Chaga

[Brian Curnel]

G'day mates!
I have (maybe) a new technique for using chaga fungus in a fire piston. Take the chaga while its new or dried and break into small pieces onto a solid foundation like stone, then take another stone and pulverize the chaga into a grainy like powder. Once you do this pick up a pinch and place it in the cup of the piston shaft. Take a small stick and compress the chaga into the cup, this will let it stay in place for a hard stike. I have found this to help with conserving Chaga Fungus and the ease of getting an ember on chaga.

I haven't tried this on anything else so please get back with me if it works well for you or not.

Thanks!

Bri

 

[Ogri the trog]

Hi Brian,
I think the British equivalent of Chagga is the True tinder fungus, Innonotus Obliquus (Sp!) which for me is even more elusive than the Horses Hoof fungus -Fommes fomentarius. Toddy has been an angel in sending me some Ff to trial but I like to keep as much as possible due to there being no replacement available.
One fungus that I can sometimes get in abundance is the Crampball, King Alfreds Cakes, which serves well from a flint & steel or as a sustainer for bowdrill.
When I can get hold of some Chagga to try out you can bet I'll be treating that as more valuable than gold as well

Thanks for your tip though - any means of conserving the resources that we have got is worth knowing.

ATB

Ogri the trog