- Joined
- Feb 18, 2009
- Messages
- 4,573
Okay, I’m new to this fatwood thing. Here on the W&SS forums I’ve seen numerous examples of fatwood being used to start fires: there have been threads on how to find it, how to process it, what it smells like, etc., etc., so I knew I wanted to give it a try. I wanted to be in on the Great Fatwoody secret, too, so I went in search of this marvelous material.
I searched high and low but — despite my best efforts — couldn’t find a single fatwood stump. I found numerous palm trees, bougainvillea, dry grass and assorted other tropical and semi-tropical plants, but no fatwood at all on my entire block! Can you believe it? I was hoping this stuff could be found anywhere, so I could enjoy the rich pine scent (oh, and fire making abilities) of fatwood — just like my W&SS brethren. I’m beginning to think that it just can’t be found near sea level in semi-tropical climes. Well, what’s a boy to do — okay, hardly a boy since I’m in my mid sixties — when they can’t find fatwood?
The “wilds” of San Diego, as viewed from my porch: no fatwood in sight.
Fortunately, brother Mistwalker came to my rescue (thanks, Mist). Yes, Mistwalker truly does rock: he has saved me from being fatwoodless for the rest of my days. Now I, too, can know the joys of inhaling the wonderful aroma of fatwood. Now my humble dwelling can smell like a Christmas tree (instead of old gym socks), even though I don’t have one. When I opened my mailbox yesterday, I was astonished to find a whole box of this fantastic stuff. Okay, I wasn’t really astonished, since I knew it was coming: I just like using the word astonished at this time of day.
As I was investigating the box of fatwood to select the most appropriate piece for this trial, I came across a piece of what appears to be chert. That was very thoughtful of Mistwalker to include that, since I think he knows that I think rocks Rock. I’ll try using that first to get a spark from the firesteel. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try using the piece of rock I used for an earlier thread (with a palm frond, no less): I know that works. But if for some reason it doesn’t, we’re going to the back of the Silky saw: that, brothers and sisters, throws some sparks. Can I get an amen, here?
The thing that Mistwalker requested of me was to do a thread with some pictures when I tried it, and to use a Going Gear firesteel to light it. He specified the Going Gear firesteel because he doesn’t have one yet, and wants to know how well it works. Well, that seems like a reasonable request to me, so that’s what I’m doing.
Please note that we’re in the middle of our yearly rain here at the moment (it could last all day), so I’m not taking off for a more appropriate woodland setting to take my pics. Actually, I couldn’t even if I wanted to, because the truck’s broken, so you’ll have to settle for pics on my porch.
For this exercise, I’ll be using the tools I would most likely have with me if I actually were out in the bush somewhere. I will use my Silky Super Accel 210 folding saw to cut a piece of the fatwood to a more appropriate length, and probably to create sparks from my Going Gear firesteel, too. For splitting the sticks into more usable sizes, I’ll use a Becker BK-2 fixed blade (great splitter), and I’ll see what kind of shavings and fuzzies I can make with it, too. It makes good fuzzies with a lot of different woods, but I’ve never tried it with fatwood. If necessary, I’ll turn to my ancient — but trusty — Buck 112 for the fuzz sticks. I somehow don’t think I’ll need my 14 inch bolo for this (c’mon... the sticks are only about 10 inches long. I mean, really, the machete might be overkill).
The implements — and the wood and rock — all laid out.
Silky saw and fatwood.
Silky saw and cut wood.
BK-2 and wood.
BK-2 and split wood.
Fuzzy stick and sawdust.
Close up of fuzzy stick, sawdust and GG firesteel in pan.
Whoa! Success! Fire in the pan!
So that’s it, fam. Fatwood in the wilds of San Diego. Here’s what I learned in doing this:
1.) Fatwood’s cool. Just as cool as everyone says it is. Smells just as good, too.
2.) I really need to play with it more to truly get the hang of it. It makes good fuzzies really easily, but I should have made more, bigger ones than I did. It makes shavings really, really well: it’s a cinch to work with.
3.) The shavings take a spark far better than my pathetic fuzzies.
Since I was trying to hit the fuzz sticks, then shavings, in a cast iron pan, I need to improve my aim. In that little space I couldn’t get Mist’s rock to throw enough sparks, nor my rock, either, for that matter. The back of my Silky saw, however, threw BIG sparks. I need to practice more with the stone that Mist sent me, and possibly flake off a little sharper edge. All in all, though, I really like this fatwood stuff. Just wish it grew on my block.
I searched high and low but — despite my best efforts — couldn’t find a single fatwood stump. I found numerous palm trees, bougainvillea, dry grass and assorted other tropical and semi-tropical plants, but no fatwood at all on my entire block! Can you believe it? I was hoping this stuff could be found anywhere, so I could enjoy the rich pine scent (oh, and fire making abilities) of fatwood — just like my W&SS brethren. I’m beginning to think that it just can’t be found near sea level in semi-tropical climes. Well, what’s a boy to do — okay, hardly a boy since I’m in my mid sixties — when they can’t find fatwood?
The “wilds” of San Diego, as viewed from my porch: no fatwood in sight.
Fortunately, brother Mistwalker came to my rescue (thanks, Mist). Yes, Mistwalker truly does rock: he has saved me from being fatwoodless for the rest of my days. Now I, too, can know the joys of inhaling the wonderful aroma of fatwood. Now my humble dwelling can smell like a Christmas tree (instead of old gym socks), even though I don’t have one. When I opened my mailbox yesterday, I was astonished to find a whole box of this fantastic stuff. Okay, I wasn’t really astonished, since I knew it was coming: I just like using the word astonished at this time of day.
As I was investigating the box of fatwood to select the most appropriate piece for this trial, I came across a piece of what appears to be chert. That was very thoughtful of Mistwalker to include that, since I think he knows that I think rocks Rock. I’ll try using that first to get a spark from the firesteel. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try using the piece of rock I used for an earlier thread (with a palm frond, no less): I know that works. But if for some reason it doesn’t, we’re going to the back of the Silky saw: that, brothers and sisters, throws some sparks. Can I get an amen, here?
The thing that Mistwalker requested of me was to do a thread with some pictures when I tried it, and to use a Going Gear firesteel to light it. He specified the Going Gear firesteel because he doesn’t have one yet, and wants to know how well it works. Well, that seems like a reasonable request to me, so that’s what I’m doing.
Please note that we’re in the middle of our yearly rain here at the moment (it could last all day), so I’m not taking off for a more appropriate woodland setting to take my pics. Actually, I couldn’t even if I wanted to, because the truck’s broken, so you’ll have to settle for pics on my porch.
For this exercise, I’ll be using the tools I would most likely have with me if I actually were out in the bush somewhere. I will use my Silky Super Accel 210 folding saw to cut a piece of the fatwood to a more appropriate length, and probably to create sparks from my Going Gear firesteel, too. For splitting the sticks into more usable sizes, I’ll use a Becker BK-2 fixed blade (great splitter), and I’ll see what kind of shavings and fuzzies I can make with it, too. It makes good fuzzies with a lot of different woods, but I’ve never tried it with fatwood. If necessary, I’ll turn to my ancient — but trusty — Buck 112 for the fuzz sticks. I somehow don’t think I’ll need my 14 inch bolo for this (c’mon... the sticks are only about 10 inches long. I mean, really, the machete might be overkill).
The implements — and the wood and rock — all laid out.
Silky saw and fatwood.
Silky saw and cut wood.
BK-2 and wood.
BK-2 and split wood.
Fuzzy stick and sawdust.
Close up of fuzzy stick, sawdust and GG firesteel in pan.
Whoa! Success! Fire in the pan!
So that’s it, fam. Fatwood in the wilds of San Diego. Here’s what I learned in doing this:
1.) Fatwood’s cool. Just as cool as everyone says it is. Smells just as good, too.
2.) I really need to play with it more to truly get the hang of it. It makes good fuzzies really easily, but I should have made more, bigger ones than I did. It makes shavings really, really well: it’s a cinch to work with.
3.) The shavings take a spark far better than my pathetic fuzzies.
Since I was trying to hit the fuzz sticks, then shavings, in a cast iron pan, I need to improve my aim. In that little space I couldn’t get Mist’s rock to throw enough sparks, nor my rock, either, for that matter. The back of my Silky saw, however, threw BIG sparks. I need to practice more with the stone that Mist sent me, and possibly flake off a little sharper edge. All in all, though, I really like this fatwood stuff. Just wish it grew on my block.
