BBT's official fatwood education thread,,,

trukreltrog

trukreltrog

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Oct 16, 2006
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Started a little research Brian. Started with a stump that was cut off about ground level. Totally rotten, no go. Went for a smaller one, a little higher off the ground. Found some in the center, may need a shovel and ax for some of this.

DSCI0001-2.jpg


What you think?

DSCI0002-2.jpg


This was a stump that still had a lot of hard wood in it.

DSCI0003-1.jpg


So now the education part. Whats the best way to test it, to be sure its fatwood? Or do I need to keep digging mang? Tried to ignite it with a flint and steel, no go. I've read it's not supposed to soak up water, but this is Oregon. Everything soaks up water,,, :rolleyes:

Brought a little home. Didn't want to get carried away though, until I know for sure it's fatwood. Want me to mail some to you for analysis? :D

Waiting professor,,, :)
 
is it a pine tree stump?
should be sticky and smell like turpentine.
really good fatwood is so loaded with sap that
it really cant soak up water.
should light on fire and burn great whether its
freshly chopped or well aged
 
fugawee said:
is it a pine tree stump?
should be sticky and smell like turpentine.
really good fatwood is so loaded with sap that
it really cant soak up water.
should light on fire and burn great whether its
freshly chopped or well aged
Click to expand...

ditto all of the above!!!!!
 
Light it with a match. If it is fatwood, it will burn immediately and for a long time with black smoke. As fugawee said, fatwood will not absorb water - you can soak it in a cup full of water, take it out and it will light immediately.

To use it with flint/steel or firesteel, you'll need to make fine shavings, the finer the shavings, the easier it will light with a spark.
 
I bought a little in the exchange a while back. I lit it up to see what it is supposed to do. Like you guys said, black smoke, burns well.

Thats why I was doin a little research. It is all doug fir around here in Oregon. I will bring the old lighter with me next time.

The stuff I cut in the third pic, burns okay, not as well as the stuff I bought though. So I'll have to go back with the lighter, and cut deeper into it. :thumbup:
 
Raining said:
Light it with a match. If it is fatwood, it will burn immediately and for a long time with black smoke. As fugawee said, fatwood will not absorb water - you can soak it in a cup full of water, take it out and it will light immediately.

To use it with flint/steel or firesteel, you'll need to make fine shavings, the finer the shavings, the easier it will light with a spark.
Click to expand...


+1:thumbup:

Kurt, it looks like fatwood and sounds like it should be, from the description of where you obtained it.
I'll use an axe around the outer few inches of a stump, then take my Chopper and start prying off splinters of fatwood.
 
Cool,

Yeah the outer few inches was rotten, inner stuff was hard. I'll go back out in the morn and tear it up some more. :)

Heck, it was raining again today. Maybe I'll build a fire too,,, :D
 
Yeah, we got wet today too. Time to parctice wet fire building again, I miss summer already.
 
Wow thanks Kurt.:thumbup: Fatwood is created when a tree is cut/knocked down. The root system tries for years to deliver food/resin to the tree and it all accumulates in the stump. The wood becomes very dense and resinous with all the food/resin for the entire tree condensed into the stump. Thanks again man.
 
The professor is in.

Only picked up a little today, doesn't burn so well. Gonna try again tomorrow, with a big ax, and some matches. :D

It has a stong smell to it, sap on the ends. Doesn't readily ignite or burn with black smoke. We'll see mang,,, :cool:
 
Kurt, you will know it when you find it. It is very tough stuff. A pencil sized piece will light pretty easily with a match and continue to burn for a several minutes. It is much darker than fresh cut pine too.
 
Forgot the camera today. Found a little bit, not as easy as I thought it might be. :o


Question for you guys on the wet side of the Pacific North West. Where is the best place to look for fatwood?

I found a little in the reprod, which was around 50 ft tall. Is there a better place? Maybe older timber? Younger reprod? Clear cut? Found out the old timers call it buckskin around here. Thanks,,, :)



Should of brought my rifle, I could of had a Yote today,,,:(


Have to go catch a Zombie Flik now. :D
 
trukreltrog said:
Forgot the camera today. Found a little bit, not as easy as I thought it might be. :o


Question for you guys on the wet side of the Pacific North West. Where is the best place to look for fatwood?

I found a little in the reprod, which was around 50 ft tall. Is there a better place? Maybe older timber? Younger reprod? Clear cut? Found out the old timers call it buckskin around here. Thanks,,, :)



Should of brought my rifle, I could of had a Yote today,,,:(


Have to go catch a Zombie Flik now. :D
Click to expand...

Kurt, I think an area that was clear cut a couple years ago would be perfect. The stump needs time to fill with resin.
 
Kurt, the Weyerhaeuser land up around Mt St Helens is great, lots of stumps up there. Also out in the Gorge there seems to be a good supply, Wa and OR side.
The clear cut due west of me, on your side of the Columbia should yield also.
 
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