A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Sunday 3 June 2012

Tinder Confusion!

Due to new terminology, some people are getting confused with the term Tinder. The old meaning of tinder as used with flint, steel and tinderbox means a plant based material that will catch a spark and produce an ember from which fire can be made.
But in modern terms, mostly due to some people refering to the commercially made flint Ferrocium Rod as a "fire steel" (which it is not), tinder now includes kindling. As you can imagine, being now no distinction between kindling and tinder, Pilgrims are getting confused when they are unable to catch a spark on kindling when they have just read that you can.
So my purpose here is to try and make it a little more clear and understandable. Firstly whenever you read the term "fire steel", take the time to ask the person if they are using a ferrocium rod. If they are, then you can ignore most of what they are talking about because it will have no bearing on YOUR use of a REAL flint and steel. Below are some examples of Kindling.
 Top is some sisal rope strands, and below that the outer bark of the Stringybark tree.
 A disused birds nest mostly made of dried grasses. In this form such kindling is often called a "tinder nest", which again can be confusing. This is kindling, not tinder.
Dried grass.

Dried leaves from trees.

To the right in this basket are the dried stalks of the Jerusalem Artichoke plant, and to the left Mountain Gum bark. Sizes of kindling going up from this would be twigs and sticks of various sizes.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Good post Keith. I've been more careful with the way I use the terms since you brought it to my attention last year.

By the way, would you mind if I put this up as a guest post on my blog. I think people need to see it.

Ross
Wood Trekker

Keith said...

It would be an honour to have my post on your blog Ross.
Regards, Keith.

Chris Boleyn said...

I grew up using the terms tinder and kindling the same way you do, and now that you have mentioned it I too have noticed the confusion caused to some people. I'm glad you are here to educate and maintain the old ways.

Chris
Of the old country

Keith said...

Thanks Chris, appreciated.
Regards, Keith.