Natural firesteel tinder

[speckledjim]

Does anyone have any knowledge of natural tinder that works well with a firesteel?
I'm sick of using tissue paper, and I really need something I can find lying around in case myself or my kit get wet through. I do canoeing/bushcraft so this is even more important.

 

[hog]

Fluffed up grass.
Scraped bark dust.
Clematis plant fibres.
Reed mace flower head innards.
All these will take a spark and give you a flame, there is a host of other natural materials that will do the job just fine.

 

[rancid badger]

There is (in my humble opinion ) no better tinder for firesteel fire lighting, than shaved/scraped birch bark.

Takes a bit of practice but never fails ( in my experience )

all the best

R.B.

 

[Peter_t]

birch bark is my favorite by far, easiest to use and very avalable.

iv just descovered fatwood pine which has become a very close second (do a search, there are loads of threads about it)

i also regualary use the bark of laylandii trees and similar cypress type trees. just fluff it up and it is very easy to light.

resin from some other conifers are much more runny and volitile than pine. i just grab some dry needles off the floor and try and soak some up from fresh wounds. this goes up very quickly im not 100% on what tree it was but im pretty sure it was hemlock (it was getting dark lol).


once you try a few natural tinders you will never use man made tinder again. i dont meen to sound harsh but i almost look down at people who still feel the need carry cotton wool, sure its ok if you have just started bushcraft but i hear of many experienced guys still useing it why?

pete

 

[Prawnster]

I use fatwood shavings mostly myself. Either maya sticks or taken from pine knots I find. Birch bark works pretty good for me too though.

 

[speckledjim]

Good tips folks! I'll try some of this.

 

[Gabe]

I think my favorite has to be honeysuckle bark. It seems to be readily available around here in the hedge rows.

 

[Shewie]

I've heard downy bird feathers work well but I've never actually tried it, also charcoal or dog ends from an old fire will take a spark then blow into an ember. Useful in the morning for getting the fire going again.
Tumble drier lint takes well and I usually carry some in my pouch along with bits of inner tube and birch bark.

 

[nicodiemus]

Dry bracket fungus for an ember, birch bark for a flame. Fluff it up with a blade.

Bloomin' useful plant, Birch.

 

[Mistwalker]

Does anyone have any knowledge of natural tinder that works well with a firesteel?
I'm sick of using tissue paper, and I really need something I can find lying around in case myself or my kit get wet through. I do canoeing/bushcraft so this is even more important.

Well...besides sage grass, and certain barks, there are also these.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45378

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45368

 

[Lake]

These grass tops are excellent tinder for firesteel fire lighting and also for bowdrill or handdrill.

 

[Cobweb]

Basically anything fuzzy/fluffy will work, just don't try to light your poodle.

 

[BushTucker]

I agree, anything fluffy depending on the weather. I almost always take some cotton wool balls and if you think its gonna rain, rub them in a bit of vaseline first.

 

[falling rain]

birch bark is my favorite by far, easiest to use and very avalable.

iv just descovered fatwood pine which has become a very close second (do a search, there are loads of threads about it)

i also regualary use the bark of laylandii trees and similar cypress type trees. just fluff it up and it is very easy to light.

resin from some other conifers are much more runny and volitile than pine. i just grab some dry needles off the floor and try and soak some up from fresh wounds. this goes up very quickly im not 100% on what tree it was but im pretty sure it was hemlock (it was getting dark lol).


once you try a few natural tinders you will never use man made tinder again. i dont meen to sound harsh but i almost look down at people who still feel the need carry cotton wool, sure its ok if you have just started bushcraft but i hear of many experienced guys still useing it why?

pete

I agree with your last pararagraph Pete. Although I wouldn't go as far as to say I look down on people who use cotton wool or man made tinders. Everyone has to start somewhere. I think my first was cotton wool and vaseline.
I do agree though that it's a great feeling to be able to recognise and gather natural tinders when you come across them and get a fire going from purely natural materials from the wild although I still use charcloth a lot.
Buffed Clematis fibres are my favourite tinder and you can even gather them when damp and buff them. The friction from buffing dissipates the dampness and with a good spark away you go.
If you learn and practice with all the natural tinders you will indeed never go back.
birch bark, cedar inner bark, honeysuckle, cramp ball fungus etc. I like the ones that burn for a long time rather than the quick woosh like thistle down for example.

 

[falling rain]

Dry bracket fungus for an ember, birch bark for a flame. Fluff it up with a blade.

Bloomin' useful plant, Birch.

I've never tried using dried bracket fungus nicodiemus. What's the process, just dry it naturally or in the oven on a low heat? A tuorial would be good if anyone has time.

 

[Humpback]

Isn't cotton a natural fibre too ? Just not native.

 

[Broch]

The great thing about birch is that it works in a soaking wet wood. As has been described on other posts, just scrape the bark (still on the tree) with the knife and collect the sawdust that's gnerated. It lights easily with a spark even when damp (unlike grasses and thistle heads). Use thin peelings from the bark to get a bigger flame gowing.

Wild cherry works as well but is slightly less easy to ignite. On the basis that birch and cherry are nearly everywhere in the UK there's never a reason to use non-natural resources IMHO.

Cheers

Broch