Tinder fungus

[Wildcat]

Ok,so I've found some "tinder fungus" (I know it's got another name but i've forgotten what it's called) on a Birch tree on the back side of our horse pasture. And for once it's in reach.... What i'm wondering is what do i have to do to prepare it for use in building fires? Just make sure it's good and dry?

[pathfinder]

Yup. As long it's the stuff that look's like it's burnt and kinda yellow orange on the inside. Also known as Bear s*** fungus. There's another fungus that grows on the Birch and it's known as Horsefoot or false tinder fubgus. That works too,just not as good as the real stuff. Don't plan on winning any fire starting contest's with it though,wont catch as fast as char,but once you have an ember,it'll last "forever" and it's hard to put out!

[Bulldog lady]

not any birch down this ways, but there is a white one, not the eatible oyster shell ( yum yum) that looks similar to oyster but no wrinkles.  longhunter friend gave us a piece and said all have to do is dry it and it is supposed to make good starter.

[Wildcat]

Well I got a hunk of it and it's now sitting on a shelf in a paper bag dry'n away. I need to get my flint and steel out of storage and give er a try shortly....

[pathfinder]

Flint and steel in storage? How do ya cook dinner?

[Wildcat]

LOL,well due to my recent move down state i have most of my gear back nort in da U.P. eh'

[gordy]

         No doubt that most of you who use the birtch fungus to catch a spark know about using the thin outter bark for kindling. For those who have never tried it , give it a try. As the birtch grows it causes the outer bark to shed. Just peel some of the little tabs of bark off , not down to the sap wood just the very thin outer bark about as thick as an onion skin. This stuff will burn really hot for a few minutes and start your pencil size layer of kindling. It seems like its been soaked in kerosene , even wet it will catch. Like any other parts of live trees , best to gather it from several trees rather then strip just one.

                                             

[cutshurt]

The other name for the fungus is: Chaga, I use it for my fire piston kits I sell, and is great to use with flint & steels also.

Darrel

[freedom475]

The tinder fungus that I found catches a spark better than any char cloth. The stuff burns hot and the ember will really last a long time. It is real good stuff. It was kind of humid and rainy out the day that I found it but I broke off a piece and tried it any way, and it still caught spark emediately with my fire piston.

The oster shaped fungus has to go through some conditioning first. I have read that it must be boiled for quite a while. I have also read to soak it in urine for a long time and also boiling it in urine so that it will absorb some of the salt-peter.

[cutshurt]

Heres a good pic of one I found a few years ago

Darrel

[FlashBang]

Hear this tinder fungus smells nice and is good in helping ease a headache.   I'm going bird hunting next week near Wawa Ontario with that brass brl Blunderbus I just built so I'll be sure to keep an eye out for this tinder fungus stuff.

Have a look on YouTube under "tinder fungus" or "chaka", there are a few vids worth watching.

[nit wit]

 After I was done fishing in the UP a few years ago, I looked out my window at some birch trees and they had a bunch of fungus on them. It just so happened that I had a tomahawk with me. I filled a large flat rate box and mailed it to Maine. I figured the border guards in Canada would have taken it. They take our red hot dogs and potatoes!
Nit Wit