Do auger bits actually have a place in outdoor DIY? That’s the question I set out to answer — and along the way I made sausages, fried eggs and tomatoes on a pan over a Swedish torch. Because why not.
Gear used in this video:
All gear I use is linked via Amazon — you pay the same price, and a small amount goes towards keeping this project going. I only link to gear I use and trust myself.
🔗 30mm hand auger for swedish torch
🔗 25mm hand auger for DIY in nature
The 25mm vs 30mm problem
Before I bought my first auger bit, I already knew that a Swedish torch needs at least 30mm of air through the center to burn properly. So I made sure to get a 30mm drill bit — or so I thought. What I actually got was a 30mm drill with a 25mm dowel guide at the top. The 5mm difference means more than you might think: it meant that I couldn’t make torches or furniture or tools out in nature with it, because the handle and drill didn’t fit together.
So I bought another one. A real 25mm drill with a matching 25mm dowel guide. Problem solved — almost.
Thin arms and hard work
Here’s my honest conclusion: hand-drilling a Swedish torch with a 30mm twist drill is seriously hard work. My arms aren’t exactly built for it — something I might have mentioned out loud during the filming. If you plan on making Swedish torches regularly, I would actually recommend grabbing an axe instead. A few good strokes and you’re done. Much faster and much easier on the arms.
Do they have their justification in nature?
Yes — but with the right expectations. A 25mm twist drill with a matching dowel guide is genuinely useful for DIY in the wild. Just don’t buy it with the expectation that it will replace an axe for torch making. And always check that your dowel guide and drill diameter actually match before you leave the store.
