I am just practicing on road previously traveled, something new unless I have forgotten and a failure. Waited till dusk because of the heat and humidity. Must have been over 90 F today. A near miss by a storm dropped the temps but still the air was heavy.
First the failure: Sycamore on Hoof fungus. I wanted to try this again. It really was looking good. Tons of smoke with nice dust but failed to get a coal.
With that out of the way lets move on to success. I believe unless mistaken that Mullein on a Sycamore fireboard is a first for me.
Making the Sycamore board:
Burn in: Given the blunt end of the mullein I used a shot glass wrapped in duct tape for a bearing block. Overall one of the more effective bearing blocks IMHO.
Going to rate this as the easiest coal using a wood fireboard ever. It was sooooo easy.
TP used for a tinder bundle. TP sucks moisture from the air. It really fought me but in the end ignited. Not a recommended tinder bundle material given it's downsides IMHO.
Sycamore is becoming one of my favorite friction fire woods. It produces big coals like Tulip poplar only easier. It has bumped willow down on my personal list. Don't get me wrong, willow rocks but sometimes it's more effort. Sycamore on Sycamore with antler bearing block. I will just use the hole made by the mullein. Not a perfect fit but burned in well.
A monster coal. Down right intimidating if yea ask me.
My helper blew this coal into flames.
Those Sycamore shavings from the fireboard ignited easily with my Strikeforce. Yea, I know that firesteels aren't primitive but the shavings were a product of the friction fire process so here goes.
Gosh that was easy.
Thanks for looking.
First the failure: Sycamore on Hoof fungus. I wanted to try this again. It really was looking good. Tons of smoke with nice dust but failed to get a coal.
With that out of the way lets move on to success. I believe unless mistaken that Mullein on a Sycamore fireboard is a first for me.
Making the Sycamore board:
Burn in: Given the blunt end of the mullein I used a shot glass wrapped in duct tape for a bearing block. Overall one of the more effective bearing blocks IMHO.
Going to rate this as the easiest coal using a wood fireboard ever. It was sooooo easy.
TP used for a tinder bundle. TP sucks moisture from the air. It really fought me but in the end ignited. Not a recommended tinder bundle material given it's downsides IMHO.
Sycamore is becoming one of my favorite friction fire woods. It produces big coals like Tulip poplar only easier. It has bumped willow down on my personal list. Don't get me wrong, willow rocks but sometimes it's more effort. Sycamore on Sycamore with antler bearing block. I will just use the hole made by the mullein. Not a perfect fit but burned in well.
A monster coal. Down right intimidating if yea ask me.
My helper blew this coal into flames.
Those Sycamore shavings from the fireboard ignited easily with my Strikeforce. Yea, I know that firesteels aren't primitive but the shavings were a product of the friction fire process so here goes.
Gosh that was easy.
Thanks for looking.
