Finding Fatwood in the bush

[Mistwalker]

I meant to mention this before but I find it comical that fatwood has been known about for centuries and then for the most part forgotten...., then the Honduran lumber industry comes along and somebody takes the fatwood from the stumps and markets it as Maya sticks as if it were some sort of Mayan secret that no-one else knew about...., I think that is pretty funny

 

[Nagual]

I'm fairly sure that many people here will also recall Ray Mears episode where he demonstrates extracting tar from pine stumps. Not unlike getting birch bark tar. Pine is an excellent resource no matter which part of the tree you use.


Nag.

 

[Tengu]

Im going to look for some too, its handy stuff.

 

[Mistwalker]

I'm fairly sure that many people here will also recall Ray Mears episode where he demonstrates extracting tar from pine stumps. Not unlike getting birch bark tar. Pine is an excellent resource no matter which part of the tree you use.


Nag.

Yup, gotta love pine trees...shelter building, pine nuts, fire starting, fire wood, easy to carve utensils from and I'm sure there is more slipping my mind at the moment.

 

[geoff88]

Or you can go buy it from orvis.co.uk

Geoff

 

[Mistwalker]

Or you can go buy it from orvis.co.uk

Geoff

Good option for urbanites..., can't see me buying what lies all around me free for the taking.

 

[johnnytheboy]

Any idea nag what program it was, i'll get down to the library and rent the dvd, wouldn'tmind seeing it

I'm fairly sure that many people here will also recall Ray Mears episode where he demonstrates extracting tar from pine stumps. Not unlike getting birch bark tar. Pine is an excellent resource no matter which part of the tree you use.


Nag.

 

[geoff88]

The problem is that in England you can't just drive into the woods and take anything you want.

Geoff

 

[Mistwalker]

Sorry, I keep forgetting that the laws and the country over there are different. I only get to see it through the eyes of other people so there is much I don't know. My roots come from Wales but I have never been there and most of what I have read about it in the history books about the long ago past.

 

[hen]

amazing post, thanks Mistwalker!

----------------
Now playing: Radiohead - All I Need
via FoxyTunes

 

[Mistwalker]

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it, and I hope it can be of some use to all

 

[Mistwalker]

I'm hoping for more snow in order to do more pics on recognizing it in the winter...so far this is the only snow we've had...maybe better ones later

 

[mayobushcraft]

Also look for standing dead pines sometimes you can pull dead limbs off and where they attached to the trunk you will find what we in Florida called lighter knot. Shave of some shavings or bust up with the back of your axe. Works almost as well.

 

[Mistwalker]

Also look for standing dead pines sometimes you can pull dead limbs off and where they attached to the trunk you will find what we in Florida called lighter knot. Shave of some shavings or bust up with the back of your axe. Works almost as well.

Standing dead pines eventually become fatwood, and some of the best at that.

 

[Hammock_man]

Please don't shoot me for a daft question,

Is it only pine / evergreens or can you get it from others (de sid you us, or however its spelt)

 

[smoggy]

I believe it is the natural resin in the pines (coniferous) that permit it to burn well Hammock_man, sometines on a felled pine stump you may find resin ouzing out (I collect it on a stick to make a fire lighter)

So in general deciduous (if that's how you spell it) would not provide the same properties but there may well be exceptions depending on where in the world you may be.

A very informative thread and well explained.....

Smoggy.

 

[Nagual]

I wonder if birch wood could be used in such a fashion? I know you can get birch tar, which looks similar to pine tar, extracted using the same methods etc...? I have no idea though - perhaps someone with more knowledge could shed some light on it?

 

[Peter_t]

I wonder if birch wood could be used in such a fashion? I know you can get birch tar, which looks similar to pine tar, extracted using the same methods etc...? I have no idea though - perhaps someone with more knowledge could shed some light on it?

i dont think so, the birch tar is extracted from the bark. i gess you could say that the bark is the equivalent if not better.

pete

 

[Mistwalker]

Please don't shoot me for a daft question,

Is it only pine / evergreens or can you get it from others (de sid you us, or however its spelt)

It's not even in all evergreens, so far I've only found it in some species of Pine but not in Cedar, Fur, or Spruce.

i dont think so, the birch tar is extracted from the bark. i gess you could say that the bark is the equivalent if not better.

pete

Now I'm going to end up trying to set fire to every kind of tree sap I can find just to answer the questions. Hmmmmmmm....I think I may have Maple syrup in the cupboard.

 

[Native Nathan]

Great post Mistwalker,

Very informative and loads of pics ti illustrate, thank you...:You_Rock_