- Joined
- Jan 20, 1999
- Messages
- 738
Piet,
My comment:
was directed to your statement quoted at the top of this message. I still have the large Military Firesteels that I received from you, and you also mentioned...along with my keychain chunk of Maya wood.
So my brief, unimportant inquiry was just concerning what smaller size you were talking about. I recall the light-my-fire site had more infomation in the past, but apparently they are currently in the process of redoing it. It also discussed Maya wood.
The appearance of Maya wood is much like that depicted on the websites which mention fatwood. I do not know if they are the same.
A www.google.com search for the term "fatwood" will bring up several interesting links describing and selling same. Some of them discuss its origins more thoughly than others. The real fatwood comes from longleaf pines from the southern United States. One definition closely identifies it with Georgia and Florida.....so, living in Florida, I am going to keep on the lookout for it. One site mentioned Shell Lumber/Ace Hardware having it. I pass this all the time on the metrorail, but have never stopped there. Generally this entails harvesting stumps that have been left. The stumps are still there, preserved by the high concentration of resins.
My parents in Maryland, have a fire place, so guess what they may, in part, get for Christmas this year? I might just have to hang onto a few chunks.
Of course since they also subscribe to the newspaper and keep kindling on hand, they may not really need fatwood, but it is nice.I recall that I did try to light a couple of slivers of the Mayawood with the Firesteel, but it did not work. I also recall reading that it was possible to light it directly with the Firesteel. What am I missing? Do you have to scrape it, smash the slivers, etc.? (Perhaps my spark was misdirected or I read wrong.)
Since this thread was ostensibly about Piet's BB9, I guess I will mention that after using it and beating on it with a baton, that it was still shaving sharp. That wasn't good enough, so with a little stropping it was hair popping sharp.
P.S. I meant to mention that fatwood seems to be selling for about $1.60 to $2.00 per pound, before shipping, and Bug in a post that he made while I was typing mine, apparently found it with shipping included.
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