Help about Fatwood

Is it typical to find the fatwood this high on the stump or will I usually need to dig down into the roots? My other question is does the fatwood usually reside in the outer part of the tree, like that picture, or all through its thickness? Thanks for everyone that is helping with this.

KR
 
It really varies piece to piece, some have more "punk" than others, and if you just need enough to light a few fires, a 2X3 piece will get you there, unless you are in some very wet, or very cold spots. There is hardly a need to grub the whole stump, or dig down to the roots for good stuff. Just knock off the punk wood until you get to solid stuff, and make a sideways chop or sawcut, and then just split off a slab. You may want to make a mental note of where it is for future reference too. Waste not, want not.
 
kr1,
Go to your favorite woods and look for old stumps with no bark, when you find one, kick it, if it is solid as a rock cut a piece off . It should be reddish orange in color, feel kinda greasy but not really sticky and burn with a good flame with black smoke and burn for quite a while, it is very fragrant of pine and gives off the same smell when burning. I have found stumps that were rotted and the core and roots were turned so if you find one that is soft break it apart and check the center of it. Fatwood I have found is all very dense, heavy and hard, if you find light dry wood it is not what I know as fatwood. Hope this helps, Chris
 
Yeah, and it is a giant pain to break up, if you find the right stuff. I went to town on my stump last night with a brand new axe, and didn't get very far. I think I might drill a hole, stick some explosives in it, and see what happens...

Too bad I live in metro Atlanta, or I might really do that. I need to UPS it to one of you more rural guys.
 
Beckerhead, runningboar,

This is great info. Those were exactly the pieces of information that I was looking for.

Thanks much,
KR
 
You can take a squirt bottle of kerosene, or some wd-40 and just keep your saw blade slathered with it, and it wont clog as bad, because PK will gum up a saw in no time. If you make some side cuts first, it really helps with the splitting. And good really rich PK is solid as a rock, and heavy as well, and the smell is glorious to my nose.
 
Just as a postscript this was one stump that I was looking at, among others, that I thought might have some fatwood. Should I have kept working on this stump looking for some or am I looking in the wrong place? What are the odds that there would be some in a given stump? Do they all have some or is it kind of rare.

Sorry to keep up with the questions. I do appreciate the help though. :thumbup:

100_0245.jpg


KR
 
I like the evergreens that have been wounded.
The pitch just oozes out and dries, you can grab a bunch and roll it into balls.
Really helps get the fire going.
 
A little tip for ya. If possible you may want to shy away from the roots to avoid dirt and rocks damaging your blade. The smell is a surefire way to tell if its good stuff, as is a nice reddish orange waxy look. The smell is kinda like super strength pine & turpentine.
 
kr1 said:
Just as a postscript this was one stump that I was looking at, among others, that I thought might have some fatwood. Should I have kept working on this stump looking for some or am I looking in the wrong place? What are the odds that there would be some in a given stump? Do they all have some or is it kind of rare.

Sorry to keep up with the questions. I do appreciate the help though. :thumbup:

KR
Click to expand...

Yeah, the stuff on the right looks good. Put a flame to it. If it catches immediately and lets off a thick black smoke, you got it. Blow it out before you start a forest fire.

What kind of knife is that? I like it and want one. :)
 
storl said:
What kind of knife is that? I like it and want one. :)
Click to expand...

Don't know if you are kidding or not. Just in case, it's Nick Allen's Wilderness Survival forum knife. What a knife and your right beckerhead I do keep it away from the roots and rocks. ;) :p Thats what my becker BK1 is for. :eek:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482387&page=4

Unfortunately Running boar and storl I didn't take any of that. Didn’t' know until now that I may have found some. :o

Thanks again everyone,
KR
 
kr1 said:
Don't know if you are kidding or not. Just in case, it's Nick Allen's Wilderness Survival forum knife. What a knife and your right beckerhead I do keep it away from the roots and rocks. ;) :p Thats what my becker BK1 is for. :eek:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482387&page=4

Unfortunately Running boar and storl I didn't take any of that. Didn’t' know until now that I may have found some. :o

Thanks again everyone,
KR
Click to expand...

Did you just tell "Beckerhead" that your Becker BK-1 is your dig in the dirt & rocks knife? Use that BK-1 to make a digging stick, or just use that 'ole NWA for rock knockin'. :D :D :D :D
 
Running Boar's photo is the genuwine good stuff. These old stumps are straight grained and will split straighter and truer than most 2x4's you get from the building supply giants.

The knots come from further up the tree and won't split, but a 1 pound lighterd knot will start the Aggie bonfire or knock out anything or anybody you can crack over the head with it. It took 10-15 pieces like running boar's to heat the irons for 5-6 numbers on 80 head of cattle, but you could turn the fire's heat up almost as fast as with a propane iron heater.

My dad said his father in law used it straight in his heater in coastalGA, but the creosote accumulation from fat pine will eventually result in a spectacular chimney fire. Best to use it only as kindling in stoves and fireplaces.

If it rot's, it ain't fat.
 
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