Finding The Hidden Fatwood in the Woods!

CHECK OUT MY 100s OF FIREMAKING VIDEOS... There's a lot more hidden fatwood in our older and former pine forests than we realize. Forests with larger pines dotted throughout, but where the harwoods have pretty much taken over. It's common for fast growing pines to spring up and dominate a forest but as the years go by the hardwoods eventually take over and the Pines die out because they can no longer compete. These forests are full of hidden fatwood! What to look for:
1) The easiest finds are limbs and trunks that have completely rotted away and its fatwood laden core is exposed, laying on the ground, and in full view. You will see the typical spear tip shapes projecting from it. They are where the fatwood has settled in the former crotches of the branches of the trunks. The whole piece will still look like it's all wood, but it can be mostly all fatwood.
2) Scan the terrain for the mounds left on the ground from long gone or mostly gone pine trees. Inspect those areas closely commonly there are long pieces of residual fatwood just below the leaf litter. They'll still look like rotting pieces of wood, but a poke with your knife with reveal the hard fatwood within. These can be just under the leaflitter or hiding in plain sight as severely decayed and moss covered logs.
3) Look for what remains of the pine stumps. They may look like they've been cut with a chainsaw. BUT, what you really want to find are the stumps of trees that died while standing, rotted and weakened enough to eventually fall, and left behind shards of fatwood sticking up. These shards are always higher than the stump.
There are good examples of finding all 3 within... also, scraping it with the spine of my Mora Companion, and igniting it with my keychain ferro rod... Please SUBSCRIBE at the end of the video. Thanks!
OTHER FINDING FATWOOD VIDEOS YOU WILL ENJOY:
LOOK at all the FATWOOD in this Pine Burl!!! How To Process End Grain Fatwood
• LOOK at all the FATWOO...
Pine Burl Fatwood Experiment, but first... A Fascinating Nature Walk
• Pine Burl Fatwood Expe...
i was just driving down the road, minding my own business and... SOME FATWOOD FLAGGED ME DOWN!!!
• Video
Harvesting Fatwood w/o A Saw. Igniting Premo, Damp, and Very Dry Fat Wood
• Harvesting Fatwood w/o...
Harvesting GREAT Fatwood, a Slick Bearing Block, Ferro Rod Sawdust n Scrapings
• Harvesting GREAT Fatwo...
You've Probably Got Fat Wood And Don't Even Realize It
• Video

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

CHECK OUT MY 100s OF FIREMAKING VIDEOS... There's a lot more hidden fatwood in our older and former pine forests than we realize. Forests with larger pines dotted throughout, but where the harwoods have pretty much taken over. It's common for fast growing pines to spring up and dominate a forest but as the years go by the hardwoods eventually take over and the Pines die out because they can no longer compete. These forests are full of hidden fatwood! What to look for: 1) The easiest finds are limbs and trunks that have completely rotted away and its fatwood laden core is exposed, laying on the ground, and in full view. You will see the typical spear tip shapes projecting from it. They are where the fatwood has settled in the former crotches of the branches of the trunks. The whole piece will still look like it's all wood, but it can be mostly all fatwood. 2) Scan the terrain for the mounds left on the ground from long gone or mostly gone pine trees. Inspect those areas closely commonly there are long pieces of residual fatwood just below the leaf litter. They'll still look like rotting pieces of wood, but a poke with your knife with reveal the hard fatwood within. These can be just under the leaflitter or hiding in plain sight as severely decayed and moss covered logs. 3) Look for what remains of the pine stumps. They may look like they've been cut with a chainsaw. BUT, what you really want to find are the stumps of trees that died while standing, rotted and weakened enough to eventually fall, and left behind shards of fatwood sticking up. These shards are always higher than the stump. There are good examples of finding all 3 within... also, scraping it with the spine of my Mora Companion, and igniting it with my keychain ferro rod... Please SUBSCRIBE at the end of the video. Thanks! OTHER FINDING FATWOOD VIDEOS YOU WILL ENJOY: LOOK at all the FATWOOD in this Pine Burl!!! How To Process End Grain Fatwood kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGfQcoR-iMakhNE Pine Burl Fatwood Experiment, but first... A Fascinating Nature Walk kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3LRqGyhoqepetE i was just driving down the road, minding my own business and... SOME FATWOOD FLAGGED ME DOWN!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqOQf5KLe7J0bcU Harvesting Fatwood w/o A Saw. Igniting Premo, Damp, and Very Dry Fat Wood kzbin.info/www/bejne/emm8Z6F9e7pofKM Harvesting GREAT Fatwood, a Slick Bearing Block, Ferro Rod Sawdust n Scrapings kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3y0lIuoadiXpMU You've Probably Got Fat Wood And Don't Even Realize It kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKrMY4VqmNx-eK8

[@karlroberts3179]

Thanks David. I've considered myself an outdoorsman for most of my 55yrs, but I had no idea I was stepping over so much of it, while looking for it! Great quality videos. Cheers.

[@kimberlyduncan1053]

Thanks for sharing! My grandpa used to call it 'pot rot'. Cause when you get rid of the rot you can heat your pot! Thank goodness he didn't treat me like a 'lil girl & took me out in the wood & taught me great stuff. My earliest memory with him is skinning a rabbit and getting blood in my eye! Lol

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

LOL! Thanks!

[@AwakeNotWoke444]

Anyone else watching this realizing they've passed by untold amounts of fatwood in the woods over your life? I know a few.perfect places that I'm sure I can find some at. Can't wait to go lookin!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

It's very easy to find when you know what to look for. TY!

[@SurvivorMetalMan]

Sweet amber goodness, the gold of the woods. Great find.

[@GetMeThere1]

I enjoy fatwood finding videos, but this is the first to show that it's to be found around stumps that aren't even stumps anymore!! Good video, thanks!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks friend!

[@motruba]

Useful, practical video, as always. Thanks for all your efforts.

[@turtlepoi]

subscribed. I like the pace, length and unscripted good ol' "I'm gonna show ya sumthing" approach that made the few vids i just saw great. You got a teachers way and a pioneers common sense.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Very kind. Thank you.

[@MadDogSurvival]

Can’t beat hunting for the fatwood gold brother! I love the stuff! It’s great when you find a piece of pine that looks all old and grey, but as soon as you pick it up... the weight and hardness says scratch me and see my treasure!! Lol.... can’t beat the smell of it ! Excellent video as always sir! Very best wishes friend 👍🏽👍🏽😎🙏🏼🔥

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks MD!

[@outdoors-gs9td]

im new to here. love it,,,, but is fatwood in cedar and old pine? or both?

[@cybersoil100]

Great video, full of potentially lifesaving information. Great Job!

[@bosweg10]

Great, some more tricks for the toolbox. I find it very rewarding finding fat wood. Thank you for sharing this. Regards from the Netherlands

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I’m happy to hear from you friend! Ty!

[@ivanhorvat4635]

THANK you Soooo MUCH ! Love outdoors vids. ! Got hooked on outdors with fort serial boxes forts & cowboy life when I came to CANADA in '66 !! Having lived in a farm village in Croatia helped a LOT !!!! LOVE the outdoors!! 🐍🐰🐢🐸🐬🐌🍁🌹🍀🌵🌺🌴🌲 ANY MORE ???

[@agnosjr]

Agree it is an awesome resource to have, did a video where I left it all day and all night long underwater after scraping it, there was fire 🔥 . Thank you for sharing it.

[@jimwatson4513]

The old growth pine , of 500 hundred years ago , fell , in swampy area , pine knots are found in boggy wet land !! Whole rich liter logs is also found buried in wet places !!! Ole black stumps , can still be found , rich in pitch !!! 1920's , black stumps were harvested to make turpentine, by paint Co. !!! Boggy swamp ares are best for black ,rich liter wood !!!! An ole Louisiana boy knows best !!! 👍👍🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@grattonland]

Old video I know, but still very informational. I had no clue it was so abundant and easy to find (if you know what to look for). I have several large pines on my property, and I'm sure there's leftovers from older dead ones. I'll have to start scouting. Thanks a lot for the knowledge.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

You're going to be pleasantly surprised.

[@grattonland]

@@DavidWestBgood2ppl Yes and no. I started walking on the back of the property and found an old stump, thought to myself jackpot. I started picking away at the surface roots with the axe. Started peeling off the moss and surface rot and hit the jackpot. The hornets that have a nest in the stump didn't share my enthusiasm.

[@nutthrower4415]

There’s gold in them thar woods, great stuff Dave, always enjoy your teachings

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

LOL! TY!

[@briandalrymple9986]

Enjoyed the video immensely as I am just getting into this fire making methods.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I have 700 plus fire making videos... enjoy!

[@plainwornout3964]

Life saving info.

[@BatColonyEvictor]

Good, good stuff! Thanks for the info

[@markmastrangelo770]

Thank you for passing on all this great information.

[@KaylynnStrain]

great fatwood finds!!!! gotta love it when you can find it right in your own back yard

[@buchgeisterralf3251]

Hi David, thanks for that video, which is a real eye-opener. I´m bushcraft-beginner and for a time I am searching for fatwood now - but with no big success. Meanwhile I tried your way, but either the wood was rotten completeley or it was still wood. My own fatwood-findings were only broken branches of pine. They cost an arm and a leg of knife or axe-edges to get the wooden pieces that are soaked with resin, so I will continue to try your way.... Keep going and take care - greetings from Germany - Ralf

[@nwprimate6416]

Good stuff David! It looks like we had similar days yesterday. What you showed in this video is very true in my area too. Even though we don't have pines, Douglas fir fatwood can be found in lots of different forms, from stumps, to pieces on the ground and driftwood.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

It's been in the can for 4 days now. I wanted to post my big long Hand Drill video first. MAN! Brian, in the winter time when everything's died back, you can really see the mounds, stumps, and vague reliefs of a mostly decayed tree that fell from a mostly decayed stump.

[@homeyg7543]

Thanks for sharing this information... Was really useful.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paulone-off7286]

Thanks for the information, this is well worth knowing. Never overlook what you are stepping over.

[@scotmetcalf2745]

First time on your channel,going camping soon and can’t wait to show my kids and grandchildren about fat wood!! This is all new to me as well. Thanks for you Looking forward to more of your teaching!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks Scott!

[@PJ_Grateful]

Great fatwood tips David! Thanks a lot! Cheers 👍😀👊

[@thomasgold-1000]

Awesome info on fatwood! Thanks Dave! 👍

[@ptsdbushcraftfaith2300]

As always David, on point brother, thanks!

[@keitharoo1962]

Dang, that stuff is everywhere! I've gotta get out there and start looking. Thanks for the lesson.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

It's everywhere... IT'S EVERYWHERE!!! Thanks friend!

[@daqt6079]

In the pine forests of Texas we call that Pine Knot. Great video, I’ve learned some good things, thanks and I’ll subscribe.

[@jaycimbak7781]

I've watched this video many times now. We had a camper at a campground many years ago before I knew about fatwood and I would go into the woods looking for "camp wood" for the fire and fire making material. Now that I think back, I came across hundreds of pine branches and logs that looked soggy and dirty and crumbling apart. Never did I know I was overlooking the best fire making material and I remember seeing damp Amber colored wood in some of the sticks and medium sized branches and I tossed it to the side believing it was just wet wood that was no good!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I used to look high and low for fatwood and all through the woods, but could never find any. All the time, it was just underfoot, everywhere. When there are healthy medium sized hardwoods growing all around and for no good reason there are moss covered logs scattered about. Those tend to be fatwood. They are remnants from a Pine forest the grew there years before. The ecology of a forest in the Southeast... Fields grow Pines, then Hard and semi-hardwoods start to grow there, Eventually the hardwoods shade out and prevent the less mature Pines from growing. Eventually the old pines too die out and leave it looking like a hardwood forest has been there all along.

[@makerofmanythings8447]

Thanks for the great video. Very helpful brother.

[@marcleblanc7021]

Great Video!! Never thought to pull up the stump

[@patricknorton5788]

I live in the west-side Pacific Northwest where we have more Douglas-firs (not true firs) and Western Redcedars (not true cedars) than pines like in the inland areas, but I see similar patterns of rot in them. I will have to try your technique and see if I can fine some fatwood in some of the old rotted logs. Great video!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Others from your area can't find fatwood among the local species. The woods you mention and many more from your area make the best hand and bow drill sets. They also produce some of the longest feathers which are very easy to shave/create , also.

[@oldeays5085]

Great video!

[@leebarker6188]

Once again great video thanks David!

[@josephb7460]

Those are some good looking pieces of fatwood. I love fatwood. Outstanding!

[@renegaderainman2555]

I like the idea you had of attaching a nail to the ferro rod to get a full swipe ☝️

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

See my sperro rod playlist. TY!

[@micropyro7470]

Great even pulled from the forest floor wet. Good tips on what to look for. Thanks

[@tomritter493]

Great video David yup its all over heart wood is the best if ever found for fat wood ! Be good brother

[@jimtalor9537]

Great information

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks friend!

[@louhandberry6017]

Enjoyed your video. Thank you.

[@graftedin3]

Thanks David , Great vid that may save someones life ,if a fire is needed . Tommy

[@SoerenGraves]

Fatwood heaven, nice video

[@CoachBill315]

7:30 is where the true magic happens... cool video... never seen wood spark up like that.

[@RONHELIX]

Thank You, Very informative ...

[@daibando9893]

Outstanding. Thank you sir for a very useful bit of instruction.

[@johnlupo9577]

Awesome video. Happy New Year

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Happy new year!

[@adamhinds8352]

THANK YOU

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks Adam!

[@timothyvu7006]

This knowledge will save your life

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thank You Timothy!

[@jackspringer9283]

I was born in Sarasota co.fl., about early 70's when camping we would search out pine trees killed by forest fires, everybody I knew called it "lighter pine", I assumed it lit up so well because being previously charred wood..and your axe best be freshly sharpened, that stuff was rock hard!!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Yes, I've heard it called Lighter Pine also.

[@SKYHAWK0115]

This video truly shows the abundance of forest rich wood. Now...is fatwood considered heavier than any other downed wood laying around ? Thanks, Billy

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

yes

[@duwomaiishgabrielle9498]

You make great videos, experience sure makes a difference

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

The missing ingredient when most people HAVE TO make fire.

[@garrettjohnston5153]

Good job David thanks. Buddy

[@toshiyasumorita4569]

Thank you for making this video!

[@2manysigns]

Smart. Thanks

[@alva8421]

I have a few buckets of pine knots I use for carving I need to try a few of them and see how they work starting fire a lot of them have a real strong smell of pine and are hard as a rock

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

They'll work.

[@josephkerley363]

Thats good stuff to know. Thanks.

[@mountainman6405]

Good info Thanks. I'm trying that today.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Let me know...

[@kidda74]

So many pine forests where I live and this stuff is expensive to buy on eBay! Need to get out there and fine me some! 👍

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Before I knew what to look for, I searched this same land over and over and only found some poor quality fatwood. LOL!

[@caseyclark5392]

That sir was awesome. I knew if you found a dead fallen over pine you could usually find it by where the branch met the trunk, but I had no idea about the rotted heart wood or the snags. Thanks. I'm going hunting.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Snags are easy to see as you scan the forest floor.

[@caseyclark5392]

@@DavidWestBgood2ppl Well thank you so much Mr. West. I watch you all the time sir.

[@Oldsparkey]

I look for old stumps where the soft wood has rotted away. Best hunting areas is where they lumbered a section ears ago or any lighting strike trees that you know about. When hiking a section I make mental notes about future finds so I can go back a few years later. A real find is when a whole tree fell and the soft wood rotted away leaving a tree length of solid fat wood. Around the central Florida area back in the 50's there were rail road cars full of old pine stumps ( solid Fat wood ) being shipped out of this area. It was a good business back then.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Good info. That's interesting about the shipping of fatwood. Thank you!

[@sasavujienovic1299]

A good old Forest

[@cunninglinguist9853]

Bravo!

[@kekipark77]

nice

[@jacobsbushcraftandoutdoors4451]

I have so many logs like that on my land I most likely have 500 plus pounds of fattwood just on a qaurter of my land

[@mrchildgrownold3852]

Great video ! Thanks, that got you a new sub 👍

[@jdcpac]

We do not have any pine forest in central and western Oklahoma. What we do have is an overabundance of red cedar trees. During wildfire season these things will blow up like a bomb when the fire reaches them. Do these contain fatwood as well? Very good and informative video, thanks.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Yes, that's what it looks like to me too when I see your forest fires on the news. Thanks!

[@jamesedwards1588]

Awesome

[@leisurelee1897]

Have you ever tried a piece of Tshirt in place of Cotten ball for a fire roll.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Yes, about 50 times. Never even got close to ignition. See my fire roll playlist.

[@evanwindom3265]

Really great video -- it's easy to see how we overlook a lot of potential sources. I live in western Washington wear the forests are primarily cedar, fir, alder, and hemlock. Is one of those any better than the others as a potential source of fatwood? All I ever hear people talk about is pine, and we're fresh out of those.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Don't know sorry.

[@evanwindom3265]

@@DavidWestBgood2ppl Did some additional checking. Fir is the new pine. I went out in my wooded lot this evening on my first ever fat wood hunt. Elapsed time to success: 30 seconds.

[@dropshot1967]

That is enough fatwood to last someone for life. lol

[@bjellison905]

We dont have many pines where im at. Been a while since i found any fatwood. Any hardwoods other than birch high in oil?

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

No.

[@coolio5640]

Where I'm from we call that lighterknot

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I've heard that one a lot. Thanks!

[@spider5001]

Nice pieces 👍🏻 how do you clean the pitch off your blade?

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Purple power and a gentle scrubbing with a Scotch Brite Pad, easily, made the stainless blade shine like new again.

[@csh6220]

Hand sanitizer or WD40 work well. I clean my folding saw with WD40 after cutting fatwood. Comes right off.

[@vanemaster4345]

Is the shaving at 6:55 sped up or real time?

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Regular speed.

[@vanemaster4345]

@@DavidWestBgood2ppl Well, that was damn fast, you earned my respect

[@nadronnocojr]

What is your knife may I ask

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Stainless Steel Mora Companion

[@nadronnocojr]

Thank so much for the quick reply sir. Love your videos learning so much , thankful for your knowledge

[@user-lh2xn5iy2p]

Damn! Does it works for all evergreen wood?

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Most dying Pines make fatwood. Please Google fatwood.

[@user-lh2xn5iy2p]

@@DavidWestBgood2ppl thanks for time love your channel

[@williamr.3437]

They call it fat lighter in Ga

[@ferrallderrall6588]

Ya got a sub bub lol

[@ferrallderrall6588]

Right on david I'm looking forward to checking out all your shows and ready to go hunting fat wood this year

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks ferall!

[@bmphil3400]

" probe around with your knife and if you hit something hard....." If you hit something that rattles back away very very slowly.......

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Sss!

[@einsamerwolf567]

💯%🔥🔥🔥🔥👍👍💪💪💪

[@graftedin3]

Where I live ,I believe I will wait to winter before I look for Fat wood, the rattlers are out big Time

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Copperheads here.

[@graftedin3]

Yeah we have those to @@DavidWestBgood2ppl

[@davequick3373]

Does fat wood always come from a pine tree?

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I think other Conifers have it also.

[@ronnye3771]

I now know what you mean by fat wood

[@maxsparks5183]

Why do you wear short pants with a long sleeve flannel shirt? Not being snotty but If it’s cold enough to wear a long sleeve flannel shirt is it not to cold to be in short pants. ? I see people do stuff like this all the time and ti me it makes absolutely no sense. Some guy the other day is in shorts and flip flops wearing a down jacket. 😖 I’m seriously asking. What am I missing ?

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Off topic.

[@mikemccomis7146]

So fat wood is pine .

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

The sap in a dead pines settles and concentrates. Search my videos for Fatwood.

[@mikemccomis7146]

Thanks

[@sasavujienovic1299]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡you hidden it AND YOU FIND IT FOR A VIDEO😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@SkyBrigidRain]

Thanks much! you need more likes!!!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I like that!