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The natives of the South East Asian Islands used fine inner bark
from the Caryota Mitus palm tree, or better known as the fish tail
palm. Natural tinders available to us are still being discovered.
Here are some that I have tried.

True tinder fungus, also known as Chaga, is a popular and very
reliable natural tinder used in fire pistons. You can find this
knobby fungus growing mostly on live white birch, although it has
been found on black birch as well has horn beam, and grows in
irregular shapes and sizes. The dark outer cortex is hard to light
in the fire piston and works better if ground with better material
but the part you really want is the orange corky interior. Break
your nodule into smaller pieces to dry. In a couple days your
tinder is ready for use.

Chaga has often been confused with false tinder fungus, or Horse
Hoof Fungus, which also grows on birch. There are two ways to
make this plant work for you. If you find some recently dead
fungus, it will be dryer and should light straight off in your fire
piston. Carefully peel off the outer gray-white cortex. The part
you want is the leathery velvet part between the cortex and the
spores.

Another method is to make Amadou out of it. Carefully cut strips
off. Boil them in water for a day, pound them out and let them
dry. Now your Amadou is ready for your fire piston.

Another plant that is easy to find in many climates is Mullein.
There are two parts of this plant that are useful in the fire piston.
First the inner pith. Cut off thin slices and they are ready to use
straight from the stalk.

Although the pith does work, more reliable yet is the feathery
bark on the outside. Experimenting one day, I found that small
curls cut off with the tip of my knife were very reliable in the fire
piston and worked on the first hit.

Another way yet to use this plant is to char the pith like char cloth
and it makes it much more reliable.

Another plant that is has two useful tinders is Milkweed. The fluff
in the seedpod, although not as reliable as the tinders mentioned
above, will produce a quick burning coal if you roll a small ball.
The trick with this one is to get the ball tight enough without
getting it so compact that air can not get inside to combust.

The other part of the plant that is much more reliable is the seed
pod ovum. Tear or cut a small piece off and it is ready to use.

**Also use both the fluff and the seed pod itself ripped up in your
tinder bundle.**

Another natural tinder that can be used is wood punk. It is best to
find your punk from standing trees to get the driest punk
possible. You usually still have to dry it or char it with a few
whacks in your piston before it will ignite. It is not a very reliable
tinder but will work if you are persistant.

I have seen the fluff from golden rod light as well as other plant
fluffs from dandelion to cat tail to thistle. They burn very
quickly though and are not as reliable to get to light as the other
natural tinders mentioned. Others have told me to that ground up
Cedar bark and Yucca, like Mullein pith, have worked for them. I
encourage you to experiment with other natural tinders.

TINDERS THAT YOU CAN USE WITH YOUR FIRE PISTON

True Tinder Fungus

NATURAL TINDERS

MAN MADE TINDERS

Char cloth by far is the most popular man made tinder. Being 100%
cotton makes it also a natural material that can be used where cotton
is available and other types of cotton can be charred and used as
well.

I have already mentioned Amadou. Amadou and 100% cotton rags
soaked in salt peter were traditional tinders used in fire pistons when
they were popular in Europe. This makes your Amadou infinitely
more reliable.

Now the last man made tinder that will work in your fire piston is
0000 steel wool. Although it will light, it is not a tinder I would
recommend for regular use in your fire piston. It is a good survival
materials if no other tinders are available.

Milkweed

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Wood Punk

Mullein

Char Cloth is
available at: MNSI