FAQs About Tiki Torches

Learn more about stylish and functional tiki torches, a great way to provide light, heat, and style to an outdoor gathering. This list of FAQs provides information about the history, use, and care of tiki torches.

FAQs About Tiki Torches

What exactly is tiki?

Tiki refers to a particular hybrid of American and Polynesian culture. Inspired by the art, music, and customs of the South Pacific, American artists in film, cuisine, and music began to incorporate these themes into popular entertainment. The resulting genre, replete with flaming torches, masks, and tropical decorations, came to be known as tiki.

What is a tiki torch?

A pole tiki torches consist of a pole (often made of bamboo) and a burner. Although many varieties abound, it is precisely because of their simplicity that tiki torches enjoy such widespread popularity. Some use refillable containers of oil (either paraffin or citronella) as fuel, while more advanced models connect to natural gas lines or propane tanks.

How long will a torch burn?

Depending on the fuel type, a torch can burn anywhere from several hours to indefinitely. Torches that consume refillable oil generally burn from 6 to 16 hours before requiring a refill. Propane torches that attach to a propane tank could burn for several days uninterrupted, safety concerns notwithstanding; the larger the volume of fuel, the more time the torch would burn. Natural gas torches would burn as long as fuel continued through the line. No gas torch should ever be left to burn unattended and the heads of torches require a periodic check for the accumulation of carbon and debris.

Will the torch stay lit in the wind?

Because they consume highly flammable fuels, torches can maintain a flame in winds in excess of 10 miles per hour. They can also withstand rain or snow in small amounts.

Can you move a torch once it's planted?

Portable torches can be repositioned at any time, although for safety a lit torch should never be moved. As long as any combustible matter remains a safe distance from the flame (a branch, fabric, or any other material that might swing into the fire) and the torch is planted properly, a portable torch can be moved as often as necessary. Permanent torches, fed by natural gas lines, cannot be moved without professional reinstallation.