How do you fluff cedar bark into tinder?

[burddogg]

One of the easiest forms of natural tinder out here (when grass is wet) is cedar (red cedar.) I've got a good system for shaving it into fine curls with my serrated leatherman blade and that takes a spark well. I've tried to prep the cedar bark by hand, but it only ends up crumbling into a powder. How do they fluff the cedar bark by hand? Thanks for your help.


Burddogg

 

[kgd]

Slice the bark with you knife in 6" - 9" strips. Use your edge to strip the inner fibers from the outer fibres. Role the inner fibers in your palms. Keep doing so until it looks fuzzy and furry.

Personally, I like using a few flash tinders in addition to straight up cedar. Bullthistle silk, milkweed pods, phragmites etc.

 

[wildmike]

Kgd hit it on the nose. Just have to make sure to separate the inner bark from the outer bark, it is the fibrous part. Then roll it between your palms and tease it with your fingers and your set. The addition of milkweed down, cottonwood down or other such is highly reccomended as the bundle will more easily take a spark.

 

[burddogg]

Roll it lengthwise? Is there a video out there on this?

 

[kgd]

Roll it lengthwise? Is there a video out there on this?

Turn it into a little ball, like playdough and keep rolling it, then as stated, tease a bit of the thicker strands out. Switch the direction and roll it some more. It will work your palms a bit raw doing so. Also, you will get little crumbles falling out, but that is okay. The stringy fibres will stay intact.