Razor strop fungus

[atlatlman]

Yesterday I was wondering what else I could do with some of the birch polypore I had left over and thought why not try making some as a wick. So I cut a slim piece about double the thickness of a matchstick and three inches long. I then made a small bowl out of kitchen foil and poured a small amount of vegetable oil into the bottom and then placed in the wicks. I then left it for a few minutes to soak before lighting. I expected it to smoke black and burn down like a rocket fuse but it lasted for 35 minutes with no smoke or odour at all. I was really surprised with the end result. The birch polypore is one amazing fungus.:You_Rock_

After playing around with the wicks made from the birch polypore, I came up with this design. The first wick I mentioned in the above post kept laying to one side, so I then came up with a pyramid shape but that was awkward to light. After a bit more thinking I came up with a wizards hat shape wick. I also changed the vegetable oil for animal fat. I had some beef suet in the cupboard so I gave that a go. This was a bit smoky compared to the vegetable oil but it gave a longer burn time. Fifty minutes in all. I also tested it outside to see how the wind would effect it. It was quite breezy outside but it still didn't go out.

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[Clouston98]

That's great mate! I reckon I might do the same with beeswax .

 

[atlatlman]

That's great mate! I reckon I might do the same with beeswax .

Let us know how it worked.

 

[atlatlman]

I harvest and process (slice and dry) masses of Birch Polypore for my Flint and Steel kits.
I just use my normal belt knife and have never had a problem.
Fresh the fungus slices like meat, dried it slices like hard EVA foam.
If you have probs cutting it then
A/ you have misidentified the fungus
B/ have a very blunt knife (which is perhaps why you wanted a Razor Strop fungus in the first place!)
After slicing up about 6 BPPs I then simply use some of the fungus to strop the edge of my knife back to a good edge.

Do you stick the razor strop you have made to a piece of wood? If yes what is the best thing to use?

 

[atlatlman]

My son filmed the Birch polypore wizards hat wick today. Here's the little fella in action.

[video=youtube;lTvYc7yUmU0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTvYc7yUmU0[/video]