Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Rod Paradise]

I found this alien sitting on a log.

Click to see full-size image.

Looks like dried octopus, but I doubt that's it. Out & out guess a some kind of fungus, but apart from that 

[RED-DOG]

Yes. It was actually on the side of the log so it's obviously some kind of bracket or shelf fungus, but can't find anything like it.

[Rod Paradise]

I did use a tripod.

At the risk of starting Tikay off on bricks - a good Scottish tripod even.

But not as good as these:



Made out the back of my house, (unfortunately used to build Rangers football ground as well ).

[Rod Paradise]

Yes. It was actually on the side of the log so it's obviously some kind of bracket or shelf fungus, but can't find anything like it.

Ah, makes sense. There's multitudes of them - identifying a decayed one would be a reach too far.

If you find some of these:

Click to see full-size image.

They're really useful, fresh a slice will do the job of a plaster, dried you can use them to strop a blade to get a really good edge on it (they're called razor strop fungus) & they can be used to 'carry' an ember to start a fire.

If you find some of these: (Cramp Balls/King Alfred's Cakes)

Click to see full-size image.

I wouldn't mind some - dried they're a fantastic tinder for firelighting with a flint and steel, a mate, his kids and I are working on firelighting skills & you don't get them round here. They grow on Ash trees usually.

[RED-DOG]

Fire lighting without matches or a lighter is really hard. I've tried various methods and failed more times than I've succeeded.

I've managed it a couple of times with a bow drill but I wouldn't like to have to rely on it in a life or death situation.

I stopped smoking 12 years ago, but I still carry a small plastic piezo lighter everywhere. 

[Rod Paradise]

Using a firesteel isn't too difficult - they produce lots of hot sparks.


I made some slow match with cotton rope & salt peter and it lights easily with it. A lot depends how high tech you go with tinder, charcloth, slow match, vaseline soaked cotton balls - all light quite easily with firesteel, and with work using flint and steel. There are a few fungi that make good tinder, but the only ones which work well with just drying seem to be those cramp balls.

Fire drills are a step too far for me at the moment.

[RED-DOG]

Using a firesteel isn't too difficult - they produce lots of hot sparks.


I made some slow match with cotton rope & salt peter and it lights easily with it. A lot depends how high tech you go with tinder, charcloth, slow match, vaseline soaked cotton balls - all light quite easily with firesteel, and with work using flint and steel. There are a few fungi that make good tinder, but the only ones which work well with just drying seem to be those cramp balls.

Fire drills are a step too far for me at the moment.

I can do firesteel OK (Sometimes) but I don't see the point. If you're going to carry a flint & steel, why not carry a lighter instead?

Even with a fire bow I resorted to para-cord for the bowstring. It still felt like cheating.

If you peel the paper-like outer bark from a silver birch it makes good tinder. So does the fluff from inside the head of a bullrush.

[Rod Paradise]

I can do firesteel OK (Sometimes) but I don't see the point. If you're going to carry a flint & steel, why not carry a lighter instead?

Even with a fire bow I resorted to para-cord for the bowstring. It still felt like cheating.

If you peel the paper-like outer bark from a silver birch it makes good tinder. So does the fluff from inside the head of a bullrush.

Sparks are more fun

Also a steel will work better after being soaked, and doesn't run out of fuel.

Forgot about birch bark, will try the rushes.

Other fun ones are potassium permanganate and glycerine. Problem is if your online purchase history includes salt peter and those 2 you end up on police lists (all 3 can be used in incendries/explosives). There's a few stories of bushcrafters being interviewed about what they're up to.

Thing is making fire and bangs is fun.

[RED-DOG]

I can do firesteel OK (Sometimes) but I don't see the point. If you're going to carry a flint & steel, why not carry a lighter instead?

Even with a fire bow I resorted to para-cord for the bowstring. It still felt like cheating.

If you peel the paper-like outer bark from a silver birch it makes good tinder. So does the fluff from inside the head of a bullrush.

Sparks are more fun

Also a steel will work better after being soaked, and doesn't run out of fuel.

Forgot about birch bark, will try the rushes.

Other fun ones are potassium permanganate and glycerine. Problem is if your online purchase history includes salt peter and those 2 you end up on police lists (all 3 can be used in incendries/explosives). There's a few stories of bushcrafters being interviewed about what they're up to.

Thing is making fire and bangs is fun.

I agree with the fun part, but as a survival tool piezo lighters still work when wet and will probably light 1000 fires without effort.

[Woodsey]

Fire lighting without matches or a lighter is really hard. I've tried various methods and failed more times than I've succeeded.

I've managed it a couple of times with a bow drill but I wouldn't like to have to rely on it in a life or death situation.

I stopped smoking 12 years ago, but I still carry a small plastic piezo lighter everywhere. 

Are you planning on getting marooned on a desert island on your way home from DTD or summat? 

Anything else you always carry?

[RED-DOG]

Fire lighting without matches or a lighter is really hard. I've tried various methods and failed more times than I've succeeded.

I've managed it a couple of times with a bow drill but I wouldn't like to have to rely on it in a life or death situation.

I stopped smoking 12 years ago, but I still carry a small plastic piezo lighter everywhere. 

Are you planning on getting marooned on a desert island on your way home from DTD or summat? 

Anything else you always carry?

About 35 years ago found a Swiss Army knife lying in the street. After having it for about a year, I lost it again and found that I couldn't do without it.

So, I went to buy a new one and was flabbergasted to learn that they cost £30, which was more than I earned most weeks. (They cost about £50 now, so relatively much cheaper)

I missed it so much, so I saved my pennies up and bought one, I've carried it every day since and I use it all the time.

If it breaks for any reason (Including taking it into the shop and hitting it with a sledgehammer) They will replace it free of charge. I have broken mine three times over the years and always got a no-quibble replacement.

Click to see full-size image.

http://victorinox.saam007.com/imgs/swisschamp/brochurev4.pdf


Well you did ask.....

[rex008]

I tried to do a blurry motion shot of the Soar brook but I think I over exposed it.

Click to see full-size image.

Even at the smallest aperture and lowest ISO, a daylight long-exposure shot of a waterfall might be impossible to expose. You use ND (neutral density) filters to reduce the amount of light getting in. For really long exposures, I've seen people have success with welding glass, and it's a cheap option.

Saying that, it's a pretty good shot. It's only very mildly overexposed. If you want to go longer for an even smoother water effect, you'll need a filter.

Edit: Or take it at night - this is one of the shots I'm most pleased with - 8 second exposure off the back of a cruise ship:

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

I tried to do a blurry motion shot of the Soar brook but I think I over exposed it.

Click to see full-size image.

Even at the smallest aperture and lowest ISO, a daylight long-exposure shot of a waterfall might be impossible to expose. You use ND (neutral density) filters to reduce the amount of light getting in. For really long exposures, I've seen people have success with welding glass, and it's a cheap option.

Saying that, it's a pretty good shot. It's only very mildly overexposed. If you want to go longer for an even smoother water effect, you'll need a filter.

Edit: Or take it at night - this is one of the shots I'm most pleased with - 8 second exposure off the back of a cruise ship:

Click to see full-size image.

Yes Rex. I'm going to try it at night.

Perhaps I'd better wait until I find a better brick though.....

[RED-DOG]

That's a stunning shot BTW.

[Machka]

Fire lighting without matches or a lighter is really hard. I've tried various methods and failed more times than I've succeeded.

I've managed it a couple of times with a bow drill but I wouldn't like to have to rely on it in a life or death situation.

I stopped smoking 12 years ago, but I still carry a small plastic piezo lighter everywhere. 

Are you planning on getting marooned on a desert island on your way home from DTD or summat? 

Anything else you always carry?

About 35 years ago found a Swiss Army knife lying in the street. After having it for about a year, I lost it again and found that I couldn't do without it.

So, I went to buy a new one and was flabbergasted to learn that they cost £30, which was more than I earned most weeks. (They cost about £50 now, so relatively much cheaper)

I missed it so much, so I saved my pennies up and bought one, I've carried it every day since and I use it all the time.

If it breaks for any reason (Including taking it into the shop and hitting it with a sledgehammer) They will replace it free of charge. I have broken mine three times over the years and always got a no-quibble replacement.

Click to see full-size image.

http://victorinox.saam007.com/imgs/swisschamp/brochurev4.pdf


Well you did ask.....

Teenage Mugger:                   [flicks open switchblade] And your wallet!
Sue Charlton:                         [guardedly] Mick, give him your wallet.
Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee:  [amused] What for?
Sue Charlton:                         [cautiously] He's got a knife.
Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee:  [chuckles] That's not a knife.
[he pulls out a large bowie knife]
Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee:   THAT's a knife.