Tinder fungus?

M

Michael Bennett

Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
666
I believe I've found some tinder fungus (inonotus obliquus.) It looks right and was found on a birch tree. It makes a great coal from a butane lighter, but I can't get a spark to "stick." I've tried ferro and flint/steel.

Has anyone used this material? Any preparation tricks, short of peeing on it? :D

Mike
 
The tinder conk Jeff Randall sent me caught a spark from flint and steel very easy. No prep that I know of.
 
Mike:

Did it look like this? This picture is as close as I've come to finding the stuff despite looking at LOTS of trees!
inonotus.jpg

It should work when dry..
 
I just spent 10 days in the Northeast. While driving around I was keeping an eye out for suspect trees with the fungus. No luck.

The fungus in the posted photo is the right stuff according to what I was given. What I received, and what Steve Dick got part of, worked without any preparation. Now, I'm not sure if it works directly from the tree or needs some drying time.

Jeff
 
From what I read, it needs some drying time. I've been trying the various conks found here in the Northwest without luck. That includes boiling them in wood ash as suggested in one book.
 
Thanks!

Jimbo, it looks like that, only I did not get the complete sample, More crust than orange punk, which might be the problem. I'll mess with it some more.

Mike
 
From everything I've read it's the orange inner stuff that's required. There again I haven't been able to find actual samples so how would I know.
Things operate strangely around here, so eventually I'm sure that I'll find a bunch of the stuff - all in just one location.
 
There are several types of fungus that make good tinders. They are both polypores. The fungus inonotus obliquus is what is called the true tinder fungus and is also known as a birch clinker. The name birch clinker gives you an idea of what it's appearance is. They are dark grey to black and have a rough texture just like the clinkers you would find in a coal furnace. The inonotus obliquus catches a spark very well. I have not tried using it with natural flint , but there are some who have.
The other more common fungus that is used is the fomes fomentarius fungus which is found on many of the hardwoods. I has a hoof like appearance and color that is hard on the top. The inside is a light brown to orange color.
To use either of these fungus normally a thin sliver is removed and then used to initiate an ember. Both fungus are great as coal extenders.
There is an other fungus pipforus betulinus or commonly known as the birch polypore which is similar in appearance to the hoof fungus fomes with the exception that the top is white and is soft to the touch. The Iceman had both fomes and pipforus with him.
 
Thanks to all who replied. Yup, turns out that I have is tinder fungus. Must've been the drying time, but it now takes all sorts of sparks and glows ferociously. Thanks!

Mike
 
Check out Northern Bushcraft by Mors Kochanski for advice on tinder fungus, at least that found in the boreal regions. The second edition has excellent colour photos (ISBN 0-919433-51-0).
 
Hi Ed! You're right - Mors does have excellent coverage for tinder and false tinder fungus.

Mike: sure we have birch trees here - both swamp and paper variety. Ed will remember some huge ones if he walked through the big swamp by the Kitimat river bridge - and the largest of all are at Kitselas. Despite no shortage of birch in all sizes and types in dry and in wet - so far no tinder fungus..
birch close to 2000 - Jimbo 0
No wonder I get frustrated and cut them down!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top