Punky Twig Bundle: Campfire in Your Hands

The concept of a twig bundle is nothing new, but by packing it with punk wood, you create an immediate coal base that can dry wet twigs and create a long lasting and durable flame source for building a fire over.

The heat produced by the glowing punk also allows you to pack the twigs in a lot tighter than you would see with a conventional twig bundle. A small flame needs air space to climb the ladder; but a glowing mass of coals will ignite the densely packed twigs and give you a lot more burn time.

My assistant decided to test it for durability. Unless you’ve spent time in the Pacific Northwest in the wet season, this might look like a fire hazard. Don’t worry; you couldn’t start a forest fire with a can of gasoline and a road flare this time of year.

Of course I would never have allowed this during the dry months, so act responsibly based on your area and the conditions.

The twigs and punk wood that I used were Western Red cedar, but this should be applicable with all kind of different species, so please experiment to find out what works in your area.