wat are the best sort of tinder i have onlu really used silver birch bark,
any suggestions on anything else
any suggestions on anything else
tinders
- Thread starter kai055
- Start date
andyn
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
that reminds me! I have a bundle of honeysuckle bark in my trouser pocket and birch bark in my jacket LOL.
Kai, there are lots of tinders you can use, British red's article on firelighting has a few displayed graphically: http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=18056
specifically on Post #5.
But a few that spring to mind are:
Birch bark (as you said)
Cherry bark peelings work too
Honey suckle bark
Clematis
Cramp ball
Amadou
Various grasses seed heads, common reed etc
Bull rush
thistle down
errmm sure there are hundreds more but those are the ones that spring to mind. Anything dry and fluffy really.
Or use dry wood and make feathersticks to light with either a match or with a firesteel.
Then there are the un-natural tinders of which there are just as many choices. LOL
So many options! LOL
Kai, there are lots of tinders you can use, British red's article on firelighting has a few displayed graphically: http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=18056
specifically on Post #5.
But a few that spring to mind are:
Birch bark (as you said)
Cherry bark peelings work too
Honey suckle bark
Clematis
Cramp ball
Amadou
Various grasses seed heads, common reed etc
Bull rush
thistle down
errmm sure there are hundreds more but those are the ones that spring to mind. Anything dry and fluffy really.
Or use dry wood and make feathersticks to light with either a match or with a firesteel.
Then there are the un-natural tinders of which there are just as many choices. LOL
So many options! LOL
Not really tinder, but a cracking way of getting a very small fire to a decent size in record time is to use dead Holly leaves (must be dead brown and not green, recently fallen) They hold so much oil they burn really well. Great way to get your fire going and create enough heat to keep it going.
Cotton balls in Vaseline.
Closely followed by fat wood (resin soaked pine)
If I could only carry one kind of material for use with a ferrocerium rod/matches, it would be the fatwood. It will not however light from an ember or spark from natural flint and carbon steel.
As has been said, dry and fluffy. You need to evaluate what you are trying to achieve. Most natural tinders are seasonal or unevenly distributed around the country. If you want to learn enough to be able to go anywhere and pick up tinder as you go, at any time, that is quite an exhastive list. If you just want something to put in your pouch to carry with you, well, that is a lot easier and you are free to use prepared tinders made at home.
Many of the natural materials don't hold up for ever if you have them mashed in a tinder pouch. Mostly they break up and become dusty over time if you don't use them. They are also more tempramental in poor conditions.
Closely followed by fat wood (resin soaked pine)
If I could only carry one kind of material for use with a ferrocerium rod/matches, it would be the fatwood. It will not however light from an ember or spark from natural flint and carbon steel.
As has been said, dry and fluffy. You need to evaluate what you are trying to achieve. Most natural tinders are seasonal or unevenly distributed around the country. If you want to learn enough to be able to go anywhere and pick up tinder as you go, at any time, that is quite an exhastive list. If you just want something to put in your pouch to carry with you, well, that is a lot easier and you are free to use prepared tinders made at home.
Many of the natural materials don't hold up for ever if you have them mashed in a tinder pouch. Mostly they break up and become dusty over time if you don't use them. They are also more tempramental in poor conditions.
favourite simple ways of lighting a fire, puncture glue or a candle. first takes a spark and is neatly packaged in a waterproof container the second drys the kindling out and can be lit with a drop of glue and a spark.
cotton vaso balls are yukky but tinderquicks are good as are alcohol swabs all lightable with a spark or a match.
I still like a one match fire
cotton vaso balls are yukky but tinderquicks are good as are alcohol swabs all lightable with a spark or a match.
I still like a one match fire
I,m clearing out the shed tomorrow and i just remembered I have loads of vas/cottonwool and other homemade tinder/fuel stuff. look like I will be having a great fire on thursday when I go out
that reminds me! I have a bundle of honeysuckle bark in my trouser pocket and birch bark in my jacket LOL.
Kai, there are lots of tinders you can use, British red's article on firelighting has a few displayed graphically: http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=18056
specifically on Post #5.
But a few that spring to mind are:
Birch bark (as you said)
Cherry bark peelings work too
Honey suckle bark
Clematis
Cramp ball
Amadou
Various grasses seed heads, common reed etc
Bull rush
thistle down
errmm sure there are hundreds more but those are the ones that spring to mind. Anything dry and fluffy really.
Or use dry wood and make feathersticks to light with either a match or with a firesteel.
Then there are the un-natural tinders of which there are just as many choices. LOL
So many options! LOL
When you say honeysuckle...there are more than one kind..., I have a yard surrounded Amur Honeysuckle that looks like this in Autumn. Is this what you are refering to? If so how do you personaly use the bark?
Cedar Bark is good. bash it up a bit to loosen the fibres and then tease them out a bit. Another useful tool is a traditional steel pencil sharpener. Use some dry twigs about the same size as a pencil and "Sharpen" the twig. The shavings make great tinder.
I always carry waxed discs. The kind for putting on Jam Jars. They are waterproof, light easily with fire steel and the little circles fit nicely in my tinder box. The top of thistles go up like crazy too as a natural tinder
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