Cheatgrass

[RancidSumo]

Anyone use cheatgrass as tinder? It grows all over the place here (WY), lights easily, and practically explodes when lit. I've been trying to think of something that would be a good tinder around my area (SW Wyoming) and this seems to jump out. I'll try starting a fire with some this weekend but I figured I would ask how it has worked for any of you.

 

[smcclown05]

I've never heard of Cheatgrass. Sounds like great stuff. Any chance you could post a pic?

 

[RancidSumo]

Sure. I will try to get out and test it tomorrow along with sagebrush and scrub oak.

 

[Bushman5]

hey sweet! we got Cheatgrass here in BC Canada!

http://www.weedsbc.ca/weed_desc/cheatgrass.html

 

[RancidSumo]

I found some today growing near the college so after class I cut some and lit it with a Bic (I couldn't find my Light My Fire stick). It lit right away and one stalk of it burned very well before I put it out (I didn't think the college would appreciate me lighting fires in the parking lot). I have a lot more in my car now and I'll try lighting with sparks tomorrow.

 

[RancidSumo]

hey sweet! we got Cheatgrass here in BC Canada!

http://www.weedsbc.ca/weed_desc/cheatgrass.html

That isn't a good thing. It is an invasive species that takes over and can cause huge wildfires. The only good thing about it is that it will likely make good tinder.

 

[RancidSumo]

I went out today looking for some and found it growing all along the highway along with another type of grass that I tested.

This is the cheatgrass-

And this is the other grass-

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the first burning since my sister was in charge of that and didn't get any pictures off. I did however get pictures of the other-

In the back of the first pic you can see a bit of the cheatgrass. It caught some sparks as well and started up.
Both lit easily with a couple of strikes on this-

The tops on both burned quickly and then the stalks burned fairly slow. I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know but it looks to me like it would make very good tinder.

 

[Fletcher Knives]

We have that stuff EVERYWHERE in GA. I use it on the regular as good tinder. Stuff will teake a spark like nobody's bidness when it's dry. When the humidity is really high it's hard to use as a starter, but will still work well as fuel to get your fire going hotter quicker. Good stuff. Another thing we have all over is cattails. The fluff in those things is like cottonballs for starting fires.