Why Fatwood, A Definitive Answer (mostly for the benefit of the newer guys)

[Mistwalker]

I know, I know....in many ways fatwood has been done to death as a tinder here in the W&SS Forum. However the cold wet part of the year is here again, and for the benefit of any new guys to the forum who live in the areas where it is available but are unaware of it or it's value I am posting this. Besides, while fatwood is not naturally available everywhere it is available on-line and in a lot of stores across the country. The way I see it it's no more cheating in the woods than a magnesium bar and is for the most part much easier on the edge of a knife, and in my opinion easier to deal with in breezy situations than magnesium shavings.

While yes this time of year there are lot of good natural fire starting tinders around...such as thistle for one, it's one of my favorites. It takes a spark well and lights easily...when it is dry.

But try igniting with a ferro rod when it's been raining for a week. Yes for those times it is really better if you have a "fire-now" tinder on you (which by the way could be a piece of fatwood in your pack). But if you do not and you are in an area where pine trees grow then you most likely have a good option.

Since I am doing this primarily for the benefit of the new guys here, perhaps a little back ground on how fatwood looks in it's natural state would be appropriate. For the most part fatwood will look like just another piece of rotten wood in the forest. It will either be a solid core surrounded by the decaying softer outer layer that is just rotten wood, or it will sometimes be weathered and grey pieces of litter laying on the forest floor. It is the weight, density, appearance and smell of the solid core that will give it away. It will be heavier than you expect it to be from its rotten appearance, harder to break, the inside will be glossy and shiny and it will smell like turpentine.

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[Mistwalker]

Once you've found it, just split it like any other wood you'd be using for kindling. Even if the outside is soaking wet if it is good rich fatwood that will be of no consequence.

Take one of the smaller pieces and whittle thin shavings just like making any other fuzzies

and then light it with a match or lighter, or spark it to life with a ferro rod and once burning good add the smaller slivers.

Hopefully this little video will demonstrate just how well it will work in wet conditions. Also...had this been magnesium shavings I was working with there would have been a point where I had to start all over...I'm sure you'll have no trouble spotting that point.

[youtube]o59ji5OY_O4[/youtube]




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[JUST1MOR]

Mist, on behalf of all "newbee's" (not for long, almost a triple digit midget), I want to thank you for your consideration. Since my journey just started a very short 2 weeks ago, I have learned a lot of valuable information, saw some parts of the country that were unbelievable, saw some other incredible things (cricket dave & survival panties, 'nuff said), etc. etc. I am sure some of us have a gazillon questions about different subjects, but maybe are too embarrased to bring up. Thanks for taking the initiative with this.
Be safe.

 

[Mistwalker]

Mist, on behalf of all "newbee's" (not for long, almost a triple digit midget), I want to thank you for your consideration. Since my journey just started a very short 2 weeks ago, I have learned a lot of valuable information, saw some parts of the country that were unbelievable, saw some other incredible things (cricket dave & survival panties, 'nuff said), etc. etc. I am sure some of us have a gazillon questions about different subjects, but maybe are too embarrased to bring up. Thanks for taking the initiative with this.
Be safe.

We all started studying at some point. I was very fortunate to have some good teachers. The knowledge and insight they shared with me kept me alive on more than one occasion. The only way I have of paying those guys back is to pass along to others what they taught me. I hope the little video made a good point.

 

[CoyotePhysics]

Thanks for the tutorial.

Is it mainly pine that forms fatwood, or do other conifers, like Douglas fir (a common tree in my neck of the woods) produce it as well?

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks for the tutorial.

Is it mainly pine that forms fatwood, or do other conifers, like Douglas fir (a common tree in my neck of the woods) produce it as well?

It is primarily pines that I am aware of. However I did once find some solid white fatwood in Missouri I think...can't remember for sure but out that way. It looked just like fatwood in it's glossiness but didn't have quite the same smell. However it sure burned well under wet conditions. I really don't know what kind of wood it was, unfortunately I didn't stay in that area long enough to do any studies. The wind chills were in the minus 30s at the time and I headed south shortly after that.

 

[SouthernCross]

G'day Brian

:thumbup::thumbup:

What was the mischmetal rod you used?

Do you reckon the fatwood would have been easier to light if you scrapped it rather than shaved curls off it?

BTW, I must be a fishing tragic, but I also found myself reading that creek and deciding where I would cast my fly, or float a bait, or set a line




Kind regards
Mick

 

[Mistwalker]

G'day Brian

:thumbup::thumbup:

What was the mischmetal rod you used?

Do you reckon the fatwood would have been easier to light if you scrapped it rather than shaved curls off it?

BTW, I must be a fishing tragic, but I also found myself reading that creek and deciding where I would cast my fly, or float a bait, or set a line




Kind regards
Mick

Hi there Mick,

That is a TOPS fire starter, combination of two magnesium rods and one ferro rod press-fit into an aluminum cap collar.

Under dry conditions I'll usually scrape a fuzz to go with the slivers and use a mix for tinder. In light rains I tend to just go with slivers...it's quicker and the fuzz sometimes will get water logged in a rain. That was my first experience with that particular ferro rod....throws great sparks though.

You fishing addict!!

 

[SouthernCross]

G'day Brian

You fishing addict!!

Man, have you nailed that :thumbup::thumbup:

But then again, once my boy gets old enough, you'll be able to add a hunting addict to the list



Kind regards
Mick

 

[Mistwalker]

G'day Brian


Man, have you nailed that :thumbup::thumbup:

But then again, once my boy gets old enough, you'll be able to add a hunting addict to the list



Kind regards
Mick

I know how you fishing addicts are lol,...my father was one. I have seen that man with his arms covered in biting mosquitoes paying no attention to anything other than his line. Not that he wasn't a great hunter...he grew up in the depression. I've never seen him miss a shot, and I watched him drop deer on the other side of the river with a Marlin .35...but his real passion was definitely fishing.

 

[nevermind35]

Thanks for the tutorial.

Is it mainly pine that forms fatwood, or do other conifers, like Douglas fir (a common tree in my neck of the woods) produce it as well?

I live in Southwest Washington State and yes Fatwood definately does form in Douglas Fir also. It looks practically identical to the pictures that Mistwalker provided. I usually find it in old rotting stumps. If you take a knife or hatchet or whatever you prefer and tap rotting stumps as you see them, you will suddenly hit a hard spot if there's fatwood. Everywhere else your knife will just sink into the decomposing wood but you'll get a definate "thump" when you hit fat wood. I like to use the spine of the knife so as not to dull my edge. Sometimes you'll find just a small section of the stump is fatwood and other times the entire stump is rich fatwood, even the roots.

It's pretty amazing stuff once you learn to find and utilize it and the fatwood around here, coming from Douglas Fir, smells great! Sometimes I'll put a chunk in my room or in the camper just because I love the smell so much. However I have also come across fatwood that smells of turpentine, like Mist said. Go check it out!

 

[Raining]

Love the smell of fatwood, too! Tons of it all over around here. Great post Mist!

 

[quick kill]

Thanks mistwalker, grate info for the new people like me. Even tho I live in Oklahoma where there is none. But I'm planing on going back to the pnw soon. So hopefully I will get to try someday soon.

 

[Miasma]

SouthernCross, have you found any fatwood in the bush in oz? or am I just not looking hard enough?

 

[sicily02]

Great post, Brian.

Bryan

 

[CoyotePhysics]

I guess I have a new hobby, stump tapping. I actually didn't know what fatwood was before I joined this forum. I'm hoping to find some soon, I have about a month before the real snow comes.

Thanks to all for contributing to this thread!

 

[tknife]

Great post. It's really some amazing stuff. I don't have any local to me, but I hoard small amounts when I'm in an area with pitchy trees. It lights like gasoline every time and I always carry a small piece of it in my pack.

 

[s7brad]

Good job, bro! For those without the means of obtaining any, I noticed they sell boxes of fatwood at my local Lowes home improvement store with the fireplace stuff. And by the way, see you got more TOPS gear, you tried that lite traveller yet?

 

[pitdog]

Great stuff buddy !

WTH another TOPS Knife....quit with the teasing now !

I was watching Duel Survival the other night when they were in the PNW, Cody was whining about how all the tinder was wet and I kept think he's gonna show the viewers what Fatwood is in a minute....never happened !!! Wonder why they missed out this miracle of nature ????

 

[cnas122]

I've been lucky enough to find it in the woods in other areas, but not in middle Tennessee, despite having a farm with a lot of pines. Maybe it's just bad luck...