Amadou advice needed

[Mal-J-Swaine]

Yesterday I collected some horse hoof fungus, and it was about the size of a dinner plate but I haven't been able to get much amadou substance out of it after the removal of the cuticle and spores.
But my question is what is the best way to now turn it into a tinder?
Cheers guys


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[Clouston98]

You may have found another fungus- such as an artists conk, which can look similar to the horses hoof in appearance. However the amadou layer can vary between specimens and some are better for tinder than others, so it may well be a horses hoof. I start by removing the cuticle- the hard outer layer, with a knife. I then remover the pores (Tubes) From the bottom. You are then left with a chunky piece of felty amadou. I then fill a billy can with fine hardwood ash from the fire and about half a litre of water. Make sure there is enough solution to cover what you are boiling. I then boil it in the solution for about an hour. You can also use stale urine but I haven't tried that myself and it's basically just an alkali Solution that is needed. When removed from the boil put it on something hard like a flat rock or a fallen tree and hammer it flat with the back of my axe. This makes a thin and flat sheet of amadou which can then be sliced into smaller pieces or left hole. The boiling with alkali helps it take a spark from a flint and steel or even a firesteel. Then just leave it to dry or leave it near the fire and you'll have great tinder ready to start your fires with by blowing the ember created to flames. The smoke has a lovely aromatic smell and will naturally repel insects- like a useful incense an a fire lighter in one. I make it quite often and the more I make the better the quality gets really through practice, it's a great tinder and good luck .

Hope this helps!

Edit:

In and amongst this thread there are some pictures, including steps and cross serious of the fungus:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120831

 

[Mal-J-Swaine]

Cheers Clouston it does help, I'll be doing this as soon as I get down the woods, unless is turns out too be artist conk like you said


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[palmnut]

I have good tinder from a conk, in this case made by soaking the trama layer from the conk in salt petre - works brilliantly in my fire piston.

Peter

 

[tom.moran]

I've made good tinder by simply slicing then slightly caharring artists conk

 

[Clouston98]

Aye you can use the artists conk, but it is far inferior to the horses hood if you want to make amadou .

 

[wattsy]

its better to use the small ones as they have a larger amount of trama layer relative to the total size of the fungus, freshly emerged ones can be nearly all trama layer

 

[redneck]

Theres no horses hoof near where I live so I use artists conk regularly, and it's great stuff, I've found it every bit as good as horses hoof as long as you prepare it right.

 

[Mal-J-Swaine]

Cheers guys, I find myself being humbled by the greater knowledge of people like yourselves everytime I come here. Greatly appreciated


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[tom.moran]

I have good tinder from a conk, in this case made by soaking the trama layer from the conk in salt petre - works brilliantly in my fire piston.

Peter

what solution of salt petre do you use?

 

[palmnut]

Dunno - it was a while ago and I've passed a lot of cider since I made that ;-)

I think I just stuck a couple of teaspoons of Potassium Nitrate in a cup of water, soaked the trama overnight and then hammered it thin and dried it out. Works a treat in my fire piston and takes sparks well.

Peter