Identifying, processing and using Fatwood in the bush part I

[Mistwalker]

Took these pics on the hike this weekend and thought I'd post them here as another example of the ways you may find it. If you ever see these, pine knots, perhaps lying in a long line of otherwise rotten wood they will work pretty well too. It is where all the sap in a limb on a dead Pine has drained back toward the heart and builds up in these knots. Some times you can find the center portion of the tree still standing with these protruding from it. They are easy to recognize after you find the first ones, they smell like turpentine inside as well. They aren’t quite as rich in pitch as the stumps but still great tinder.

 

[Mistwalker]

I know this stump is also shown in another thread I did but there were more pictures in the series because it is a good one to use as a discussion on some of the characteristics of fatwood stumps.

At first glance it looks like just another rotten stump in the woods

Because some parts of it are rotten

and if you didn’t probe in the right spot. Or even deep enough, you could think it was all rotten.

But….if you look for the signs like the wear of the rings around the bases of the branches

You’ll know that there reason for further probing.

Probe around the bases of the branches to see if it is solid there

This is one of the branches cut off and there you go

When you cut into it good you’ll smell that turpentine smell very strong.

and if it is rich enough in pitch it will even burn in the rain