Firelighting. Matches with fatwood , good or bad idea?

Here I take a viewers suggestion and add match size fatwood to the matches in my Exotac matchcap XL.
is it worth the bother? have a look.

[@outdoorwoodchipps3107]

I often produce fine shavings with the sharp spine (your tribute knife is excellent for this task) of the knife. Tougether with fine splited fatwood it works great.

[@jurgenkrebbekx4329]

indeed,and use the firesteel to ignite the fine dust

[@DevilDog68]

When I think of fatwood I always think of shavings etc. It never occurred to me to split the end like you did... that’s flipping brilliant! 😆

[@eqlzr2]

I'm never going to say "fire" again. After watching this video, it's "FI-YA" from this day hence. Many thanks.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Thanks......I think!

[@jamesortiz5388]

The venerable bic came through. I've harvested cords of mostly cedar, juniper and some pine fat wood. It went in the wood stove with wadded newspaper and kitchen box matches.

[@Zenmastersean]

Always enjoyable. Thanks brother.

[@redsorgum]

I think if you held the match and fat wood together, with the match head just above the end of the fat wood stick, then strike the match, I think it would probably light easier.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Agreed but I'm not convinced it's a reliable firelighing kit, id rather just have a pot full of matches.

[@tammieplaster7584]

PLASTER good video,, i do not have much luck with matchs iether. carry them but very seldom use them. thanks Rob

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I always carry matches , mainly for nostalgia!!!

[@jaalgr]

Just what I've been waiting for Cheers Rob

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

You've been waiting for a video where I mess up again?

[@jaalgr]

When will the next batch of tribute knives be ready ? Cheers James

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Should have two in about a week, I've had family issues and been busy in work.

[@jaalgr]

No problem family first Rob I'm wanting a ambidextrous neck sheath if possible but I have the cash here if you want me to pay upfront Cheers James

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I'm thinking of making them all ambidextrous neck sheaths from now on. Been awkward catering for lefties

[@farquharwilson2523]

Enjoyed that, liked the wee split Fatwood, but after your comment at the end I think you should have done baby fatwood feather sticks, pretty sure they'd have gone up with the match. A win win. 😁

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Done them baby fatwood feather sticks before, they would have lit easily, I just wanted to see if the sticks worked well with matches, I don't think they do. A jet lighter is by far the best thing to light fatwood.

[@ogrithetrog]

I think that's the same failure I've seen from fatwood - the finer you process it , the quicker it looses its volatile hydrocarbons and doesn't work - try some old Maya dust, its like damp sawdust! Keep your fatwood as big as possible until the point of use, then make your shavings and scrapings. Nice one Rob!

[@BingWatcher]

Try using the match sized pieces of fatwood, that you already have made, but instead of just slitting the ends, add feather curls to catch the flame. Makes a world of difference between the two methods!🏁

[@Kenwaldek]

Thinking of a way to stop the wind from blowing out the matches? Maybe dig a hole or build a wall. Just thinking out loud here rob or make a tinder bundle and lay the splitter fatwoor in it en then light your match in it

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I think if the chips were down and matches were scarce I'd throw my jacket over my head and firelay.

[@rhettoracle9679]

Maybe put a piece of fat wood and a match together and dip non sulphur end in wax to cool together. Haven't done it yet but seems promising. Cheers

[@howardvarley8795]

I have thought for a while now that we have way too many ways of starting a fire, so I tend to concentrate on techniques for ferrocerium rod, butane lighter and matches. I dont see a need for all the other stuff.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I don't see much point in flint and steel, looks cool but really its a piece of cake. All the "look at me" entertainment bushcraft channels use the same leather bag rammed with birch bark to hold their strike a light kits.

[@Kampfwageneer]

The welsh are the real britons

[@neilcastell6951]

ages ago you mentioned a method of stopping fuel evaporating from a zip lighter, but you never got around to explaining what/how to do it, any chance of an update? (btw .... that's a great jacket you have on there)

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Bicycle inner tube over the zippo (ranger band), forms a seal so the fuel cant evaporate, just roll it back to use the lighter. I never did a video because I've seen two other channels do it.

[@neilcastell6951]

@@RobEvansWoodsman ... so like a rubber foreskin ? lol ... i will have to try it, have been going through loads of lighter fuel, .... i was envisioning some kinda of rubber plug inside,

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Plugs, foreskin.....

[@neilcastell6951]

@@RobEvansWoodsman ... lol

[@madrasmark5425]

Now that you published this video, are you still keeping 2-3 match sized pieces of fatwood in your match case? Mark

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I've put them in another case with shorter matches, the long ones are awkward to light.

[@howardvarley8795]

Based on experience I now believe in 'Keep it Simple ,Stupid.'..just Light your Tinder!! Who cares if its Fatwood or not??? .

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Are you having a go at me Howard? Video was made a few years ago, I can't remember what I did in it.

[@howardvarley8795]

Not at all Rob, just think at times we all overelaborate.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

@@howardvarley8795 funny thing is that I've been thinking about doing a video on how we all "overcomplicate things"

[@howardvarley8795]

@@RobEvansWoodsman Sounds like a plan to me, the reason Im a fan of your knives is that you keep them simple, my new F.T.P. being a classic example of that.