Sources of treated tinder fungus?

[Jay Templin]

Hmmm interesting. Given that, I wonder if just drying it out would be enough?

I’m working on finding out. Harvested some at my parents’ cabin when I was there this summer. Had it in a paper sack in the trunk for almost a month and a half. A friend of mine said it needs to be charred- not like charcoal, but just to light a corner on fire and snuff it after a little bit. I’ll post results…
Jay

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Jon and all,
No time to read all the thread right now, and an interesting one it is, but I am sure I told you some time ago that horseshoe fungus does Not need any treatment apart from drying.

To dry, put it in a sunny window.
Do not dry it in an oven. it spoils it.
its all I use in my "mushroom lock".
You want the part that looks like cork.

Sorry no time to stop and read more, but hope to get back here real soon!

Best,
Rich.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Too funny … as I was reading Jay‘s post and questioning whether to char the tender fungus or not, I recalled how Pukka Bundook says he just uses his untreated and then presto … I scroll down and there’s his post!

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Smoke from the hoof fungus ( fomes fomentarius ) smells terrible. For fire making I suggest trying TRUE TINDER FUNGUS aka chaga. This fungus requires no special treatment other than drying.

Please read more about natural tinders here.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/using-natural-tinders-alternatives-for-charcloth.114322/

 

[TobJohn]

Jon and all,
No time to read all the thread right now, and an interesting one it is, but I am sure I told you some time ago that horseshoe fungus does Not need any treatment apart from drying.

To dry, put it in a sunny window.
Do not dry it in an oven. it spoils it.
its all I use in my "mushroom lock".
You want the part that looks like cork.

Sorry no time to stop and read more, but hope to get back here real soon!

Best,
Rich.

You are right, you had mentioned drying it in the window.

I wonder what the point of treating it with potash is in the cap n ball video?

 

[TobJohn]

Jon and all,
No time to read all the thread right now, and an interesting one it is, but I am sure I told you some time ago that horseshoe fungus does Not need any treatment apart from drying.

To dry, put it in a sunny window.
Do not dry it in an oven. it spoils it.
its all I use in my "mushroom lock".
You want the part that looks like cork.

Sorry no time to stop and read more, but hope to get back here real soon!

Best,
Rich.

We need to get you some sort of historical or cultural grant, so you can spend more time sharing your knowledge and incredible gunsmithing!

 

[Pukka Bundook]

LOL!!

Keep the chaga for tea!

 

[PhDBrewer]

Picked these today. Let see how they work! Will just dry and then try.

William

 

[nit wit]

Some chaga in Maine, tons of that fungus! That was a great fungus video.
Nit Wit

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Remember gents ... thar' be a fungus amungst us!

 

[Rifleman1776]

We have that fungus all over the local state forests.
I use cat tails, not matter how wet it is outside, they are dry inside.

Wish I had known that in times past.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Why do you want to buy it treated? Except for a real survival situation you are not doing it the "old or pc" way. That is what real reenactment is all about. Plus, in a fire starting competition it would not be allowed.

 

[TobJohn]

Why do you want to buy it treated? Except for a real survival situation you are not doing it the "old or pc" way. That is what real reenactment is all about. Plus, in a fire starting competition it would not be allowed.

I am going to use it for an arquebus, so fire starting isn’t as relevant. I had been looking for an option with a potash solution already applied to it, but it now seems like that is unnecessary

 

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

Almost all of the bracket fungi can be used as a fire starter. Dried, of course. Bracket fungi can be found over most of the USA, excluding the Southwest.

 

[beardedhorse]

Thanks, TobJohn for the video.