Birch Bark as 1st Stage Tinder?

Pritch

Pritch

Joined
May 3, 2006
Messages
1,819
Hi guys,

I have been trying different types of natural tinder and have heard that birch bark was pretty good. Will this material take a spark from a firesteel? If so, what do you do to prepare it? So far, I haven't been able to get it to lite unless I use a lighter or a match. It burns well, but I haven't been able to get it to light directly from a spark.

Any help would be appreciated.

-- FLIX
 
If you haven't seen any of Michel Blomgren survival video's check them out.

http://www.bushcraft.se/film/index.html.en

These are free videos you can download.

I seem to recall him showing how well Birch bark worked. (It's possible I could be thinking of an episode of Survivorman, but I'm pretty sure it was Michel's video.)

Edit: I think the trick is you have to scrape it with your knife some to get little shavings/fluff.
 
I've had luck lightly scraping the inner side and teasing into a little pile or ball. After that, I built up the flame with shredded pieces of birch. It's pretty plentiful here in Michigan. I'm not super efficient at blowing an ember into flame though, so if I can get it going this way, it's pretty good. It has worked alot better for me though with an open flame - less than 1 second from my zippo gets a good flame going
 
Here is what you do I use birch bark alot to start my fires. Take your firesteel and scrapes several times real fast and it will catch the bark on fire.
just scraping your fire steel just one time does not do to well. the lenght of your firesteel will also be a factor too. Just try several fast scrapes.
Take care and good luck.
Bryan
 
Hi Bryan,

I just tried the multiple fast scrape method that you suggested and got fire!!! :D

This isn't the most controllable method as it can knock your tinder all over the place.

At this point I'm thinking that birch may make a better second tier than a first.

-- FLIX
 
Hey Flix...

I've never had a problem getting ignition with dry birch bark..

alot has to do with your striker as well..
I'n using a custom made striker, ground flat on a 45, made from a 3" wide industrial hack saw,, and get sparks like no tomorrow off it...

I striker digs deep into the rod though...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
FLIX, Great job. I put my flint down on the bark and then run my scraper down the flint real fast and that seems to keep the bark in place for me.
Try that and see if it works for you.
Take care FLIX,
Bryan
 
Normark said:
Hey Flix...

I've never had a problem getting ignition with dry birch bark..

alot has to do with your striker as well..
I'n using a custom made striker, ground flat on a 45, made from a 3" wide industrial hack saw,, and get sparks like no tomorrow off it...

I striker digs deep into the rod though...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
Click to expand...

Hi Eric, I'd love to see a pic of that custom scraper of yours. No worries about eating up the firesteel - I consider those consumables anyway.

Bryan, my circumstances testing this tinder were somewhat limited, that is, in a saucer in the sink of the bathroom at my office!!! :D If I didn't isolate the rod very well, I was liable to bump the saucer and toss everything.

-- FLIX
 
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