Tinder Fungus

[Jeff Wagner]

I learned something useful last night and thought I would share. When using Inonotus Obliquus fungus as the hearthboard material for a handrill set, a notch is not required. Simply place the drill in any natural depression in the fungus and begin spinning. I had a coal within 5 passes down the spindle and rather than dealing with a smoldering pile of powder the entire chunk of fungus becomes a very large coal. Nothing short of immersion will extinguish tinder fungus once its lit. Sure wish I could paste a photo here...

 

[Hoodoo]

I gotta try this! :biggthump

 

[Adi007]

Excellent tip! :biggthump

 

[Gary]

That Sounds Impressive Jeff.

 

[Jeff Wagner]

I gotta try this! :biggthump

Choose a piece of fungus that is a bit more firm and close to the outer cortex. The soft spongy kind is too soft for use with the hand drill - but you can always send it to me It works great in the fire piston.

 

[Paganwolf]

Theres one to try keep em coming Jeff :biggthump i tried the other in my fire piston and it works great, er talking of fire pistons hows it looking? (email the pic to me and ill put it up :biggthump )

 

[rich59]

Inonotus obliquus is I believe the true tinder fungus

http://www.rozanski.henryk.gower.pl/cancer2000_pliki/image021.jpg

while fomes fomentarius is the false tinder fungus.

http://www.campo-research.com/campo/gallery/herb/japan/fomes.jpg

I have searched my local woods here in SE London where there are many silver birch trees. I have found a number with some black sort of fungus with a crumbly brown deeper layer, but if I put a match to either the deeper stuff or the surface nothing catches. Can't be the right stuff then?

Is inonotus obliquus rare in my area?
There are some quite woody polypores - shelf fungi growing on some local hardwood trees. How could I test if they behave like fomes fomentarius?

 

[Jeff Wagner]

The top photo is Inonotus. It is easily the blackest thing you will find growing in the woods. The outer surface is rough, hard and charred looking. The inner material is brown ( buckskin color ) and spongy. Its great stuff. It works with the fire piston, traditional flint and steel, burning lens and the hand drill. You can use it as charcoal for cooking, the smoke keeps insects at bay and a tea infusion is said to combat tumors. And, it smells nice too....

 

[oops56]

Ok i got some birch fungus. Now how do i cut it up? Do i cut when wet or when dry. Now on size little sq. for fire piston and small strips for flint &steel help.

 

[rich59]

Ok i got some birch fungus. Now how do i cut it up? Do i cut when wet or when dry. Now on size little sq. for fire piston and small strips for flint &steel help.

Which fungus do you think it is? There is a 3rd much more common fungus on birch called piptoporus betulinus

 

[oops56]

mine called fomes fomentarious it cuts easily when wet should i cut it like meat slices and little sq. for fire piston

 

[firemaker]

I prefer to break off a randomly shaped piece that fits in the tinder hollow firmly, but not so tight it gets stuck, that is flush or sticks out slightly from the end of the piston rod.

firemaker

 

[oops56]

Now do you keep the fungus whole or is it cut up smaller so you brake a peice off.Mine are 1 in. to 3 or 4 in. big.