Fatwood match: Just a thought

[Lynn LeFey]

I'm just curious why I've never seen this. I've seen people scrape the heads of matches off to make their own of various materials. It seems like this would work. I just don't have the materials to make them. If someone runs with this idea, please post back on results.

[Poncho65]

In theory it should work fine but it might work to good and catch yourself on fire

[Don Pablo]

In theory it should work fine but it might work to good and catch yourself on fire

Isn't that what we awl want? Dangerous fire making stuff?

[Kev D]

Mmmmmmmmmm fire

[Alan K.]

Brilliant idea, but I'm afraid someone has beat you to it.  There are many such products available.

[Lynn LeFey]

Well... yes and no. They are firestarters, but all of those are compressed sawdust with a binder (or something similar), not fatwood. And they're not matches.

But yeah, same idea.

[Mattexian]

My experience with fatwood is that it tends to dry out if you cut it up into useable sizes then store it away for a while, like a year or less.  There's nothing wrong with pine slivers, they're still very flammable, work great for kindling and tinder, but the resin would evaporate away.  It worked much better to build the kindling pile with fatwood slivers wedged thru it, then light a match and ignite a long sliver of fatwood and use that to ignite the pile at various points.

I'm probably a little spoiled, in that i live in an area where old pine stumps are plentiful in the woods, so I can collect "fresh" fatwood any time I'm out.

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[pomsbz]

My experience with fatwood is that it tends to dry out if you cut it up into useable sizes then store it away for a while, like a year or less.  There's nothing wrong with pine slivers, they're still very flammable, work great for kindling and tinder, but the resin would evaporate away.  It worked much better to build the kindling pile with fatwood slivers wedged thru it, then light a match and ignite a long sliver of fatwood and use that to ignite the pile at various points.

I'm probably a little spoiled, in that i live in an area where old pine stumps are plentiful in the woods, so I can collect "fresh" fatwood any time I'm out.

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I'm sure that could be fixed by some kind of clear coating. I'd be in for fatwood matches though to be honest, UCO stormproof matches are probably a better bet though. Won't burn as long but will burn far more furiously and really are stormproof.

[styx]

so in theory you could take small sticks (no larger than pencil sized) of some softer wood, put them in melted lard or any other sort of fat and then dip them in melted wax which would seal them. this sounds a bit too simple but might be worth a shot for those who like to experiment

[Lynn LeFey]

There's really no point in coating an object in fat then in wax. Wax is flammable.

And, by the way, a bit related, corrugated cardboard, dipped in wax is great. The hollow chambers in the cardboard soak up the wax, and the whole thing works great for wicking the wax up to burn.

The 'resin evaporates' issue isn't one I was aware of. I've never found fatwood in the wild, but I'm from a place without a lot of pine.

[ducttapetech]

so in theory you could take small sticks (no larger than pencil sized) of some softer wood, put them in melted lard or any other sort of fat and then dip them in melted wax which would seal them. this sounds a bit too simple but might be worth a shot for those who like to experiment

Yes. Fats and oils are more readily absorbed by most types of wood than wax. However, not really worth making. I tried before. Now for cotton balls, a good mix is 50/50 beeswax and animal fat. Best part is, whatever is left after it cools is great for leather and wood. The wood or leather will absorb the oils and the wax water proofs it for a while. Makes for a great polish also.
Melting pine pitch and dipping some cotton balls works even better. Stuff goes up like gasoline.

[ducttapetech]

I'm just curious why I've never seen this. I've seen people scrape the heads of matches off to make their own of various materials. It seems like this would work. I just don't have the materials to make them. If someone runs with this idea, please post back on results.

I forget the you tubers name, he had made some this way. They seemed to work pretty good. I have seen  people use fatwood for viking matches also.

[pomsbz]

Just made myself up a batch of waxed sisal rope (4 strand) tonight. Once cut down it will make a great long burning waterproof 'match' once lit and this stuff up lights nice and easy from a firesteel should you be so desperate as to have to use one.

[Lynn LeFey]

 I do that same thing with jute. 

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

This is what I call a fatwood or firesteel match...a little tinder and the match is held with the striker when scraping. Twigs, spent matchsticks, birthday candles etc. can be used. It works well with small firesteels (like the tiny one glued to the bottom of a plastic match safe) because the tinder travels with the sparks..keeping them concentrated.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

more...

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I've also made DIY SAs...on storm matches. I might have put too much compound on them...they were a bit zesty

They worked well, but I don't think it's worth the effort.

[Don Pablo]

Spork! 

[Don Pablo]

No match can be too zesty. 

[pomsbz]

I do that same thing with jute. 

Sorry, mine was jute, was writing it too fast and screwed up.

[pomsbz]

screwed up again, sigh.

[ducttapetech]

This is what I call a fatwood or firesteel match...a little tinder and the match is held with the striker when scraping. Twigs, spent matchsticks, birthday candles etc. can be used. It works well with small firesteels (like the tiny one glued to the bottom of a plastic match safe) because the tinder travels with the sparks..keeping them concentrated.

Nice to see you Spork!

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

This is what I call a fatwood or firesteel match...a little tinder and the match is held with the striker when scraping. Twigs, spent matchsticks, birthday candles etc. can be used. It works well with small firesteels (like the tiny one glued to the bottom of a plastic match safe) because the tinder travels with the sparks..keeping them concentrated.

Nice to see you Spork!