratch could eventually become a helpful skill in ensuring safety. This is especially useful in situations like scaring away wild animals coming too close to campfire sites at night, giving an extra layer of protection.

If you need help to make a fire in the wild, this article will help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E3HAPrQbIs

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2. The Minimalist Way

This is a good alternative if you can’t locate any cattails nearby.

The primary concept behind a minimalistic torch is to use any stick as a base and any burning substance as the torch’s head. To construct a long-lasting torch, add a flammable liquid to this cloth.

Even if you don’t utilize gasoline, oil, or any other particular liquids, a torch will still generate light, but it will burn out quickly. The wick-making technique is essential since you’ll need it to make a torch hold fire.

Getting a stick is usually the first step. Make sure it’s at least two feet long and two inches thick. A green branch stick or moist branch is preferable similar to what I have mentioned in the primitive method.

After this, you should create a long-lasting wick. And then, a cotton shirt or birch bark can form stripes for your torch. You can cut any of these materials into 2-foot long, 6-inch wide strips.

Next, you can use a rope or thread to secure the material to the piece of wood so that it doesn’t fall off.

I know you have listed the survival EDC (Everyday Carry) pack on your list, and paraffin is one of the items in that kit. Having one is essential, so you can use the paraffin to soak a wick in a flammable liquid.

Use edible fuel like oil from corn and soybeans. You can also use other oils like palm oil, cooking oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower, and linseed oil aside from animal fat or tree sap without ready-to-use flammable liquid items.

There is no need to use an ignition source with a birch wick since it includes natural flammable ingredients.

When using this DIY torch, ensure the material is completely submerged in oil, gasoline, or another liquid to prevent the wick from being consumed. As oil burns, the wood handle must be intact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpci1nxvhSk

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3. The Survivalist Way

Simple and efficient, this pine pitch torch is a must-have. If you live on the US West Coast, where birch trees are scarce, this option is better than the previous methods.

The procedure is quite similar to making a fire with the primitive or minimalist torch ways. You’ll begin by splitting the end of a greenwood stick in half to hold your wick and burn fuel.

Then, find and collect resin from a pine, spruce, or fir tree, which you may use to make a fire. When a branch falls off, trees secrete resin to protect themselves. Resin often appears where you remove the bark. You can remove this soft resin from the tree with a knife.

Don’t worry. You will not harm it in the process.

To form a wick for your torch, you can use a pine cone, a cattail, or an old pair of socks.

To make a fire torch the survivalist way, or may I dare say the professional way, you must have a secure handle like the previous two methods. Plant the stick handle into the ground with the splayed end facing up.

Then, you can use the sticks to keep the handle’s spread ends open for a short time. If you remember to pack a pair of gloves, you may use a repurposed tin can or similar object to melt your resin. Once the resin has melted, dip your wick into the tin can and coat it.

If you don’t have access to a tin can for melting, you may still use the resin by smearing it directly onto the wick of your choice, although the results may be less than optimal. Then ensure you have inserted the wick into the handle’s split ends.

To better fasten the end, remove the sticks holding it open and fire up the wick after adding extra resin to it using your fingertip or a spoon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pTnSrmtsjQ

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FAQs

Here are some common related questions.

Can You Make A Torch Out Of A Cattail?

Yes, you can make a torch out of a cattail. To do this, first, remove the fluff from the top and cut off about one-third of it at an angle to create a pointy end for your wick.

Then soak your remaining two-thirds in oil or melted animal fat until saturated with fuel. Finally, light up the pointed end like any other candle!

How Do You Make A Torch In The Desert?

You can make a torch in the desert by finding materials such as branches, dried grasses, or other plant materials and wrapping them into bundles. Once you have your bundle of fuel, use rocks to create an open-faced fire pit with enough space for air circulation under it.

Place the tinder inside the pit and light using matches or another flame source. You may also need some kindling (small pieces of wood) to keep your fire going longer before adding larger logs later on if needed.

Last Words

With no campfire or flashlight for lighting, anything can happen to you at any time in the forest. That’s why it’s crucial to be able to build a fire and make a torch while you’re out in the wild. 

A flashlight is a must-have if you get lost in the woods or want to hike at night. But batteries aren’t going to last very long, especially if you are planning to stay in the woods for a long time.  Making torches is one of the survivalist skills you should learn to survive in the wild.

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