Amadou ???? Best prep

[Mouse040]

I've now got a real good hoard of horse shoe and wanted some advise on tried and tested prep

I've researched the methods quite extensively and in all honestly will probably give the three seemly favoured methods of preparing for use a go as I've harvested a good kg

So any handy tips or pro's and con's on which method to use as these are in abundance to me real locally so seems sensible to have a go

 

[Toddy]

Get the hard crispy shell off asap

cheers,
M

 

[Mouse040]

It's all peeled and I'm just left with the good stuff

As for the tubular base part I've dried this out and find once its powdered it takes a spark reasonably well without any other work haven't found a use for the shell other than fuel as of yet unless anyone has any ideas

 

[Toddy]

The tubular stuff is apparantly the bees knees for smoking braintanned hides

It's also pretty good as keeping a glowing ember for ten minutes or so and gives a bit of time to sort out blowing up into flame

Otherwise....I usually just boil the fomes for a while and then let it sit in the water to cool. Bring it out to drain and stretch it out either by beating it or by gently manipulating it with my fingers. It ends up like chamois leather. You can add hardwood ashes or saltpetre if you like too though.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Ogri the trog]

The method I was taught by Woodlore, was to cut the trama into manageable sized pieces - then, with wet hands, gently squeeze and stretch it until it doubles in size - all the while rubbing in a little wood-ash as you go. Once dried it take a spark as well as any other preparation method.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Stringmaker]

The dried spore layer also smoulders really well from a fresnel lens.

 

[Gray]

I just dry it out and use it. I know some folk like to soak it in something but i'm not sure what.