Natural tinder in wet woods

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j111

Member
Nov 18, 2011
26
0
Cambridge
Hi Guys,

Been struggling to find tinder in the woods near me recently as it's been pissing it down and pretty much everything's soaking. The woods are broadleaf, and haven't seen any birch so that's out. Got any ideas? I guess it could be prepared from shavings from the inside of a log but that's a lot of work and if you only had a knife it's a bit tricky...

Reason is I've just cracked fire by friction lately using hazel-hazel so want to find a reliable tinder. Doesn't feel right lighting a fire with friction and then a tampon!

Any ideas appreciated.

Cheers, J
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
Hello and welcome to the forum :D

Have a look at Rich59's threads in firecraft; he manages very well with crumbled leaves, and his latest says that they don't need to be that dry either.

cheers,
Toddy
 

Shewie

Mod
Mod
Dec 15, 2005
24,259
24
48
Yorkshire
I'd try standing deadwood, as thick as your arm. Batton it down with your knife and make some fine feathersticks, you'd need plenty of fine shavings if you're dropping an ember in but it will work. Try looking for dead bracken or grasses and stuff a load into your pockets, it soon dries out with your body heat.
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Other than above the only think i can think of is Holly leaves especially from right under a holly bush. Tends to be still dry most months and can help to add to a nest.
Other than cramp balls to dry/dead matchstick kindling its small`ish feather sticks.

I would suggest taking a tinder pouch and always stocking up before you need it, however i mostly forget too and struggle.

Welcome :)
 

treetop57

Forager
Sep 1, 2012
124
0
dumfrieshire
hi and welcome where have you been for the last year i thought one was ment to introduce them selves on this forum lest thats what i was told
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
We were having issues with spammers :sigh: so now to post you have to be approved by a Mod. The easiest way to do this is to ask folks to introduce themselves :) The forum protocols were a little different when j111 joined, that's all :)

cheers,
M
 

j111

Member
Nov 18, 2011
26
0
Cambridge
Thanks for the tips, will try holly leaves.

I've got a bit of a challenge in mind where I'm gonna go out into the woods of an afternoon with just a knife and attempt to set up a decent shelter and fire to keep me warm for the night. To do this I'll have to find my tinder there and then. I guess I'll have to get my tinder first off which will probably involve ultra fine shavings of wood as Shewie said and whatever else I can find and then fill my pockets so that whilst I make my shelter it'll fully dry out and be ready to go once I get onto bow drilling with my boot lace. That's the plan anyway!
 

mace242

Native
Aug 17, 2006
1,015
0
52
Yeovil, Somerset, UK
Thanks for the tips, will try holly leaves.

I've got a bit of a challenge in mind where I'm gonna go out into the woods of an afternoon with just a knife and attempt to set up a decent shelter and fire to keep me warm for the night. To do this I'll have to find my tinder there and then. I guess I'll have to get my tinder first off which will probably involve ultra fine shavings of wood as Shewie said and whatever else I can find and then fill my pockets so that whilst I make my shelter it'll fully dry out and be ready to go once I get onto bow drilling with my boot lace. That's the plan anyway!

You can also get tinder from inner barks from a few trees (I really like western red cedar). If you want a real challenge try not using your boot lace for the string but instead use natural cordage. I wouldn't suggest nettle or anything like that but it can be done with roots. Good luck and have fun.
 

Firelite

Forager
Feb 25, 2010
188
1
bedfordshire
How abouit when you first get on site, getting a few handfuls of dead grass from the margins of the wood. If you get nice long stalks that have been dead a while they shouldn't take long to dry in your pocket. Once buffed up (rubbed to make it more fibrous) its just fine for bow drill ember to be dropped into.
 

yomperalex

Nomad
Jan 22, 2011
260
1
Reading
fill a pocket full of tinder sized stuff as soon as you start walking - should dry out soon enough.

I carry a metal pencil sharpener in my fire kit - great for making tinder from a larger dry stick.

Alex
 

j111

Member
Nov 18, 2011
26
0
Cambridge
Thanks this is really helpful.Starting to see that I'm gonna have to be better prepared generally by collecting it more often when out and about and also by accepting damp stuff and drying my pocket. What's clametis like when it's raining?
 

lannyman8

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 18, 2009
4,005
3
Dark side of the Moon
pine needles are good for bow drill embers and work when damp quite well, you can normally fine some dry ones in the branches of the tree too....

or as above with the dead grass and dry it in your pocket, dead firn is ok to, i have used it with frost on, rubbed it in my hands and got some warmth into it and reduce the moisture and it worked fine, you just need to remember to have a coal extender ready just in case your ember starts to burn away to nothing, you can use cramp balls, punk wood or a bit of charcoal from an old fire, this saves doing all the hard work again to crate an ember....

best of luck and dont forget the pic's...;)
 

silentman

Member
Feb 15, 2010
22
0
60
swansea
Silver birch, the outer bark that you can easily strip off ( doesn't harm the tree) light it and you'd have a hard time putting it out.
 

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