It’s so cool to learn something in minutes that’s taken years of experience from other people who part with that knowledge so freely. What a great thing to learn and thanks for taking the time to show others.

I know I'm commenting to an "old" video but wanted you to know this is the best fatwood video I've seen. You've inspired me to start my first ferro rod fire with fatwood. I'm feeling pretty confident! Thanks!

Didn't know about the broken branches for fatwood, thanks for sharing. Cheers, Marc

I like that you pull the ferro rod away from the blade while holding the blade still and close to your starting material. So many times I see people run the blade down the rod and towards the starting material, hitting it and knocking it around and out of place. 😎👍

I have knobbly old dead pines all over Georgia. I never knew those eaten out old trees might provide something useful when wet. Now when kayaking, I have a source of firewood in wet conditions. thank ya

My first technical introduction to fatwood - extremely informative and easy to follow. Thanks for the great video!

I lived in Arkansas for a couple yrs, and the locals called it pine lighter. We got it from stumps, that had been there for many years. My area was timber country, so there was no shortage of old pine stumps. The stuff lights instantly. We just kept a small pile of it around for whenever we wanted to light an outside fire or the inside fire place. Very handy for camping, and if it's ready available in the woods, you don't have to stock pile it.

Great video, I have never done this and now plan on seeing what I can find next time I'm in the woods. Thanks for sharing!

Instead of sawing the branches off, just knock them with a big baton and get not only the resin filled branch but the pine knot as well. They burn bright for hours.... They would pop right out of that punk wood. I like the pencil sharpener trick. I use one for a contractor or carpenters pencil. It allows you to use bigger pieces of wood that are odd shaped. Great tip. Thanks

Great video , never thought of dead trees , always got mine from fresh cut trees , you got me thinking about new sources in town , thanks !

Thanks for the info. With this method in 90% of the cases find fatwood.On your channel I first saw this method and for a while I use it and I recommend it to others.

The pencil sharpener..great idea. I always watch for awesome hacks like that and that one is a keeper I'll add to my bag. Thanks!

Thank you for the lesson. I'm looking forward to a backpacking trip in a few weeks in Maine with my sons and hope to pass this on to them. God bless.

This video encompasses the true value of KZfaq: Patient instruction of uncommon knowledge with extra tips along the way. I had heard of fatwood but did not know what it was or how to find it. Bonus points for your gear that you carry, how to process fatwood for firestarting once you've found it, the use of a ferro rod....and then finally the pencil sharpener trick. Thank you! p.s. - Also nuggets in the comment section about not cooking food over a fire made exclusively with resin-laden pine wood as the resin off gasses bad stuff while burning....to which another poster said to wait until the fire is burnt down to embers and coals before food cooking to solve that issue as well! TONS of great info all around! Thanks again and God bless!

Awesome!!... Thanks for sharing that. Thanks for the pencil sharpener trick too!!... Great idea thanks

Hugely benefited by this video. thanks so much for spreading the knowledge, never know when it can save ones life when in a survival type situation.

Fatwood is amazing fire tinder. I used to carry 6-8 different tinders, but now only fatwood and cotton balls w/vaseline. Fatwood has never failed to produce flame for me yet, and I enjoy hunting for it. Always carry a piece of fatwood in your pack as it is waterproof and takes up lottle room. Guaranteed fire!

always enjoy your videos, keep them coming.

Thanks. I knew bits and pieces of this but you fine tuned it and made it come together in my head. Thanks John.

Great video!!! New to the whole Fatwood craze and boy I'm hooked! LOL Gonna start right in my backyard :) Thumbs up!

Always wondered what "fat wood" was and how they got it. Now I know! Thanks snaponjohn!

OMG, I just stumbled across your video..1st of all, ty for the tutorial on fatwood. I am fairly new to bushcraft, and learning any and every tip I can find to help me along my learning curve is appreciated. Then to top it off, I found a bushcrafter who lives in NYS!!! I also, am in NYS. I live in the Rochester area. SO glad to find someone who lives in my area, where the videos will show the same terrain and resources I am likely to find. How awesome! Although I have gained a lot of knowledge from other you tubers, none have been in my area, using the same resources I Will be using. It DOES make a difference! I am not going to find the same resources here, that someone in NC or Georgia, or even Northern Canada, will find. Canada will be similar though, more so than those from the deep south. Hardwoods are not hugely different, but the species of trees and plants will vary somewhat. Ya got a new subscriber!

Very nice instructional video. Very informative and I enjoyed the vid. Keep em coming

Thank you for your excellent video very informative lacking all arrogance and ego which Seems to be uncommon lately so again thank you I think you may be my favorite KZfaq site Huge thumbs up!

You made a feather board with fatwood. Good job. The idea is to add oxygen,then pitch is great. I live in oregon doug fir forest. We have loads of pitch or fatwood, the pencil sharpener is genius. Thanks. Like and Subbed.

Thank you for that, the info and the work you put into the video. Knowledge is valuable.

I grew up camping and learned many skills from my dad. Fatwood was not one of them. I had no idea this gem was hiding all around us. I watched your video and immediately went out back and located/processed 7 beautiful peices of fatwood. I counted 5 dead/rotting pines just steps away from my door. I will be processing more and giving them to friends as gifts. Thanks for the video

Pine cones and birch bark work pretty good, too!

Thanks for the pencil sharpener tip! I will toss one in my bag. Fat wood is my favorite fire starter.

Useful, well done. And, thanks for sharing the info on that knife!

The pencil sharpener is a great idea. I've never thought of that, but I will be throwing a couple in my backpack.

I heard 'fatwood, fatwood, fatwood" but had no idea what it was. I assumed it was something you needed to purchase. Thank you for explaining where to find it, what it is and how to use it. Great video. Now, I will search for my own.

That I did not know! Nice knife, nice presentation, Thanks bro!

Thanks for the vid. Fatwood has been very elusive for me to find. I will be using you tips next time I'm out.

Thanks. Very useful and honest about problems encountered.

I'm just finding your videos for the 1st time; it's super nice to find such a good source of info, patiently & clearly explained & demonstrated, using clean, respectful language. It might be necessary to subscribe! :D Tyvk!

Some 'tough guys' might snicker at you when you're wearing gloves. Not me, I'm wearing gloves anytime I'm near any kind of blade (I keep everything razor sharp) you get even a minor cut in wilderness / survival situations you can seriously compromise a finger or hand, possibly leading to infection and other issues.

Finally!! Someone else who realizes the value of carrying a simple pencil sharpener for that exact reason. Greetings from Minnesota.

Great tips, sir! Thanks for sharing ... God Bless

Thanks John. Very informative. Been using store bought fatwood for years. I use it and a ferro rod to start my grill. New sub my friend. Tennessee

Great information, that makes total sense when you think about it. Thanks for posting it, I'm amazed that there are thumbs down... can't imagine who would dislike knowledge.

Love gathering fatwood. And I love the smell of it when it's burning. Where I live in Ohio, we have white pines just about everywhere. Once that fatwood catches a spark, it burns nice and hot. Great tutorial video.

Great video, and good idea with the pencil sharpener. I never thought of trying that, I'll have to get one for my gear bag. I just made a campfire yesterday using fatwood to start it & saved the video on my KZfaq channel. That wood burns like crazy.

Good vid, brother! That's a sweet area you're playing in. Looks very similar to our place here in Texas!

Sounds silly, but I keep a metal cannabis grinder from a dispensary in my fire kit. It makes fine powder out of plant materials. Takes to a ferro rod well. 🔥

Interesting video. I like to learn new skills and you are a good instructor. Thanx for the lesson.

Great video! I didn't know a lot about Garwood and your pencil sharpener idea is great!!!

Thanks for a great little video! Very informative.

Very well done John!

Man that was really cool. I really enjoyed this video. Thank you.

Great informative video on Fatwood. Nice resin content

Very cool. Thank you. Good information to know.

I know this video older, but I wanted to comment how cool this is. I first learned a similar trick in another video, in regards to the branches. You can even harvest the knot from the branch in the stump, if possible, and increase the amount of fatwood you get. This is due to the sap collecting in the knots when the trees die.

Good video, Thanks Just learning about finding and using fatwood. Pines are not native here in E.central IL. but now days there are small groves that have been planted,the last 50 years.

making "Fuzz sticks" takes me back to my bushcrafting days in the late 60's to early 1970's in BOY SCOUTS good old flint and steel firemaking... Ferro rods make it soooo much easier these days!

Thanks for the knowledge ,I did learn how to locate it

Great vid! I like the pencil sharpener tip, a new one on me. I keep the pine knots too, they burn quite hot.

Great work, John!

just found your channel, Very good info. I look forward to watching more of your posts.

The pencil sharpener is an excellent idea. I'll adding one to my bug out bag. Thanks

Thanks for the video, much respect to you.

great video. thanks for sharing. I knew what pine knots were. but heard it called fatwood. take care from Arkansas.

I grabbed a pallet at work one hot day and was surprised to find it was made of green pine heart....literally dripping resin. Yes l took it home. Have started many fires with one piece of one board. Will begin teaching my grandson soon.

Very cool John !!

Love the pencil sharpener idea. 👍

Very nice video. Next time I'm in a park/wooded area I'll be looking for dead pine/spruce... Thanks.

Hi there, great vidio, I actually learned some stuff. I am Sweden Born, Special Forces 1st Air Cav, Vietnam, glad to see some stuff that actually works - Peace Brother

I learned something very useful just now...thanks! hmmm....think I need to get myself one of those BIG knives

Many thanks, I love the pencil sharpener idea that's a really very useful thing to carry it's small and looks very effective I must try that so often I go out with very little in my pockets but try not to forget my knife . knife = life to me and is so important to live and make fire my knife so useful just to eat little bits of meat on my travels

how cool thank you, I learned something new today

Great piece of knowledge thank you and God Bless. I am sure We'll be doing things like this very soon.So once again God Bless ............and Survive with the Lord Amen

Great information! The pencil ✏️ sharpener is the cherry on top! Be well. 🙏

I haven't had any luck finding fatwood in stumps, but have founds lots in branches. I carry some with me because in wet conditions it is the best natural tinder there is. If you have no pine in your area, buy some at Walmart or online. Hunting fatwood is addictive, so beware! Thanks John for a great demonstration.

Thanks for the intell. Great video brother. Godspeed. Just subscribed.

Awesome video, I noticed in my neck of the woods some trees are better for finding fatwood than others. Around here Red Pine is a sure bet for fatwood followed by White Pine. Also when hunting for Fatwood take a container along to put pine sap in if you find it, pine sap combined with fatwood is sure dry twigs off on a rainy day along with pencil size wood.

thank you for sharing your knowledge sir. very good content

Thanks, really helpful video!

I get good sparks from a flint striker with less effort. The striker is extremely lightweight, and a small tin will hold hundreds of flints. Some magnesium and a ferro rod are useful, and can even be added to your kit to augment this fatwood process. I was successful starting a fire during a cold January downpour, using a flint striker and a small cotton ball soaked in vaseline. For kindling, I gathered small twigs from downed trees. I focused on twigs that were vertical, so water had run off instead of laying on top and soaking the wood. I had a rocket stove made from a soup can and had my hot chocolate going in no time. I didn't have a tarp to go overhead, so I had to work a little bit to keep the falling rain from extinguishing the fire, but once I got my small pot over the fire, it sheltered it. It was one of those days when I decided on a whim to trek out into the nearby woods just to see if I could get my rocket stove going and make some hot chocolate. In my haste to get going, I forgot to take a tarp for setting up an overhead cover from the rain. But I learned that I could do it even without the tarp. Now, I am confident that I can do it. It's one thing to do it on a warm day, but to do it on a cold and rainy January day, that builds confidence tremendously. Don't be fooled though. A person can get hypothermia in the summer also. A cold rain during a summer night can be just as disastrous.

I've heard the term fat wood for years now but no one ever showed me what it actually was until now. Thank you for that!

you got it nice job steve

Nice video thanks for your hard work.

Thanks for that info. I can get fatwood on some of the logs my hubby brings home for the fire too

Great video love fat wood takes a spark from a ferro rod very easily

I have never had much luck starting fires, I am going to check this out!

Good, clear explanation. From western NC.

Nice video, John! Great to see you back! -Dave

Here in the South, we have an abundance of Loblolly Pine,and when you find a dead one, you will have no problem having plenty of " lighter knots" as we call them. An old stump is also a great bet.

Really cool stuff Bob👍👍👍👍👍🏝

nice going! cool equipment well used.

VERY KOOL,SHORT & PRECISE. THX

Thank you. This was helpful. : )

Thank you, you learned me something!

Great video. Thank you.

Thx John great info~

Nice John. Fatwood has become my favorite tools to start fire lately. Although I have to admit John, I've given up on the using the back of the knife for striking the rod. I simply cannot direct it as well as when using a smaller tool. Great for emergencies, but for regular use, the small hacksaw blade or striker works better for me.

and also I wish I had one of them saws you had sir I had one but it broke on me and cut me real bad and I have been worried about one since do you make yours but no matter I would love to own one sir your great and thanks for everything sir please don't stop and I'm glad I found your channel sir keep up the great work

Thank you! Good Information

Hi my friend thank u for the video. Also u can use a small hatchet & chop off that dead punkwood from along the sides of the branch & saw the branch off a good few inches longer than that. The branch goes down to a point eventually at the heart wood of the trunk, that way u get way more fatwood.

Thanks for the cool vid. You sound a bit like Hooper from Jaws. Cool.

Thank you I learned something new