(212/250)

Always thought that tree rinds would make good kindling until recently while trying to start a and it failing after multiple attempts. Under closer inspection I realized that they were producing a lot of smoke but not feeding the fire.

Further I suspect, even if the rinds are under cover, though stored outside, that they can sponge up some of the humidity and thus leading to the higher smoke amount, especially if it rain in the recent time.

(213/250)

The only technique I was taught by my father was the teepee method and it seems like the standard that most people (only) know.

When showing such people the top down method aka the self feeding method, they excuse it with “it is impossible” or “that is not how fire physics works”.

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(214/250)

There are three general phases when creating a fire.

The phases being:

  1. The initial lighting phase until the first coals appear.
  2. Initial coals exist though still have initial kindling and/or need be fed consistantly to keep the fire going.
  3. No real knowledge or attention needed to keep the fire going. Just occasionally add fuel and ignore for awhile.

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(215/250)

The main difference between the teepee method and self feeding method is the direction the coals travel and/or the location of the fuel source in the second phase.

With the teepee method the coals stay at the bottom and the fuel is from above.

Whereas with the self feeding the coals start at the top and slowly burn its way to the bottom and taking the fuel initially from the bottom and later from the sides.

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(216/250)

Two other noticeable differences is the amount of smoke and the heat.

The teepee method generally is cooler and produces more smoke. The coolness is due to the lack of air flow and smoke amount from the amount of obstruction between the flame and the sky/top.

On the other side, the self feeding method generally is hotter and produces less smoke, since it is the opposite of the teepee method.

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(217/250)

Although the teepee and self feeding differ in the second phase, they are the same both in the first and third phase.

Except the self feeding method has more prep time before the initial liting, whereas the teepee method is faster. Though it does require more maintenance in the second phase compared to the self feeding. Thus time wise they both need about the same amount to reach the three phase.

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