birch bark tip/Q

[abushcrafter]

I have had some birch bark in my house for a year now. when I last tyred the fire-steal on it it wouldn't alight. I think this is because the oils have evaporated off.

Q:is that right :bluThinki.........
sorry to sound :twak:

 

[andy_e]

Did you fuzz up the inside before trying to light it? Scrape the inner side with the edge of your knife carefully to make a small fluffy-ish patch then try sparking it.

 

[abushcrafter]

yes that is what i did

 

[Ogri the trog]

If you ignite it by modern means,
you can see if it burns with an oily/smokey flame - which will indicate if the oil is still present - but if it burns relatively clean then I recon its safe to assume that the oils are indeed now adrift!

HTH

Ogri the trog

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Kepis]

Just tried some that i have had for well over two years, put the old spark stick to it and up it went, no problem at all

 

[spamel]

I've got some that has been through the washing machine and it still works!

 

[flaky]

You need to scrap-up the OUTSIDE of the bark NOT the inside.

 

[andy_e]

Make a youtube video abushcrafter

 

[abushcrafter]

maybe.....

also I was useing prescraped stuff which was keeped in a dry tin.