Found my first birch bracket/razor strop fungus

[red devil]

I was out walking the dog a couple of days ago and noticed a birch tree riddled with fungi looming over a low wall.
One of the lower brackets was a good size - about 8ins across - so I popped it off with my pocket knife and brought it home for a good old experiment.
I've managed to cut a block from it about 5ins long and 3ins wide which is currently drying in my conservatory, and which I intend sticking to a nice piece of birch I found to use as a strop for my knives.

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The rest I'm going to cut into small pieces, dry it then keep it in a tin for holding a spark when I'm lighting a fire.
I was amazed at the dense consistency of the polypore - it's like flexible, durable polystyrene, with a quite pleasing mushroomy odour.
It may well be edible but I wouldn't fancy eating it though!
It's thanks to the incredibly knowledgeable and helpful people on this forum that I even knew what I was looking at, and what it could be used for, so thanks a lot guys and gals.
I love this forum for learning really interesting, useful stuff like this.

 

[lannyman8]

good stuff, i got one for a mate a few weeks back, he was well supprised when i told him what i was making for him, but also well chuffed.....

good stuff, init...

 

[youngbushcrafter]

Nice find! in the old days men used to strop their cutthroat razor on it!
Did you know that you can also cut plasters from it when its live.

 

[nickliv]

I tried stewing some once. Bloody hell, it took a chewing.

 

[red devil]

Yes, that's why I cut myself a piece from it; it's currently drying out in the conservatory then I'm going to attach it to a piece of wood and use it to fine-finish my blade. And as for the plasters, what a useful thing to just have lying around the woods for someone as clumsy with a blade as I am!
I've also got some small pieces drying for taking an ember when I'm lighting fires. Really useful stuff ;-)