SKATAGAN

[mudd turtle]

Looking for a large piece of skatagan to use in demonstrating firemakeing at local tribute to the American soldier held every year at local national battleground. Any help would be outstanding and thak anybody that can help me obtain this material. mudd turtle

 

[mudd turtle]

Well Gee folks thanks for helping a fellow out. mudd turtle.

 

[Rancocas]

Okay. What the heck is Skatagan?
I even googled it and came up with nothing.

 

[sniper68]

:hmm: Yeh, what is it ??? If it would be of any help, I would gladly donate any amount of char cloth ya might need for the event. :v

 

[bnail]

:hmm: Yeh, what is it ??? If it would be of any help, I would gladly donate any amount of char cloth ya might need for the event. :v

"Skatagan" is the algonquin name for this growth. It does not need to be treated to catch a spark.

Well, gee Folks, thanks for helping a fellow out. . .

I'd recommend you go out and find it yourself, and not rely of folks from another region.
"Give a man a fish. . ." :thumbsup:

 

[Bob Gular]

Mudd Turtle said: "Well Gee folks thanks for helping a fellow out"
Serves you right, I was even looking for it in the Norwegian dictionary.

 

[sniper68]

Thanks, that's what I was thinkin it was. But if I recall, is it not only found in the northern parts of the Country. And predomintaly on birch trees? He's in North Carolina... :grin:

 

[bnail]

Thanks, that's what I was thinkin it was. But if I recall, is it not only found in the northern parts of the Country. And predomintaly on birch trees? He's in North Carolina... :grin:

That's alright, I've been there myself; when I was in So. Cal. I searched high and low for the stuff :shake:
Finally, an Ojibwa friend showed me where to look after I moved to Mi. and I've used it ever since.
"Sk'ta'gan, BTW, literally means Punk wood.
I'm sure there's a Carolina counterpart that our Southern Brethren could help with.

 

[sniper68]

I don't think there are any sub's down your way that will work.
Besides------ American Soldier = Zippo!!! :grin:

 

[Claude Mathis]

Well Gee folks thanks for helping a fellow out. mudd turtle.

Complaining that the members didn't find your stuff for you, within 48 hours, hardly seems fair.

 

[mazo kid]

Well Gee folks thanks for helping a fellow out. mudd turtle.

It might have helped if we knew what is was that you are looking for.

 

[paulvallandigham]

There are several fungi that grow on dead tree bark tha can be dried and used as tinder. I don't know the name, but we have a white-ish colored fungus that is often found in damp bottoms growing on dead elm bark. Its edible, and is fine fried in butter, with salt and pepper. But, as it ages, and dies, it turns a dirty brown color, it can be dried, and will hold fire embers.

Look for bruises on tree bark where two limbs or two trees are rubbing together. Often that is where you are going to find these fungi, regardless the species of the tree. Birch happens to have an oil in the bark, that makes holding embers that much easier in its fungi. Since N. Carolina has a wide variety of climate zones, from sea level to mountains, Its kind of hard knowing what you should expect to find without having been there. I know some guys at Ft. Bragg in Special Forces, and I am sure they are well familiar with whatever exists around that base. I will be happy to contact my friend there, for you, if you send me a PM.

 

[Rancocas]

Here in my area of east Tennessee we do have the "River Birch". It is a shaggy barked variety that I find in wet areas along the river banks. I have used strips of the bark as tinder, just as I used the bark of the norther, white, "Paper Birch" for the same purpose.
But, I have not used the "punk wood".

 

[ameling]

Here's a post that I saved from a prior message thread on a different forum on Tinder Fungus. It has some links to pictures and info.
----------------------------------------
Re: Tinder Fungus
Author: Hangsaroundthefort
Date: 10-28-04 12:43

The fungi that Jas Townsend sells is "Inonotus obliquus"
If you do a google search, you will find many sites with info.
Look at:
http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/diseases/CTD/Group/Canker/lrg_images/fig44b.gif http://ccfb.cornell.edu/biotaweb/LP98-000125.jpg http://www.uni-greifswald.de/~mycology/gallery/Bilder/Inonotus obliquus.jpg http://www.forestryimages.org/images/768x512/4213076.jpg
Frances Densmore also collected some in the early 20th from the Ojibwe in Minnesota. Even with the availability of matches and cloth, they still prefered to use the fungus. http://anthro.amnh.org/images/full/502/502_1476ABC.jpg http://anthro.amnh.org/images/full/502/502_1477C.jpg
If you find any, break it up/cut it up soon after harvest, when it is still a bit soft.
It takes a bit more work to catch than char cloth, but much more accurate in the great lakes.
Dave
-------------------------------

Birch trees grow around here in NE Iowa, but I have only found one chunk of tinder fungus on an old dead paper birch tree - so far. It is a disease on the tree, and will kill it. But I have picked up several chunks from friends that live in northern Minn. and Wisc. where it is much easier to find. You still have to do a lot of searching of trees, but it does occur more often up there.

Jas. Townsend is supposed to sell it. And several people list it over on evil-bay. It's not something that people normally have a lot of extra lying about to share with others. There are few who go the extra step to use it for their historical fire starting. But most still use charclothe - because it is easier, that's what they learned, and it is "accepted" in most places without the documentation to support it.

Just my humble thoughts to share. Take them as such.

Mikey - yee ol' grumpy German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

p.s. M T - As Claude pointed out, the "attitude" of your second post really set wrong with a lot of people, especially with several who might have been able to assist you. Just my humble observation.

 

[ofiebakoa]

This is also called tinder fungus. I've used it here in Missouri. How soon do you need it? I can't promise anything, but if I can get out in time I may be able to get you some.

 

[mazo kid]

Mikey, thanks for those links. I've got a dead elm just on the edge of my woods; also a couple of downed Birch trees. When it stops raining around here, I'll go have a look-see. Emery

 

[mudd turtle]

Thank you Sir for suggesting I find SKatagan for my self. I have scoured the woods and lake areas around these parts for a very long time and it can't be found here in North Carolina. So I thought I might be able to get some of the stuff from some helpful person here on this forum. I had planed to pay someone for it. As a rule I depended on myself and no one eles. Thanks for the reply and your kind and helpful suggestions. mudd turtle.

 

[mudd turtle]

To all those of you who my comment did not set well with I can only say the comment was not ment to offend. I made a requst for help finding something that I needed in order to show others something that might get someone interested in this hobby. Mike thanks for your post ' I have found that I can always count on you for information. :surrender: mudd turtle

 

[bnail]

Thank you Sir for suggesting I find SKatagan for my self. I have scoured the woods and lake areas around these parts for a very long time and it can't be found here in North Carolina. So I thought I might be able to get some of the stuff from some helpful person here on this forum. I had planed to pay someone for it. As a rule I depended on myself and no one eles. Thanks for the reply and your kind and helpful suggestions. mudd turtle.

I understand your dilemma; Like I said, I've been there.
However, If the stuff isn't regionally available wouldn't it be more informative, and rewarding to discover what the Indigs used there?
Another thing, I have a moral opossition to selling this stuff, don't ask me why. It was shown to me out of friendship, and I in turn will show others, but I won't sell it. if you still want a piece, and no one has come forward, then I'll send you some. you can pay shipping, after you get it, if you'd like.
PM me your addy and I'll hook you up.