Sparking fatwood shavings

[Snakedoc]

While cruising the local "outdoor" store I happened upon a blastmatch and thought I would give it a try thinking I could one hand it while cupping and shielding the fatwood tinder. There is deffanitly a technique to be learned but I am somewhat getting the hang of it. I wouldn't replace my firesteel just yet though.

 

[Rotte]

I've used fat wood to start my charcoal grill, works great with a bic. Out in the woods I carry jute that has been soaked in melted paraffin--easy to shred into a little nest, works every time, very light and easy to pack, won't ever dry out, and you don't need a knife to start a fire with it. :thumbup:

 

[matthewdanger]

I use the spine of my knife to make scrapings similar to those pictured by Evolute. When fat wood is shaved that finely it readily takes a spark. However, it is always good to have redundant methods in your "tool kit" for something as important as fire starting. I have really come to like jute twine. It takes a spark easily and it serves as cordage as well.

 

[iammark]

Haven't heard anyone else call them that yet, but then again I haven't asked. That's what I like to call Vaseline-slathered cottonballs. They light easily with my Firesteel and burn long enough to get your kindling going. They were "trail-tested" by me (not the first time) on a wet, soggy slog on the AT in the Smokies! Works great.

 

[wildmike]

I voted Easy. I have never had any problem starting a fire with fatwood. I voted easy due to the fact that I often use other tinders as well. My firesteel is one of the Strikeforce firesarters and throws a shower of sparks. I think if you are relying on firesteels it is a good idea to use the larger diameter models for they will throw more sparks and burning material onto the tinder.

 

[kvaughn]

If you make your shavings thin and take your time, I find it very easy.

That said, I never use it

It is not easily found here, unless you go to Walmart.

I prefer using paper birch which is easily found in my area. It's as simple as peeling it off the tree, fluffing it up by rubbing it in your hands. I usually stuff a bunch in my pockets when ever I pass a tree. It will light in 1 good strike of the fire steel. It burns long and hot :thumbup:

Hey Tony, I find it fairly often when I'm among the pines up here in Litchfield County. Ive got a 5 gallon bucket full. If you want some let me know.--KV

 

[Evolute]

...I think if you are relying on firesteels it is a good idea to use the larger diameter models for they will throw more sparks and burning material onto the tinder.

I agree with this. To quote myself from my article, given above ( http://www.mikespinak.com/articles/Essays/e994firesteelhowto.html ):

Longer ferro rods work better than shorter ones, and larger diameter ferro rods work better than smaller diameter ferro rods. Larger firesteels allow you to strike a larger surface area, and thereby create more sparks per strike. Larger firesteels also allow for a better grip, which lets you strike the ferrocerium rod both harder and more adeptly.

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

Post expired.

 

[tonym]

Hey Tony, I find it fairly often when I'm among the pines up here in Litchfield County. Ive got a 5 gallon bucket full. If you want some let me know.--KV

Its funny. A lil furter north where you are pines grow alot, as well as east towards the coast. But where Marcelo and I am the conifer that reigns supreme is the Hemlock....

I'm ok with fatwood. for 6 bucks I get a box of it from Wally world

But thanks for the offer:thumbup:

 

[tonym]

I just made a quick video showing fatwood taking a spark compared to regular dry wood taking a spark. I hope you enjoy.

[youtube]6OTrqA0vfss[/youtube]

 

[Mistwalker]

Good video Tony, I definitely need to get a couple of the larger ferro rods like those, I really like those. Did both of those come from going gear?

 

[KuRUpTD]

Nice video Tony, you make it seem so simple ... now if I could only make fuzzies like that

 

[tonym]

Good video Tony, I definitely need to get a couple of the larger ferro rods like those, I really like those. Did both of those come from going gear?

Thanks buddy. The mich metal one is from Going gear. DJJ made the handle for me. He likes throwing things like that in when you order a sheath from him:thumbup:

The other I got from Marty Simon of The Wilderness Learning Center.
He sells them I believe http://weteachu.com/merchandise1.htm

They are both 4" by 3/8ths thick.

Nice video Tony, you make it seem so simple ... now if I could only make fuzzies like that

You need one of those Tony style bushcraft knives to do that

 

[Evolute]

Nice video Tony, you make it seem so simple ... now if I could only make fuzzies like that

Tony made some great fuzzsticks, but it bears mentioning:

Fuzzies are easy to make. I can make fuzzies to light my fire in under ten seconds. You don't even need a sharp knife. Just scrape the edge against the wood to make a pile of even finer fuzzies than Tony's fuzz sticks, like the pics I showed, earlier in the thread.

It really is that easy.

 

[kgd]

I voted Easy. I have never had any problem starting a fire with fatwood. I voted easy due to the fact that I often use other tinders as well.

Great stuff guys. I've received a couple of PM's asking me how retarded I am to be able to do a bowdrill but not light a fatwood with a firesteel.

I'm laughing at those, but the statement above by wildmike sort of captured for me. I've had my head in primitive methods a for a good part of this calendar year now and its probably been a good 5 mo or so since I started a fire with a firesteel. My preference is by flint and steel and I'm too lazy to use a bowdrill all the time.

Even the last few times that I've used firesteel, I tended to harvest natural flash tinders like phragmites heads. So admittedly I'm out of practice in using fatwood. Last weekend I started up a fire to light my lump charcoal and getting lazy, I decided to use fatwood and a firesteel because I haven't used this for a long time. I was kind of surprised when it took me a lot more effort than I thought it should to get the dust going.

There is lots of great advice presented here and it reaffirms that I gotta practice multiple aspects of fire starting and not getting to blinded by my flavor of the month. After-all, a firesteel is an integral component of my PSK and I need to be able to use it blindfolded and upside down. So the humility lesson was a good one