Making Amadou Natural Tinder from Horse Hoof Fungus - Bushcraft Flint and Steel Fire Starting

Bushcraft fire starting has always been super interesting to me, and after learning how to make a fire with a flint and steel using char cloth, I wanted to find a more sustainable solution to start fires, that could still employ the flint and steel. Making amadou was the solution. Its a thin layer on the edge just under the skin of the horses hoof fungus that can be found growing on silver birch, and a few other trees.
You soak it in birch lie (ash from a birch fire, and water) for an hour, then boil it for an hour, then smash it up a bit before letting it dry. Once dried you can fluff it up with a bit of flint, strike it with a flint and steel and it works like a charm. As good as char cloth, but sustainable, and way more bushcrafty!
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[@WalkWild]

Leave a comment let us know what fire starting techniques YOU want to see!

[@jeremymcelroy5851]

how long is the time in between before you post a video

[@WalkWild]

+jeremy mcelroy you mean after it's filmed?

[@jerejere69]

Bushcraft Heroes Cedar fur

[@WalkWild]

+Jeremiah Johnson have to find some cedar, none round here!

[@jeremymcelroy5851]

yaeh after its filmed how long till its uploaded

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

Great video . My preachy moment = Just about any tree fungi or "shelf" fungi will work for tinder . Hammer stone the s... out of it before trying to cut it up . This will remove any hard unusable material + is faster and safer . Have tried the wood ash treatment and see no benefits , but your methodology is appreciated . Thanks again and best wishes . Ancient guy in New Mexico -> Lefty Cat

[@paigehawkins1945]

Around here in Mississippi/USA, I tend to find it on dead black walnut, cottonwood and quaking aspen trees. When I first found this fungus I had no idea what the name of it was or if it was even a viable fire starter until I felt how hard it was. I had to pry it off with my knife. I cut it open and saw/felt how woody it was. So I took the ferro rod out experimenting, struck it and bam. An ember. That tiny piece smoldered forever until it was completely consumed. I was amazed! Then I started doing research and watched several videos including this one. I thought I had made a discovery at first!!! Lol. But yeah, I found some big ones yesterday and they will definitely be going into my tinder pack. Some good info right here on this video.

[@archangel1547]

Back in the old days Samuel Hearne kept his tinder fungus in a leather pouch full of gun powder to keep it dry. Y'all did good work.

[@BMUZZ2]

I have been watching u guys for a long time now, and i can see like everyone else here. You are one of the best bushcraft channels on youtube. can't believe u only have 9K. Keep it up and u will keep growing and growing!!!

[@WalkWild]

+MUZZA BEN thanks, appreciate that!

[@daniell226]

This channel is grossly underrated, but it's growing to be my absolute favourite. I hope it catches on. And more people subscribe. Ps Bo's my favourite

[@LayneXIII]

I always look forward to your guys videos. Another good one. You keep making, I'll keep watching!

[@WalkWild]

+LayneXIII deal!

[@anthonygomez446]

AWESOME very informative video. Now I have to do my 5 gallon pale of horse hoof fungus wee.

[@guns4funcajanajustin]

Nice fire starter! Outstanding video guys

[@WalkWild]

Thanks 🙏

[@AK-kd4os]

Cheers chaps great vid👍

[@SoaringEagle54]

Nice video guys! Thanks

[@WalkWild]

+SoaringEagle54 cheers for the comment 👍🏼

[@ivahill2280]

great video

[@WalkWild]

+Iva Hill thanks 😊

[@Kayladeroode]

Very interesting! Thanks boys! 👍

[@WalkWild]

Kayla de Roode you are welcome 👍🏼

[@VulpeOutdoorNormandie]

Very interesting video ! Thx for sharing

[@WalkWild]

+Vulpe Outdoor Normandie thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏼

[@adamh584]

I was your ninth thousands subscriber

[@WalkWild]

+adam Hanlon awesome! Thanks for the sub!

[@waveman0]

I love amadou probably my favorite tinder for flint and steel, pity I don't get to use it too often as it doesn't grow where I live (Australia) and I have to buy it, plus now I can't import it any more as Border Force seems to have taken exception to bringing it in these days. Thanks for showing how to process it.

[@dingolightfoot8823]

Instead of buying the material for fire you can always just use what's around your surroundings?

[@waveman0]

@@dingolightfoot8823 I agree with the sentiment and try the best I can but as I live in suburbia it can be difficult to harvest fire materials locally. Sometimes you just have to adapt to your situation. I get where you are coming from though mate.

[@GetUrPhil]

Yes, you will run out of cloth to char but you won't run out of things to char. You could char Amadou, punk wood, and a wide variety of natural organic items if you wanted.

[@raphaeldrayton6599]

good to know !!!

[@WalkWild]

+raphael drayton 👍🏼

[@lukek1192]

just on the topic of char material, you can make 'char cloth' out of some punk wood or wood that's just starting to rot, it's the same process just means you won't run out of cloth as you are using wood as the char material 👍.

[@WalkWild]

+Luke K good to know!

[@StarMountainHikes]

Lots of work, but certainly an interesting way to start fires that I've never seen before.

[@WalkWild]

+Star Mountain Outdoors & Bushcraft yes indeed, thanks for the comment 👍🏼

[@karlijnvangrinsven8605]

Great video! I was wondering if you could also use ashes from another tree?

[@spindleshankscock]

love fomes fomentarius! Also check out some daldinia concentrica, they're like little black mounds of charcoal and they work just as great! Thanks for making a video about fungi! (I'm a mycology major)

[@WalkWild]

+GoldenFizzleStudios awesome! Will do 👍🏼

[@victorlicht6765]

interesting video..... keep the great work up, whats the next house project?

[@WalkWild]

+Victor Licht thanks! A door is next!

[@kimekim12345]

What's the pot you guys soak the amadou and ash in? I love the size and shape!

[@preppingtosurviveuk-scorch9557]

Love seeing different ways of starting fires and different tinder's in use. But i wouldn't throw away the Char cloth just yet considering you used that to start the fire to make your tinder!.lol but great vid anyway

[@WalkWild]

+Prepping to Survive UK - Scorcheo lol yeh it's true 😂

[@mattmiller6706]

Have you noticed a bit of a “fishy “ smell after boiling in the ash lye? Tried recently and noticed that

[@pjhikes]

Have you guys made chaga tea before? I think birch produces the chaga. :) Fun video.

[@WalkWild]

+A Walsh in the Woods yes, video for that in 2 weeks

[@johndifrancisco3642]

Next week on Bushcraft Heroes, tune in to learn how to make a tasty broth from Toadstool and Eye of Newt! =D

[@WalkWild]

+John Di Francisco 😀

[@Steve_G88]

does this not work without being boiled in birch ash?

[@jakeaky959]

Can't believe you only have 9 k subs

[@WalkWild]

+Flix _ a couple months ago we only had 3 lol

[@johndifrancisco3642]

I know it's going to happen for you. If those 2 goofballs (said with affection) on Dutch Bushcraft Knives can reach 100,000, it will happen for you guys. It seemed to happen all of a sudden for them. I've been dropping your name around so hopefully that will do some good.

[@WalkWild]

+John Di Francisco awesome! Thanks for doing that 😆

[@johndifrancisco3642]

My pleasure. I never want to see you guys stop making videos so it is the least I can do.

[@WalkWild]

+John Di Francisco we appreciate that 👍🏼

[@kooperpeek428]

come on guys 1000 to go

[@WalkWild]

+kooper peek 👍🏼

[@sandhik1823]

hey! in which countries can this fungus be found?

[@WalkWild]

+Sandha Chatu I am not sure on all the countries but it grows on birch trees

[@malarenvisaren5060]

Horse Hoof fungus and sulfur match

[@NunalSaPaa]

A new one! Wee!

[@WalkWild]

+Nunal Sa Paa 👍🏼

[@zingajingalouchiha]

It's Ed Sheeran

[@kooperpeek428]

can you show how to make a fire by rubbing sticks together

[@WalkWild]

+kooper peek yeh really we should get that one down!

[@kooperpeek428]

Bushcraft Heroes thanks🍻

[@Horneoutdoors]

nice video guys, if I'm honest your videos are the only ones I enjoy watching, the rest on KZbin are boring and too much talking... you need to get 2 out a week if you can squeeze it in. Tom

[@WalkWild]

+The Primitive Woodsman thanks Tom, I don't think we have enough time to film or edit 2 vids a week. Maybe if we didn't have to work 😂

[@williammorrison2708]

50 k subs only 259 likes lol

[@williammorrison2708]

I mean 217

[@chilcottjack29]

I spark my farts to start my fires

[@WalkWild]

+bushcraft junky 😂

[@frankbush333]

you can char just about any natural material as well... just sayin'

[@WalkWild]

+Frank Bush true

[@johndifrancisco3642]

That's not the POINT, FRANK!!

[@bowbamonte846]

Frank Bush I guess this would be if you had no container to char stuff 😉

[@WalkWild]

+Bow Bamonte also you can char anything but not everything charred takes a spark from film and steel.

[@bowbamonte846]

Bushcraft Heroes yeah trying to get a spark from film would be a nightmare 😂

[@TressaZimmerman]

I watched a video today and the fellow said that old mans beard didn't burn well. I don't see it around here. Good job on the horse shoe fungi

[@WalkWild]

+Tressa Zimmerman The old man's beard only burns well if you find the right stuff. It must be old and dry. It's easy to grab some, thinking it's all good. Selection is key

[@TressaZimmerman]

Bushcraft Heroes Thanks for the advice. Does it collect on most all types of tres or only certain types? Thanks again guys

[@WalkWild]

+Tressa Zimmerman Most trees. It will feel like an old man's beard. The fee stuff will almost feel mossy. You don't want the mossy stuff