UK source for fatwood

Posted by: Anonymous

UK source for fatwood - 06/08/03 02:42 PM

Does anyone know of a source in the UK for fatwood or maya wood? I ahve found one - that was taunton leisure where they sell maya powder in shoe polish sized tins. I didn't get any as I decided that it has no advantage over powdered magnesium in a film container that I could do myself from a mag/flint bar. Does anyone know of a source in the UK for maya wood? Thanks.
Posted by: WOFT

Re: UK source for fatwood - 06/08/03 03:05 PM

What is fatwood/maya wood?
Posted by: Tjin

Re: UK source for fatwood - 06/08/03 03:20 PM

in shaved form waterproof tinder, in bigger pieces kiddling
Posted by: Chris Kavanaugh

Re: UK source for fatwood - 06/08/03 05:30 PM

When a tree is injured by fire or disease sap runs into the wound much like coagulating blood. When harvested it yields a highly resinous tinder popularly called fatwood in the USA. It is commercially sold here in 5lb bags with sticks @ 8" X 1/4". They can be shaved into kindling or readily ignited with a good flame source to start your firewood. They do poduce considerable soot and should be reserved for starting fires.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: UK source for fatwood - 06/08/03 06:18 PM

Is that what it is? I assumed that it was a type of wood. From a tree called the maya tree <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />.
Posted by: Chris Kavanaugh

Re: UK source for fatwood - 06/08/03 06:32 PM

Most of it sold commercially is from southern pine forests. Maya seams to be a new marketing name in association with clay ovens from Central America. Much like the renaming of Chinese Gooseberries to Kiwi fruit.I've noticed the maya bundles to be horribly overpriced for a relativelysmall amount. Do a search for Fatwood. There are numerous vendors in the USA that may ship overseas.
Posted by: WOFT

Re: UK source for fatwood - 06/08/03 06:43 PM

Oh, so is it the same stuff that I sometimes see on pine-trees a day or so after i've broken branch off it? it is VERY sticky, but drys very hard?

I've never used it for starting a fire, but I think I read about in one of the survival manuals that I have. Is it beter than sparklite tinders? or magnesium?
Posted by: Chris Kavanaugh

Re: UK source for fatwood - 06/08/03 10:07 PM

No,that is pitch, or dried sap. This is what creates amber. The fatwood is wood that has healed and absorbed the pitch. Imagine nature soaking a cottonball in petrolatum. Collecting pitch is a good idea for tinder too. I'm not a big fan of magnesium. I would rate it as good as the others. It comes down to having it on hand when you need it <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: UK source for fatwood - 06/09/03 01:28 AM

Can't help you on the fatwood but I would warn you about the powdered magnesium in a film can trick. The film can must be completely air tight and oxygen depleted before you seal it or the magnesium will be oxidized before you try to light it (oxidization is what burning does) and thus be useless. The oxidization will be slow and low temp unless you light it but it will be inevetable if you powder it ahead of time.

RE maya / fat wood, you might consider collecting some birch bark. White birch has an inner bark (below the flaky papery bark but not the wood) that can be up to 3/8" thick. this is quite resinous and when started with the papery bark provides both tinder and kindling. Also it is free and widely available and can probably be collected wherever you need it and it does light even when wet. Catching a spark with the papery outer bark is rather easy if you fray it enough and it is dry.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: UK source for fatwood - 06/09/03 08:33 AM

can think of two places at the moment www.attacc.com; www.bisonbushcraft.co.uk. the latter one sells it for sure, the first sells it i think. look for sections with kelly kettle's they seem to sell the sticks either with the kettles or advertise them near the kettles. hope that this helps
stevec