Using Crampballs for Fire | Bushcraft (King Alfred's Cakes)

NaturalBushcraft would like to share with you this great resource known as Crampballs, or King Alfred's Cakes, or even the Latin 'Daldinia concentrica'. This Fungi is great for fire lighting, it catches a spark and glows with a strong ember, you can even cook solely on crampballs!

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Howto & Style

Tags:

• Crampballs
• cramp
• ball
• King
• Alfred's
• Cakes
• Daldinia
• concentrica
• fungi
• spark
• starting
• fire
• lighting
• bushcraft
• skills
• tinder
• fungus
• NaturalBushcraft
• wild
• camping
• ray
• mears

[mightywombat]

I'd love to know if there's an equivalent bit of fungus that can be found in the US, seeing as I'm not likely to find myself practicing bushcraft in the UK any time soon. Any ideas? Great channel, btw! Thanks for all the very informative videos!

[NaturalBushcraft]

@mightywombat Unfortunately I've no idea, I've thumbed-up your comment so hopefully someone nearer to your area will reply.

[mightywombat]

@NaturalBushcraft I have just found an article on Wikipedia regarding "tinder fungus", AKA Fomes fomentarius, which grows widely in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the North America. Interestingly, "Otzi" the Iceman was found carrying four pieces of this fungus, assumed to be for firestarting!

Thanks for your help!

[NaturalBushcraft]

@mightywombat Yeah I remember seeing that on TV once. Amazing stuff :)

[mightywombat]

@NaturalBushcraft Thanks! I've been watching a lot of bushcraft videos, though most of them are by folks from the UK. Very interesting, but the info is a little less useful to me, alas. Thanks again.

[NaturalBushcraft]

@dmckergan Ok Dave, duly noted mate. In the mean time we do have a thriving community forum on our site where you may be able to pose the same questions openly and that way others can chip in, could turn up some interesting results. All the best,

Ashley Cawley.

[dmckergan]

@NaturalBushcraft

Thanks Ashley - I got to the video from your site (my fave bushcraft site!).

I wonder perhaps could you guys do an article or video sometime on the 'laws of the land', basically focussing on foraging / firelighting / trapping / fishing etc? - Here in NI we are really restricted in access to land, its practically all private. There is the NIBA but they are based quite a distance from me.

Cheers!

Dave.

[NaturalBushcraft]

@dmckergan Cheers Dave, I'm glad you liked the video :) You should checkout our NaturalBushcraft website, it's packed with even more articles & videos, sharing outdoors knowledge & skills freely! We also have a thriving community with knowledgeable folk that can answer any questions you might have.

As for which tree's Crampballs like to live on - Ash Trees.

All the best,

Ashley Cawley.

[dmckergan]

Brilliant video! I too am from Northern Ireland but have never seen these fungi - are there certain fallen trees that are more likely to have them? We have plenty of bracket fungus for making amadou but I'd love to see one of these little 'cakes' :)

I was amazed that they looked like ready-made charcoal 'cinders' when broken open. Really great to have video tutorials like this! Keep 'em coming! Dave.