Fire Drill and Fungus Experiment

Alaskan Survivalist peaked my curiosity with his thread on "Transporting Fire". I have a few pieces of very dry fungus so I thought I'd give it a try. With the first attempt I got a lot of smoke, but no coal. On the second attempt I cut a small notch to give it a little "breathing room". The spindle was a piece of Crape Myrtle. The spindle was fairly soft too, and as you can see, the end sort of glazed. I did scrape the end before I gave it a second try. I did not get nearly the burn time that Alaskan Survivalist did - probably because of how dry the fungus was. I got about one and a half hours of smoldering ember before the piece was entirely consumed.

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I tried and failed but I think I will dry mine out and try again with a notch the way you did it. Very good! Shows the usefulness of the forum. I'll try again when mine has dried out. Also judging by knife my piece is about 4 times the size of yours that may be inpart explanation for longer burn time but mine is definately damp.

I've been using some of the dried out fungus and cutting it into wicks for oil lamps. Gene (Erunk........) gave me the idea with some of his posts.

that sounds nifty. are you meaning a wick for a betty type lamp or kudlik?

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Originally Posted by randyt

that sounds nifty. are you meaning a wick for a betty type lamp or kudlik?

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More of a field expedient kuklik. Rock with depression, coconut shell, sea shells, trash, etc. I've been playing around with lamps and stoves thanks to Gene's inspiration.

That is very cool. Just put that on the to do list. Thanks

Awesome Crash! Feels Great doesn't it! Thanks for sharing the discovery!

I've got another I want to try - kind of ran out of gas and time - using the same spindle and a dry cabbage palm branch.

Interesting, I'm surprised it burned up so quick.

I tried again with a notch but it did not work. Mine is just too wet which will probably be a problem most of the year. I will be looking to see if I can find some that is dry enough in its natural state for use. I will be drying mine out but I'm looking for a more field expedient method.

Even drying some over a fire would be a realistic scenario. If you have an established camp and need to move, check a trap line, fishing, etc. you could dry some and take it with you.

That sounds like a great idea. I will put it to the test when I get the chance. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by sjj

Two great threads going on this. Crash - you are awesome - and I liked you showing your Tom Brown Tracker style knife (your make and design sir?) and what looks to be a well cared for Mora - and have to wonder how you blooded your fingers :)

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Yes - that was one of my earlier knife projects.

The Mora is a relatively recent aquisition.

Blood? Nah - just something to go along with the sweat and tears.:innocent:

Great post, Now I have to find some shelf fungus.

The carrying fire thing is something I want to own. But, I am still working on the fire drill. I had my son's girlfriend video some trials tonight. I get coals like nobody's business. But, no fire...

I'll post up to my willow thread when she gets back with her camera cable.

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Originally Posted by Batch

The carrying fire thing is something I want to own. But, I am still working on the fire drill. I had my son's girlfriend video some trials tonight. I get coals like nobody's business. But, no fire...

I'll post up to my willow thread when she gets back with her camera cable.

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Batch - if you're getting a coal, that is the goal. Transfer that coal to your tinder birds nest and start blowing to get your flame.

I got to get the tinder bundle right. I didn't have any dead grass or anything. But, I tried cotton, dryer lint, palm tree fibers. Everything will fire right up with a fire steel but not with my coals.

I can get a coal in about 15 seconds every single time and they are about the same size as the one in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSvnMw3pGCg

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Originally Posted by Batch

I got to get the tinder bundle right. I didn't have any dead grass or anything. But, I tried cotton, dryer lint, palm tree fibers. Everything will fire right up with a fire steel but not with my coals.

I can get a coal in about 15 seconds every single time and they are about the same size as the one in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSvnMw3pGCg

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Until you get the hang of it, try practicing with some jute or sisal rope. Cut a few lengths about four or five inches long and then untwist them until you have a handful of loose (single) fibers about the size of a softball. Make a small depression in it and place your coal in the depression. Other materials that might be in your area - the dead fibers from the Cabbage palms (off the trunk, not the leaves). Rub them between your hands (like you are trying to warm your hands) to break up the fibers. Other materials - Cattail fluff or any of the other seed pods that fluff up - won't be available till later in the season though. Add them to your dried grasses (rub those drided grasses like you do with the palm fibers). Pine needles - again - rub em to make finer pieces. Dried bark fromthe Southern Cedar works well. It's all about experimenting and finding out what works best for you.

Agave (stalk) - Very Easy (probably not in wet conditions)
Ailanthus – Easy
American Basswood – Very Easy
American Beech – Difficult
American Elm – Difficult
Apple – Very Difficult, unsuccessful so far
Atlantic White Cedar – Very Easy
Balsam Fir – Easy, bonus: sap is only found in bark
Black Ash – Difficult
Black Birch - Moderately Difficult
Black Cherry – Very Difficult
Black Walnut – Moderately Difficult/ Very Difficult, white sapwood works/unsuccessful with dark heartwood
Box Elder – Moderately Easy
Common Juniper – Easy
Eastern Cottonwood – Easy
Eastern Cottonwood Root – Very Easy
Eastern Hemlock – Moderately Difficult, need to select as sap free wood as possible
Eastern Hop Hornbeam – Difficult
Eastern Red Cedar – Moderately Easy
Evening Primrose on Basswood – Easy
Grey Birch – Moderately Easy, always wet, must be dried
Mullein on Cedar – Easy
Northern White Cedar – Very Easy
Pitch Pine – Moderately Difficult, try to find as sap free wood as possible
Quaking Aspen – Moderately Difficult, hard to find dry wood
Red Maple – Difficult
Red Oak – Difficult
Red Pine – Moderately Easy
Saguaro Cactus – Very Easy, easy to find dead standing cactus, use ribs
Sassafras – Difficult
Speckled Alder – Easy, virtually impossible to find dead dry wood
Spruce (species?) – Moderately Difficult
Staghorn Sumac – Moderately Easy
Striped Maple – Moderately Difficult
Tamarack – Moderately Easy
White Ash – Difficult
White Pine – Moderately Easy, must use wood without sap, does not work well after rain
White Pine Root – Very Difficult, don't even waste your time
Willow (species?) – Easy
Yellow Birch – Moderately Easy
Yellow Poplar – Moderately Easy

When using hardwoods downward pressure on the spindle must be lessened and speed increased. Softwoods (mainly conifers) absorb moisture faster than hardwoods, so may not be the woods of choice after several days of rain; however, if you have a knife outer wood can be carved away to reach dry interior.

Source: http://survivalinstructor.blogspot.c...ill-woods.html

I was intrigued with American Basswood on this list. It's no secret I'm completely inept at fire making with sticks but this could prove interesting. Basswood is considered one of the top 100 most common trees in the central and eastern U.S. Parts of it are edible, too. So this could prove to be a great tree for folks to learn about since it's so plentiful. Since the author rated American Basswood at "very easy" that will be my next target.