Birch Bark Pine Pitch & Char Cloth Video

[fireoflife]

The past few days it rained and most everything was wet or damp so starting a fire was going to be challenge. As I pulled into the lot at the trail head I noticed a few pine trees and a type of birch but not a true birch. These trees are used for landscaping because of the shaggy bark, I really don't know more then that about this tree. Anyhow I took several sheets of the bark and placed a nice gob of pitch in the center and folded it over placed it in my pocket and took off for a hike. About half a mile I cut off the trail and made my way through the woods and found a nice spot for a camp. The location was an old dump with all kinds of junk from bottles to car parts and building materials. I stopped in an area with lots of bricks and decided to make camp, made a nice fireplace from the bricks, took a log and sat it up against another tree for a seat and back rest. Like I said everything was wet so I collected the smallest twigs i could find to help get the fire started, made a pile and made ready to throw a spark at the birch bark pine pitch tinder bundle...It worked great 

[woodyz]

They have those birch trees at my Drs office as ornamental trees

I always pick up some sheets of the bark when I am there.

Thanks for sharing

[fireoflife]

Dec 8, 2017 12:01:52 GMT -7 woodyz said:

They have those birch trees at my Drs office as ornamental trees

I always pick up some sheets of the bark when I am there.

Thanks for sharing

Not really sure how good they work without the pine pitch, guess I need to find out.

[angelhelp]

Nice!

[woodyz]

break one cross grain and pull it down you can get some fibers from it

must be dead and dried out

you can also crumble some and get dust that will light with a coal

[fireoflife]

Dec 9, 2017 12:29:24 GMT -7 woodyz said:

break one cross grain and pull it down you can get some fibers from it

must be dead and dried out

you can also crumble some and get dust that will light with a coal

I'll give it a try thanks

[cajunlady87]

We have Crepe Myrtle trees with bark similar to Birch trees. Much thinner though.

[fireoflife]

Dec 13, 2017 11:09:28 GMT -7 cajunlady87 said:

We have Crepe Myrtle trees with bark similar to Birch trees. Much thinner though.

I'll have to check it out on line...thanks!