Glockzilla10mm Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Since the wildfire in the GSMNF really good fatwood is harder to find in my area of TN...just burned up all over...I have a pecan tree and Pear Cactus in my yard but no pines... Seems to be running about 6 to 9 bucks a pound everywhere on the net. Crying shame...when I lived in NC and SC I had yard fulls of the stuff... I'm looking for about 20 pounds. Big box stores carry what they call fatwood. You could sort thru 10 boxes and come up with barely passable material...but even that's $10 a box. Anyone in the TN area have some available or know of a decent source?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Buzzard Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 It sucks when you don't have a supply, I got spoiled when I lived in the PNW. Here in the part of TX where I live now the only "fat wood" is the crap in stores. But we do have milk weed, and a few other things that work. I save my real fat wood, and got better at using other things that are local available it has made my fire starting a lot more versatile. In short no fat wood here, but I do have lots of flint laying around. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyL Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 I gotta ask, what is fat wood and what’s it used for? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted October 5, 2017 Administrators Share Posted October 5, 2017 Quote Fatwood, also known as "fat lighter," "lighter wood," "rich lighter," "pine knot," [1] "lighter knot," "heart pine" or "lighter'd" [sic], is derived from the heartwood of pine trees. This resin-impregnated heartwood becomes hard and rot-resistant. The stump (and tap root) left in the ground after a tree has fallen or has been cut is an excellent source of fatwood. Other locations, such as the joints where limbs intersect the trunk, can also be harvested. Although most resinous pines can produce fatwood, in the southeastern United States the wood is commonly associated with longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), which historically was highly valued for its high pitch production. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatwood We called it Lighter Knot in the Army. You could start a fire with that stuff in a rainstorm. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccabeus Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 While I'm familiar with what it is, I've never worked with it. Is it more effective than home made options for jump starting fires? (i.e., strips of cardboard soaked in melted candle wax, petroleum jelly coated cotton balls, etc). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWARREN123 Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Something else really good is rotted cedar. Dig down into a old cedar stump and that stuff almost catches fire by itself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyL Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Oh heck yeah, when I hunted in south arkansas for years I would find pine knots to take home. When the sap runs down to the roots it would be an eight inch of sap on some of those roots. Heck yeah a hard rain couldn’t hardly put out a pine knot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigobsessed Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 I hope ya found you sum fat wood Zilla! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danoobie Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 On 10/4/2017 at 5:32 AM, Glockzilla10mm said: Anyone in the TN area have some available or know of a decent source?? Do you have any White Birch in your area? The bark, even wet, burns like it's dipped in gasoline. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooseJaw Posted June 30, 2018 Share Posted June 30, 2018 Fatwood sticks are a must, when I go camping.. they even work great in the old fireplace!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glockzilla10mm Posted June 30, 2018 Author Share Posted June 30, 2018 No we don't have birch here. I wish we did. Still haven't found any of high quality in a decent quantity around here. Gotta get out and find a giant punk wood log too. Great for char tins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glockzilla10mm Posted June 30, 2018 Author Share Posted June 30, 2018 On October 4, 2017 at 9:24 AM, Old Buzzard said: It sucks when you don't have a supply, I got spoiled when I lived in the PNW. Here in the part of TX where I live now the only "fat wood" is the crap in stores. But we do have milk weed, and a few other things that work. I save my real fat wood, and got better at using other things that are local available it has made my fire starting a lot more versatile. In short no fat wood here, but I do have lots of flint laying around. Quartz here....meh. flint or chirt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramjet38 Posted June 30, 2018 Share Posted June 30, 2018 I knowz the wimmins like fat wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Buzzard Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 6 hours ago, Glockzilla10mm said: Quartz here....meh. flint or chirt? Chert I guess since limestone is everywhere here too. I just smack two rocks together and try a piece, if it makes sparks with my striker I use it, if not I try a different rocks until the sparks fly. I seldom have to break more than 2 rocks. That chert is everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharp Stick Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 On 6/30/2018 at 6:58 PM, Ramjet38 said: I knowz the wimmins like fat wood. I've heard that, but I only have skinny wood so I don't know. For starting fires, kerosene works pretty well on whatever kindling you got, long as it is dry. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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