Char cloth

Any good sites or videos for making char cloth? Would like a reference.

 

It's almost like making charcoal or operating a "gassifier" unit. All you need is like a 1 quart or 1 gallon sized paint can ( new and clean of course!) with the lid. Punch a small vent hole in the lid, about 3/16 of an inch, place cotton ( only) cloth inside, smaller pieces work better than a single large piece....about 1/4 to 1/3 full ( loose)
Then place it on a heat source (outside) with the lid in place, and wait for the steam and smoke to disspiate from the vent hole. ( some prefer to light the venting gases and when they stop burning, they consider the process complete) When it stops venting, remove the can from the heat source and cover ( not PLUG!) the vent hole to keep the air ( oxygen) from entering and causing you to end up with ashes. Let it cool and open the lid, and there's your char cloth!

 

Thanks guys. brokor, great video. Dragonfly, great instructions.

I had a buddy who lived nearby that I have known since junior high who always had char cloth and gave me some on every outing. Never occurred to me until he moved that I didn't know how to make it. Feel like a heel for only now realizing how i took him for granted. live and learn i guess.

 

I enjoy learning new things, and if it weren't for others out there, I'd never know how myself!

 

Its actually quite easy. I bought a small kit that had a tine, flint, striker, and different materials to catch a spark. I imagine you could find the same thing online somewhere. With the included instructions, I had no trouble the first time I used it. Hemp and other natural materials will work too if you don't want to sacrifice part of your clothing.

Later, I went to a fire-making course. It covered other methods I wanted to learn. Someone broke out the flint and steel. I quickly confirmed my ability to catch a spark and blow it into flame.

It's something fun to learn and important to try before you really need it. It may be one of the earliest methods- using iron ore and flint. Kids love this sort of stuff too.

Stick had a pic of an early "match" made from cotton cord that was charred on one end and stuck in a brass tube. I can't seem to find it at the moment. I intended to make one, but never got around to it. What I figured would work well, Stick confirmed this, was 22 Mag shells with the rim ground off. I always thought that method was a better method than just char cloth. It's something you could easily pin in your hat and always have to catch a spark. With regular char cloth, you end up wasting a lot, whereas the match could easily be snuffed out and preserved. To better explain the "match", think of a matchlock. That is sorta the idea.

ETA: Here is link to Stick's pic post #48:
http://www.survivalmonkey.com/forum/bushcraft/14127-what-your-preferred-method-fire-lighting-4.html

 

Hope this also helps.
http://www.survivalmonkey.com/forum/bushcraft/18290-making-charred-cottonwool-fire-lighting.html

 

I appreciate all the GREAT info shared on here.

 

made some char cloth and tried it out. Note to self. use white cloth next time. hard to tell if it is evenly charred with black.

 

I have to try this when I get home. Any thing that will help with fire building never hurt. Thank you.

Butch

 

Just got a new fire piston in the mail, works great but need to make more tinder. Thanks all for the advice.

 

Kind of you to say so,thanks.

 

Just cause I wanted some paint cans I went to the Sherwin Williams paint store and bought me some quart and gallon ones empty.

I put my cloth in a quart one with a small hole in top.

put it on the grill or in a fire and when smoke comes out the top I light it.

When flame goes out the char cloth is done. (remember to let it cool off in the can before you open it works best for me.)

I love keeping mine in a tin box with a flint and striker. Have one from Dixie Gun works that has a magnifying glass in the lid (tinderbox) no idea if they still make it or not as I bought it twenty or thirty years ago.

Which reminds me I need to get me another dixie gun works catalog.

 

Empty paint cans... Great idea! Will have to go and get some thanks!

 

Try this site.....the site also has articles on a wide variety of primitive survival topics. The article is well illustrated with pictures.

http://www.practicalsurvivor.com/charcloth

 

Huh. Never realized you could light the smoke. Might be easier to keep an eye on it while multitasking.


Cool!

 

never used char cloth i keep some cat tail tops in a zip lock bag and use a small bunch to start my fires with a spark from my flint rod