Drying tinder

[Bear Stone]

Hi fellas,
Heard a tip for drying tinder. Went to the park this morning to give it a try.

1. Simply find some dead grass (it's going to be damp being on the ground).

2. Make a fist but open the fingers enough to blow through and put a small amount (about an egg cup full) of tinder in your hand.

3. Holding it in this way you can feel the wind blowing through your hand and the tinder.

4. The theory is the heat of your hand evaporates the moisture and the passage of air carries it away.

5. I held the grass for about ten minutes occasionaly buffing it. A sparking rod ignited it no problem.

NB. Don't be tempted to blow through your fingers thinking your hot breath will help dry the tinder as the moisture will only keep it damp.

Bear

 

[Adi007]

Great tip ... thanks for that one! :-D

 

[Ed]

Wow.... I've got to give that a try..... wet/damp tinder is such a pain.

Ed

 

[falling rain]

I usually collect a good handful of clematis or Honeysuckle, break down the fibres a bit and stuff it in my trouser pocket and 'work it' as I'm walking along, taking it out to 'tease' it a bit from time to time. and allowing a bit of air to get to it. Sure enough after about 10 - 15 minutes a large orange sized bundle of tinder will be dry enough to get your fire started (The more tinder the longer to dry obviously) I've found if you 'work it' while your walking, it dries a lot quicker than if you just stuff it in your pocket and leave it.
I like your tip Bear Stone must give that a try too. I've got a deciduous woods near me where hazel grows a lot. Honeysuckle loves Hazel woodland and Clematis grows there in abundance too.

 

[Kukriman]

I find that the buffing is what makes the most difference. As in the "pocket" technique. It produces a static charge that dries the tinder. At least that's what I think...Anyway...buffing does it...
Chop On !
kukriman

 

[Kukriman]

I find that the buffing is what makes the most difference. As in the "pocket" technique. It produces a static charge that dries the tinder. At least that's what I think...Anyway...buffing does it...
Chop On !
kukriman