You asked for Tinder Fungus?

[Diomedes Industries]

I was processing tinder fungus for my new Prometheus Tinder Kits - I figured you guys would like to see my 'Mound 'o Shrooms'.

Good stuff on the left, bad stuff on the right:

You want the inner portion of the tinder fungus that is an orange color. It feels a little spongy, is brittle when dry, and is VERY light in the hand.

Here is the pile I ended up with.

TF

 

[kgd]

Nice - keep that stuff in a baggy so it doesn't dry out too quick!

 

[mcjhrobinson]

are those edible by any chance?

seriously though what kind of mushies are those?

 

[kgd]

They are coal extenders - not for eating. Smell good when they are burning though.

 

[Diomedes Industries]

They do smell good when burning - almost like incense.

TF

 

[dipbait]

Is tender fungus just old dried up oyster mushrooms?

 

[Mannlicher]

I use Deer Moss as tinder. Don't have to store it in a baggie, as it grows everywhere around where I camp.

 

[Diomedes Industries]

Here is a great article on the fungus:

http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/tinder/tinderfungus/true.html

TF

 

[hollowdweller]

Can't see the pic how big is it?

 

[valcas1]

It can be made into a tea. There are many opinions on the medicinal properties of chaga.

Paul

 

[Odaon]

Is tender fungus just old dried up oyster mushrooms?

Nope, it's a different type of tree grown fungus. They grow on Birch tress.

 

[chewbacca]

survivaltopics.com talks quite a lot about chaga fungus, and has photos too.

 

[timogranzotti]

two types of tinder fungus:

one is the 'true...'
Both work.

They are a polypore fungus. Birch trees is where you find them growing.
The iceman found in northern Italy had a handrill and piece of tinder fungus with him.

A great little piece on tinder fungus can be found here:
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/tinder/tinderfungus/index.html


Oops, I just saw Talfuchre posted the link too! Sorry!

 

[tonym]

Can't see the pic how big is it?

This big:thumbup:

 

[hollowdweller]

You rock Tony!:thumbup:

 

[cssims]

Gads I was thinking about this earlier today. I'm surrounded by fatwood, but no birch and/or tinder fungus. Honestly I was mainly thinking about birch and all the things you can do with it. What can I say my mind was wandering after breakfast.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

True Tinder Fungus (Inonotus obliquus) is a good thing to have, but less good than punky wood. The reasons?

Punky wood can be found anywhere, True Tinder Fungus cannot.

If you're using it as a coal extender, punky wood generally increases in size (the glowing part) more quickly than TTF.

So, if you have access to TTF, great, but if not, no big deal (unless you're using a fire piston).

(The foregoing was addressing the fire issue, only, not the medicinal ones.)

Doc