- Joined
- Feb 8, 2005
- Messages
- 1,135
Hi,
Just really posting this for the sake of others who have heard of Fatwood/pitchwood, but have not had opportunity to get some in the Woods, or have wondered if it was as awesome as so many folks make it out to be.
(BTW - It is
)
If you have access to an area that has pine trees in it - no need for you to have to spend your hard earned $ to buy Fatwood - until you have taken a stroll through the Pines for a look.
Here's an example; Went for a walk with my dog a few weeks ago on our property and found a large Pine that had fallen over due to a storm.
Key thing was that when it fell over - many of the roots were exposed.
I chopped off a couple of the smaller roots - there was so much concentrated resin - the wood was a deep redish brown, a little sticky to the touch (though not much - as again it had been down for some time) - and beautifully aromatic. - best Fat wood score I have ever had & since it had been down for some time - it was not messy at all to clean my chopper when I got back:thumbup:.
Nutshell Version - look for fallen Pines, and keep ready eye out for any with exposed roots - as that is the most concentrated area - and the easiest to harvest. - you just chop off what you want.
To give a little idea of exactly how wonderfully flamable the savings are - it literally only takes a few sparks - and you have flame.
Also, another good indicator of whether or not you have some really good fatwood - is the "Sheen" factor.
The glossier the wood looks, combined with the darker color (the wonderful smell), and either a little or a lot of sticky residue on your harvesting tool - are all combined indicators of the quality of the score.
How do you know it is good Fatwood? - Test 1
When in doubt, clear a small test area on the ground, peel off a few wood curls, and try it with a lighter - you should only have to barely and I mean barely touch the curl - and it should ignite immediately- there will also be kind of a popping/sizzling noise - which indicates a lot of resin - the flame will also continue to move along the curl/shaving- popping as it goes - if it is really good fatwood, you can hold a larger curl and light the top of it, and the flame will travel downwards on the curl, almost like a candle.
Note - If it does not immediately ignite/have the light popping / sizzling sound - it's not the good stuff (based on my limited experience anyway)
Test 2
If it passes Test 1, try igniting some of the thin curls with your Firesteel - if you have a good throw of sparks - it should ignite very readily as well.
Last note - if you find an old pine that has exposed roots - don't give up if the outside of the roots feel a little punky from exposure to the weather.
Once you cut away the punky wood - unless it has been down for a long, long time - the pitch wood shoud be preserved underneath of it, as the Resin is an awesome preservative/sealant from the elements.
Remember - Fat wood is:
F - Found in in the roots/trunk of fallen Pines.
A - Available in any area where there are fallen Pines present.
T - Testable (is that a word?
) on the spot - no need to wonder if you have found the good stuff - just experiment.
When you do that - you can save your $ for one of those cool knives that Hollowdweller always posts just to drive us insane.
Be Well,
sp
Just really posting this for the sake of others who have heard of Fatwood/pitchwood, but have not had opportunity to get some in the Woods, or have wondered if it was as awesome as so many folks make it out to be.
(BTW - It is
)If you have access to an area that has pine trees in it - no need for you to have to spend your hard earned $ to buy Fatwood - until you have taken a stroll through the Pines for a look.
Here's an example; Went for a walk with my dog a few weeks ago on our property and found a large Pine that had fallen over due to a storm.
Key thing was that when it fell over - many of the roots were exposed.
I chopped off a couple of the smaller roots - there was so much concentrated resin - the wood was a deep redish brown, a little sticky to the touch (though not much - as again it had been down for some time) - and beautifully aromatic. - best Fat wood score I have ever had & since it had been down for some time - it was not messy at all to clean my chopper when I got back:thumbup:.
Nutshell Version - look for fallen Pines, and keep ready eye out for any with exposed roots - as that is the most concentrated area - and the easiest to harvest. - you just chop off what you want.
To give a little idea of exactly how wonderfully flamable the savings are - it literally only takes a few sparks - and you have flame.
Also, another good indicator of whether or not you have some really good fatwood - is the "Sheen" factor.
The glossier the wood looks, combined with the darker color (the wonderful smell), and either a little or a lot of sticky residue on your harvesting tool - are all combined indicators of the quality of the score.
How do you know it is good Fatwood? - Test 1
When in doubt, clear a small test area on the ground, peel off a few wood curls, and try it with a lighter - you should only have to barely and I mean barely touch the curl - and it should ignite immediately- there will also be kind of a popping/sizzling noise - which indicates a lot of resin - the flame will also continue to move along the curl/shaving- popping as it goes - if it is really good fatwood, you can hold a larger curl and light the top of it, and the flame will travel downwards on the curl, almost like a candle.
Note - If it does not immediately ignite/have the light popping / sizzling sound - it's not the good stuff (based on my limited experience anyway)
Test 2
If it passes Test 1, try igniting some of the thin curls with your Firesteel - if you have a good throw of sparks - it should ignite very readily as well.
Last note - if you find an old pine that has exposed roots - don't give up if the outside of the roots feel a little punky from exposure to the weather.
Once you cut away the punky wood - unless it has been down for a long, long time - the pitch wood shoud be preserved underneath of it, as the Resin is an awesome preservative/sealant from the elements.
Remember - Fat wood is:
F - Found in in the roots/trunk of fallen Pines.
A - Available in any area where there are fallen Pines present.
T - Testable (is that a word?
) on the spot - no need to wonder if you have found the good stuff - just experiment.When you do that - you can save your $ for one of those cool knives that Hollowdweller always posts just to drive us insane.
Be Well,
sp
Man that is sweeeeeeeeet :thumbup:
