Tinder compared: feather sticks, fatwood, petroleum-jelly cotton, char cloth and gathered natural tinder

What will catch my spark or flame – even when everything is damp?

Most fires do not fail because of the ignition source but because of the tinder. Five approaches are compared: feather sticks carved from the dry inside of wood, resin-saturated fatwood, cotton soaked in petroleum jelly, char cloth (charred cotton) and gathered dry natural tinder. Fire only where it is permitted and the wildfire danger allows it; liquid accelerants are never an option.

Starting situation

Legend
Method	Works in wet conditions	Catches ferro rod sparks	Catches weak sparks or a burning-glass point	Can be made on site	Gives a sustained flame	Usable without a knife
Carving feather sticks	Partly	Depends	No	Yes	Yes	No
Using fatwood and resinous wood	Yes	Depends	No	Depends	Yes	No
Preparing cotton balls with petroleum jelly as tinder	Partly	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Making char cloth	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Preparing tinder, kindling and fuel wood	No	Depends	No	Yes	Depends	Yes

Legend:● Yes◐ Partly◇ Depends○ No* = note available

Carving feather sticks

Effort:: Moderate, needs practice
Needs:: Sharp knife, dry wood (split if necessary), firm base

Works in wet conditionsPartly
From the dry inside of split branches; soaked wood stays damp inside too.
Catches ferro rod sparksDepends
Depends on how fine the curls are.
Catches weak sparks or a burning-glass pointNo
Can be made on siteYes
Gives a sustained flameYes
The curls lead seamlessly into the thicker stick.
Usable without a knifeNo
Carve away from the body, not on the thigh.

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Using fatwood and resinous wood

Effort:: Low if available
Needs:: Fatwood from dead conifer wood, knife for scraping

Works in wet conditionsYes
Burns even when slightly damp, but is very sooty.
Catches ferro rod sparksDepends
Finely scraped rather than in coarse pieces.
Catches weak sparks or a burning-glass pointNo
Can be made on siteDepends
Occurrence varies widely by region; collecting is often restricted. Dead wood only.
Gives a sustained flameYes
Hot, sooty flame.
Usable without a knifeNo

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Preparing cotton balls with petroleum jelly as tinder

Effort:: Low, prepared at home
Needs:: Pure cotton balls, petroleum jelly, waterproof packaging

Works in wet conditionsPartly
Relatively weather-resistant – but wet kindling remains the main problem.
Catches ferro rod sparksYes
Fluffed up, it catches ferro rod sparks.
Catches weak sparks or a burning-glass pointNo
Not its strength; char cloth is intended for that.
Can be made on siteNo
Gives a sustained flameYes
Burns noticeably longer than dry cotton, but only for a few minutes.
Usable without a knifeYes

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Making char cloth

Effort:: Moderate, in advance at a fire
Needs:: Pure cotton, small metal tin, an existing outdoor fire, airtight storage

Works in wet conditionsNo
Absorbs moisture and then becomes useless.
Catches ferro rod sparksYes
Catches weak sparks or a burning-glass pointYes
Its actual purpose.
Can be made on siteNo
Needs an existing fire to make.
Gives a sustained flameNo
Only an ember; a tinder bundle is needed as well.
Usable without a knifeYes

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Preparing tinder, kindling and fuel wood

Effort:: Moderate to high
Needs:: Dry, fine natural material, time to gather and sort

Works in wet conditionsNo
In prolonged rain dry material is often almost impossible to find.
Catches ferro rod sparksDepends
Only very fine and bone dry.
Catches weak sparks or a burning-glass pointNo
Can be made on siteYes
Only dead material and only where collecting is permitted.
Gives a sustained flameDepends
Depends on amount and dryness.
Usable without a knifeYes

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