Types of tinder in NE USA.
- Thread starter usarmyfl
- Start date
-
Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.
Birch bark birch bark birch bark hehehe. Burns dry and soaking wet. Once scrapped with a knife for fine tinder it will take a spark with ease! We also have a lot of standing grasses that can be used as well. find the dead stuff. A small bundle of dried leaves crushed in the hands will also work well. Take your knife to just about any tree with rough barks and scrape and gather the dust you make from it, throw a spark! We have many good tinders.
I'm from Michigan and I harvest tinder fungus all the time. Mostly grows on birch trees. It will take the weakest spark. Perfect for flint and steel as well as the firepiston.
I love tinder fungus (innonotus obliquus), when I can find it. But most of the time I use the dried inner bark off of cedar trees as my "tinder" and catch my spark in a small chunk of tinder fungus (or even charclothe).
But a little clarification would be helpful. Are you intending to use a traditional flint/steel or those modern ferro-cerrium rod "fire steels" - or "flint" as that survivor tv show calls it?
Those modern ferro-cerrium rods can produce lots of hot sparks by just scraping them. Those sparks are enough to get many "tinder materials" burning by themselves. A traditional steel flint striker requires more ... preparation.
Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands
But a little clarification would be helpful. Are you intending to use a traditional flint/steel or those modern ferro-cerrium rod "fire steels" - or "flint" as that survivor tv show calls it?
Those modern ferro-cerrium rods can produce lots of hot sparks by just scraping them. Those sparks are enough to get many "tinder materials" burning by themselves. A traditional steel flint striker requires more ... preparation.
Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands
No tinder fungus proper here in the Ozarks. I have charred shelf fungus which will take and hold a spark OK. As for unprepared materials around here, cattail fluff, thistle down, and similar stuff when in season. In the deeper woods you won't find it. I then scrape or shred cedar bark from down low on the trunk due to it being dry even in the rain usually. Grape vine, same o.
I don't do historical trekking anymore, but still hunt with a flintlock about half the time. The lock is a ready made flint and steel. I plug the touch hole and put some ffff powder in some shredded bark, stick it in the pan and snap the lock. Presto.
I don't do historical trekking anymore, but still hunt with a flintlock about half the time. The lock is a ready made flint and steel. I plug the touch hole and put some ffff powder in some shredded bark, stick it in the pan and snap the lock. Presto.
If you can't find anything suitable, and don't have the time to spend looking just buy a roll of Jute twine. Cut off several 6 inch (approx 15 cm.) pieces and untwist each piece. It will break down into about 3 strands. Then untwist each of these smaller strands. You will end up with a small pile of what looks a lot like reddish-blond hair. when you apply flame it will practically explode. I have never tried it with my flint/steel or my ferro-cerium rod. (shame on me!) lol.
As big knives go, it's been a good one. Mine has micarta scales on it now. Don't carry it much except when I know I will need it, like for building hunting blinds, clearing shooting lanes, or harvesting tinder fungus. An Ontario 12" machete works for me as well. For general bombing around in the woods, I prefer something not quite so heavy.
belly button lint (remove from belly button first, ouch!)
Even in winter I can find dry grass on steep outcroppings; birchbark is easy, just look for the thinnest, most silk-like piece you can find and wrap it around the striker/ blade of the firesteel....I usually carry my firesteel wrapped in a paper towel, and use the same wrap-a-layer around the striker method and can get 2-3 fires out of it.
Even in winter I can find dry grass on steep outcroppings; birchbark is easy, just look for the thinnest, most silk-like piece you can find and wrap it around the striker/ blade of the firesteel....I usually carry my firesteel wrapped in a paper towel, and use the same wrap-a-layer around the striker method and can get 2-3 fires out of it.
Similar threads
