Ok I know the title is more glamorous than what I have been up to but, I've been having a great time over the last week.
It all started with a post I put up asking for advice as all I could light was cotton wool. True to form plenty of members took the time to give info on methods of lighting and suitable tinders (Rancid Badger even went as far as sending Birch bark my way).
To give a little something back to the forum I thought I wold try to document some of my attempts at getting tinder lit in the hope that others with little experience may get a better start and the more experienced can suggest better/alternative ways to get results .
So armed with a little experience (all gained in front of the fireplace at home) and plenty of enthusiasm I headed out on my first foray to see what was about. First target was a dead Birch.
From this I got a few strips
The top piece is from Rancid Badger, the bits I cut are not as thick, the layer under the bark was very spongy (I could scrape it off with my finger) and kept breaking up. Pressing on I fluffed up what I had by scrapping the bark parallel to the grain.
Then out with the firesteel and the back of the knife, Hey presto
Next on the list was this
I think it is old mans beard, It was very wet looking sitting on the tree but since the Birch bark lit I decided to give it a try, Unfortunately I could not light it so into the pocket it went and tomorrow I will try again.
Got the Old mans beard dried and seen how it would light (Back at the fireside at home) with it being dry it light no problem, I did not find a problem with it becoming powdery but I have only had it for 48 hours.
I also collected some Bulrush (not from the forest but work) again this is very wet so I never tried to light it that will be for tomorrow.
Dried the Bulrush overnight, the seed heads seemed to be ready to be fluffed up, all I had to do was rub the knife against it and it looked like cotton wool.
Inside the house I gave it a shower of sparks....
it light very well but, as most BCUK members have advised it seemed to be all flash but no bang and the fluffed up area burned very fast. Ironicly I put the rest of the head into the wood burning in the hearth of the fire in the picture and despite the heat it resisted burning very well so I will see if there is a trick to making these a better tinder.
Regards,
Cal
It all started with a post I put up asking for advice as all I could light was cotton wool. True to form plenty of members took the time to give info on methods of lighting and suitable tinders (Rancid Badger even went as far as sending Birch bark my way).
To give a little something back to the forum I thought I wold try to document some of my attempts at getting tinder lit in the hope that others with little experience may get a better start and the more experienced can suggest better/alternative ways to get results .
So armed with a little experience (all gained in front of the fireplace at home) and plenty of enthusiasm I headed out on my first foray to see what was about. First target was a dead Birch.
From this I got a few strips
The top piece is from Rancid Badger, the bits I cut are not as thick, the layer under the bark was very spongy (I could scrape it off with my finger) and kept breaking up. Pressing on I fluffed up what I had by scrapping the bark parallel to the grain.
Then out with the firesteel and the back of the knife, Hey presto
Next on the list was this
I think it is old mans beard, It was very wet looking sitting on the tree but since the Birch bark lit I decided to give it a try, Unfortunately I could not light it so into the pocket it went and tomorrow I will try again.
Got the Old mans beard dried and seen how it would light (Back at the fireside at home) with it being dry it light no problem, I did not find a problem with it becoming powdery but I have only had it for 48 hours.
I also collected some Bulrush (not from the forest but work) again this is very wet so I never tried to light it that will be for tomorrow.
Dried the Bulrush overnight, the seed heads seemed to be ready to be fluffed up, all I had to do was rub the knife against it and it looked like cotton wool.
Inside the house I gave it a shower of sparks....
it light very well but, as most BCUK members have advised it seemed to be all flash but no bang and the fluffed up area burned very fast. Ironicly I put the rest of the head into the wood burning in the hearth of the fire in the picture and despite the heat it resisted burning very well so I will see if there is a trick to making these a better tinder.
Regards,
Cal
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