Building the Perfect Tinder Bundle

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I'm Joshua Enyart, former Army Ranger (Bco 1/75; Ranger Class 10-96), and Green Beret (18B, 7th SFG). To see my upcoming courses and in-person training, visit: graybeardedgreenberet.com/col...
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[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I chose to do this video as a stand alone to isolate what I consider a critical skill that I have seen as a point of failure countless times. I left out the actual ignition source and blowing it to flame because the ignition source doesn't matter for what the video is trying to focus on. The birds nest can be used for any ignition source. This ties directly into the "Complete Bow Drill" video if you want to see it blown to flame: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6aUaIh9nsyrnNU. Thanks for watching! Make sure you subscribe and hit that notification bell!

[@williamwhite9481]

"You don't have time to do it right but you end up having time to do it again" Love it

[@TheVerbiousOne]

"I'm not trying to be lucky, I'm trying to get this right.". That is a great mindset. I've been working on my friction fire skills as well as building better fires and this video is very helpful!

[@davidmoore6195]

Josh - you rock! My daughter is a scout and asked to work on firestarting skills on Easter. I remember my son and I struggling with the same thing a number of years ago, so I found your video as a point of reference. You have done a great job explaining and demonstrating the tinder bundle. I helped her find some bark in the wood pile. Then left her alone to break it down and build up a tinder bundle. I have some charcloth I had previously made, so I showed her how to use that and her ferrocerium rod to catch a spark. It took her 2 tries once she could consistently throw a spark to catch the spark, and blow it into a tinder bundle and get fire. It was awesome to see her get it so quickly! We would have moved on to a solar source, except my wife had Easter dinner ready. Solar fire is planned for today! We will try a bow drill after success there. Thanks for your videos!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Nice! That’s the good stuff right there

[@manyhammers5944]

Punk wood is a good coal extender and it provides much more heat.

[@toddgibson9861]

Glad to see this step of the "fire process" shown in detail. Would love to see a follow-up video on the actual collection process for tulip poplar, cottonwood, and red cedar bark. We always see the fat lighter and birch bark collection, but rarely an in depth look at the collection methods of other great tinder sources. Tree identification would be a great addition to such a video also.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

All good suggestions, I can add those to the list, brother

[@aleisterbroley900]

True, that would be great to see!

[@jimk1970]

Ha! And now I know why it sometimes takes me a couple of tries to get a fire started with a Bic lighter. Thanks for the detailed tips. I like the demonstration on finer than frog hair. I was wondering to myself how to find fine tinder. DUH process it down. Knowing what size bundle to use is really helpful here. I really appreciate you combining the detailed steps along with the “why-to-do-it-that-way.”

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

These little "AHA!" moments are exactly what I do these videos for, now matter how simple thy may seem to someone, they might just help someone else get over a little speed bump. I appreciate you sharing that. Thats what I like to hear!

[@wildernesssurvivaldogtrain8184]

I !want to thank you again! I just uploaded my first video of making bow drill fire. It wouldn’t of been possible without your advice on tender bundle making . Thank you again!

[@politicallyinsensitive4200]

Just recently got interested in bushcraft/survival. Luckily I have a stone fire pit on my patio I can practice this in

[@rebelscottmac559]

Soon as the snow is gone I'll try

[@thespiritofsauntering]

"finer than frog hair" New favorite saying! Thank you for another great video.

[@jeffnotti9932]

really great info...what i got out of it.. gather as you go. keep an eye out for inner and outer barks, gather as much as possible, dry grass, birch, aspen, tulip poplar, pine resin, process down in stages, course, fine, super fine, make sure you are fine (you are going to put dust/ember into it) enough to hold an ember or can catch a spark from a rod and ignite. personally i like birch or aspen bark, the paper is really flammable. Hey Josh thanks for taking the time to talk trough the process in coherent steps to enforce my current knowledge and to fill the gaps so that my knowledge is complete.. you are building woodsmen!! J

[@oabouhatsira4901]

Never imagined that one can make such an informative demonstration for tinder bundles. Makes me want to make one now! Many thanks!

[@ferebeefamily]

Thank you.

[@ericcapell3455]

Thanks for another great and informative video. Slowing down and taking your time is what is often overlooked.

[@jasonloree4676]

GBGB you have some of the best videos on this genre. Keep it up!!!

[@SCGORDOSWORLD]

"Bird's nests work the best." - Has stuck with me since I was a young boy scout years ago. And I have passed it to my son as well. Not enough folks, in my opinion, truly understand the significance of the Fire Triangle. Excellent explanation, clear, concise, and something we all need to keep in mind, regardless of the conditions in which we are trying to build a fire. Good Stuff!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

This is true, there are a few different configurations for a tinder bundle, some work well with some ignition sources but not well with others, the birds nest works for all.

[@jacklaporte472]

Thanks again. Very informative county. Can’t help but still find it intimidating. Maybe once you head back to NYS I’ll look you up.

[@aleisterbroley900]

I second the request for a video on collecting these resources, and maybe on what characteristics one might look at to evaluate an unknown new material to determine it's suitability for tinder... I'll add my own small knowledge to the pot, as regards collection: if you're gathering dry grasses, WEAR GLOVES -- and be aware that certain types of briars love to grow up in the middle of tufts of tall grasses, and they don't care a bit about cut resistant kevlar gloves lol. I learned the hard way, so you don't have to!

[@radscientist]

Good stuff. I see a lot of people posting up firemaking videos and they almost always have a tinder bundle about the size of a baseball or softball. Sometimes even smaller. Size does matter after all.

[@ericblacka2564]

Great video! I was talking to my eight year old about the fire triangle the other day. I told her that I know what I’m talking about because I’m a fire fighter (emergency response team at my refinery). She goes, “Yea, but have you had to go in and fight a real fire yet?” I told her no and she goes, “Well, you’re not a real fire fighter then.” Haha! Little savage.

[@jeffsmith6441]

Thanks for the lesson. This is one of the most important parts of getting a fire going and you did an excellent job of explaining it.

[@Blue_Cat_Mafia]

I have been struggling with my tinder bundles, this is the most informative video I've seen and i believe i can get it going now, thanks.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Nice! This is a point of struggling I see from students quite often so I thought it deserved a stand alone isolated skill video

[@Blue_Cat_Mafia]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret I'm glad you did and it was very well done.

[@hellsbellspreparedness2722]

Now that’s a birds nest!😆 I agree spend more time on the lil details that will help u in the end. I really like that saying “ not enough time to do it right but enough time to do it again”.

[@thetruthhershelcyphers]

Well done 👍

[@CorsairTrainers]

Thank you for the video.

[@RoadDogSteve]

Great info... Thanks!!!

[@MichaelR58]

Joshua, thanks for sharing !

[@clamcrabber]

Great video!!!

[@mathewhenderson5757]

Solid video. Well done

[@TheRealWilliamShaw]

Thank you! Ive been hoping for a video just like this.

[@damonderr5159]

Thank you so much for this video. In so many clips I see the reference to birds nest / Tinder Bundle, and it's always pre-made. Or developed prior to the fire building video. This is very helpful to those of us that are just starting to build our bushcraft skills.

[@billleiker5314]

Thank you

[@aleisterpelletier]

Thanks a lot for making these videos. Such great and useful information.

[@romeoblues5]

Great show. Very helpful thank you.

[@Caintuckee64]

Birch bark in my tin.

[@eddiewitchcraft6574]

Thanks for the break down, especially the sizing in weather conditions 🤘

[@stephennixon6600]

As always, simply outstanding teaching. Thanks again.

[@Caintuckee64]

*I take one with me!*

[@markcummings6856]

Nice, thanks. A lot of processing but a must! Thanks for sharing!

[@bugoutboy7187]

Ha now I know why my tinder bundle wouldn’t light thanks for sharing your time with us

[@wrath231]

Dryer lint works great!

[@legendarygamer4008]

Thank you. Very good video and is interesting

[@wildernesssurvivaldogtrain8184]

Thank you for this video. I tried & tried getting my tender bundle to ignite last night with NO success for hours. The tender bundle would get really hot & almost ignite & than the coal would die out ..The grass was my problem. I had never used so much in my bundle before. I really appreciate the details about how grass has a protective wax like element making better to ignite with an open flame. This is the exact reason I made my grass mistake .( I assumed the coal would ignite grass similar to a flame.) This video helped put tender bundle making into a finer scientific perspective for me

[@wmluna381]

The grass bit was a hot tip. I've watched a lot of these types of videos over the course of the last couple of years and it's the 1st time I've heard it mentioned as a key tinder bundle point.

[@kameronemery993]

Ah ha, that explains my failure with just grass. Excellent bushcraft video. Thanks!

[@redbandit72]

Yet another informative video. As always thanks for the time put into your video's, be safe an wishing uou an your family a blessed day ☺

[@RamshackleHomesteadKeithandJen]

Great video! I think proper preparation definitely is where so many fail.

[@keytoadventure54]

Really good what to do, how to do it and why it matters. Thanks for showing this one. Helps a lot!

[@curmudgeonlydwarf1113]

This is a very timely video I was going to ask you to cover this topic but you are one step ahead of me Great video!!!! Thank you

[@BushCraftBums]

Great and informative video! Thanks for sharing and stay blessed

[@thomaslcarpenter2105]

Lot'sa good info. I learn good good info when I watch your vids!

[@hillbillynick2000]

The best instruction as always! I carry a piece of a saw blade in my fire kit to use like a comb, helps break up some of the tougher materials (that's about all I can add! Lol)

[@jamesedwards1588]

It should fill your cap. That’s the right size.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

For good weather, definitely. If you have a huge head maybe even for bad weather

[@kendralynn2490]

Thank you for making this a stand alone vid!! I was just asking my uncle how to do this right & what materials to use!!! This is perfect, thank goodness my phone was spying on me & suggested this one!! Love all your vids!!!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

😂 😂 mine does the same thing.

[@gaylecoombs5510]

Awesome so I use dry grass quite a bit for my tinder bundles I break it down just like you do use a piece of char cloth and most of the time I get fire I never knew that grasses had a waxy coating but makes since to me now thank you so much sir

[@keshavsingh635]

Thank you for tips. And for showing how to do the tinder bundle right bro.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Can you to learn after going out earlier and trying to start a fire with the ferro rod. I was able to actually get some flames going, so that was a good thing, but I did not account for the wind. Going to keep on practicing

[@wanderlustjohn]

Thank you again for sharing so much amazing information with us. When you update your schedule I may be signing up. ;-)

[@cmliphone]

Great video Josh. Always had issues with the birds nest, rushed it, but you’ve made it super clear what to do. Thanks! I’d also love to see a video on fire lays. Advice on twig fires would be welcome too. I’m rarely in a area where larger fires would be allowed.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Will do, my older ones on fire lays got purchased by another company to use for their stuff so they are on my list to redo for this channel

[@GrumpyGrunt]

Depending on what biome you're operating in and the weather at the time, your tinder can be (usually is) the toughest part of building a fire. Good stuff, as always. I hope you and LRB are done moving and settling in by now too, brother. Looks like some more bad weather heading for the SE, so it might be a good winter to be NE. 👍

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

We are still packing up, should be out of here by the weekend

[@jasonbennett9995]

God bless from Canada eh great video thanks

[@natashaball316]

Can you please provide a video about foraging for tinder? what to look for in the field i.e. "Fatwood" and ideal techniques for collection, prep and use?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Here is one on finding fatwood: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5-7doN9rLyFfZY and here is one on using it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4KQYougmbWfg5o

[@amontez5981]

Yep. I’ve literally wasted nearly an entire a ferro rod once trying to ignite various dried grasses. I couldn’t figure out why, thinking it was due to grass not having any “fluff.” Never considered that the shiny stuff was a “waxy” coating and therefor having a higher flash point being the problem!!! THANK YOU for that! Keep it up man you keep blowing my mind with these tidbits.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I remember the day I was sitting in a Biology lecture on land plants and I learned about this and the lightbulb came on. That and it’s meant to retain moisture which is another challenge for fire. Same is true for the long leaf pine we have around here, they have a heavy cuticle and are wide and flat, they don’t take a spark well and don’t break down like the thinner, softer needles. Fine for the coarse layer, or with open flame, terrible for the rest.

[@amontez5981]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret Yeah that makes total sense. It's funny I was doing some reading up on the plants out here in SW AZ awhile back and that's pretty much what they are all like. A very thick small tough leaf like structure with a waxy coating over it to like you said conserve moisture. Never once considered that grass would be the same (duh!) or that it would still be present on dried dead material. Let alone impede the fire making process. I'd go out after that experience of shaving my ferro rod down to a twig for various hikes/outtings and just look around searching for suitable material and only see grass my nemesis. We have Aspen at around the 9000' level and juniper/scrub oak around 4-5000'. I'll have to start looking out for some dead standing/fallen trees and see what I can source and start experimenting.

[@zarmindrow5831]

you processed the shit outta that tinder yo

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Oh, fo' sho'. 😂

[@explorer8125]

I’d like to see how you collect the tender bundle and how you make it so fluffy

[@DTS16]

Another great video! Thank you so much for your patience in teaching these critical skills. Where did you collect the inner barks from? Was it from fallen dead trees?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

All dead standing or fallen, yes. Sometimes I will take a bit of outer bark from a cedar, but only what is hanging that it is trying to give up. In an emergency that’s a different story, but practicing and training I like to respect the resources as much as possible

[@ottovonfalkenhausen3730]

0 dislikes... thats how it should be

[@talkingwithtrash8879]

Bravo Zulu, once again. Like building a cake, the tinder bundle takes time and patience. Thanks for all the inside scoop on the different types of tinder as well. My time in the woods, unfortunately, has been very limited, and not very structured. Mostly sitting in a blind or a tree stand, waiting for my prey. What would you recommend as a good resource for learning the different plants and their optimal usage? #trollpatrol

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

It would depend on what region you are in, my favorite for the Northeast has been "Ancestral Plants" by Arthur Haines, and for identification (including an easy to learn and all-important SYSTEM for identification) I love "Newcomb's Wildflower Guide" by Lawrence Newcomb.

[@talkingwithtrash8879]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret thank you. I'll look into those.

[@carlk1183]

You have great info and thanks for sharing. Suggestion, can you consider not using the "zoom in" feature so much. It can get very distracting. Your info and your presentation is awesome enough! Keep up the great work Sir!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Yes, I am continually trying to establish an editing system that turns out a better video in the end, just keep in mind these are self-filmed and self-edited, and the reality is there is sometimes dropped footage, dropped audio, bad camera angles, etc. and I just have to do the best I can with what I end up with. I am a better woodsman than I am a videographer or editor. Appreciate the feedback.

[@carlk1183]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret, You are doing great Sir. I hope you don't take my suggestion in any way negative. It's hard to convey over text my observation is purely constructive. Either way, "progress, not perfection" brother! Keep on rocking.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Not at all, Carl K! It came across as constructive. I wouldn't have replied if it was someone just being negative.

[@LGSkywalker82]

Another great lesson Josh. Thank you! So pine needles aren't good for tinder bundles?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

The thicker pine needles in the Southeast like the long leaf pine are good for coarse material or with open flame ignition. They have a heavy cuticle and don’t break down well by hand. There are some “skinny” pine needles like the white pine that are better. Depends on what pine you have

[@JOHNFMKN]

You need it to be finer than a frog's hair, when the tinder is wetter than a cucumber in a women's prison.

[@mihakabercic4457]

hol up

[@teenermeener971]

Should of demo the bird nest.

[@ironic2468]

heat fuel fire, got it

[@ironic2468]

wait no air i mean

[@adamsmith7548]

First the bark, does the tree need to be dead or does that matter? Never tried using bark and we have a bunch of cedar trees around here. Thanks.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Depends on the tree, cedar usually has dry outer bark it is letting go even when it is live. Same with birches. However, inner barks need to be dry and dead. American redbud you can scrape green and dry in the sun if you have time and the weather permits, as I am sure some others would do that as well, but it’s often quicker to just find dead for the inners

[@BradChristie]

Great topic with a lot of useful information! Keep the videos coming! P.s. Some constructive criticism: remove that fade zoom effect, at least with splices. Its distracting to keep bouncing between cropped and full view between edits. (Mostly just video intro)

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I will keep tweaking things but the reality is I have to work with what footage I have at the end of the day. While I am working towards a more uniform editing format, I still sometimes have dropped audio or video and end up limited to one camera angle for certain shots that I have to make do with. Some people didn’t like the older transitions I used to handle this, some people don’t like the fading splice. Really just ends up being what I ha e to work with at the end of the filming process. I do appreciate the feedback on the end-user experience, though. I am a woodsman, so self-filming and editing everything myself is not my profession, just something I have to do.

[@martinledford8844]

Where can I get one of your hats?

[@BushcraftNFun]

What if you can't find good dry tinder. Good video.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I would need more info to answer that properly. What are the circumstances that are not allowing you to source dry material?

[@BushcraftNFun]

Live by a great lake, daily fog or frost at night, high humidity not allowing everything to completely dry out.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Bushcraft 'N Fun gotcha, in those conditions I usually end up collecting and drying by putting it in my pocket until I need it. It will still be damp. The act of processing it down as fine as I show on this video does a lot for airing it out and drying as well. This would be a baseline tinder bundle (in the large size that I described, not the fair weather size). Then I would add a wet weather tinder depending on the area I am in: fatwood, birch bark, conifer resins. Those will burn wet and long enough to dry the other marginal tinder. Alternatively you can produce feather sticks, obviously cutting down to the dry wood underneath the wet outer wood. 4-6 good ones make a nice tinder bundle

[@mamamacgyver5401]

Hi. I’m trying to figure out what you’re calling the piece of fabric that’s on the ground that you’re working on top of. Shamog?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Shemagh

[@Matt-rt9ws]

whats your opinion on pine needles? have a lot around me and just wondering can those be used as a corse mat'l?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

As the coarse outer layer of a bundle they work great. If you are using open flame like a lighter or matches, they are usually okay

[@Matt-rt9ws]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret awesome thanks so much . when all this blows over I am looking into one of your beginner courses. Cant wait!

[@toyotatrd]

540 likes and 1 dislike!!! That’s the best ratio I’ve seen

[@oldestsurvivalist6928]

Purely A Curiosity Question: It Looked Like A Flattish Rock By Ur Right Knee? Y Would U Not (Yes Fine Powder Lost) Place The Wood On It And Use Ur Boot Heal To Grind It Like Putting Out A Cigarette. Less Muscle Power (Full Body Weight) & Less Energy (Calories) Used & Like A Grist Mill It Would Be Faster... As I Said Just Curious. Thx

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I suppose that could be done if you wanted.

[@1530786]

Thank you.

[@Nanashi_Kenshin]

Great video!