Char cloth

Put this on as I've been elbow deep in a thread on 'the Facebooks' about making char cloth and I didn't realise how many people struggled with it!

I made some on the weekend and it worked great! Large 'altoids' type tin, with hinge, two (knife tip size) stab holes top & bottom and two old cotton tea-towels (that's what you call them in the States yeah?).

Sat on the side of the fire, in the smaller embers for most of the evening, turning to char the outside evenlay on both sides, worked a treat. Never had a problem with making it, batting 100% as it stands!

How does everyone else get on? Any pointers/problems/thoughts?

Thanks

 

Lol yea I dunno how people struggle. I teach this to 12 years olds all the time

 

I will say I got a flint and steel kit for Christmas one year from my dad and the char cloth that came with it was crap. It would not catch a spark for nothing. The stuff I made has always worked great though.

 

I'll comment on this when I'm not so inebriated

 

Pretty easy if you practice,I use a shard of quartz and an old file,char cloth is old jeans or cotton t shirts.
Using your old clothes to make fire counts as recycling right guys?

 

I bought the brass Hudson Bay fire kit and the cloth was the same...

so never?

I use cotton handkerchief

 

no issues here. put some old cotton canvas pieces in a tin with a tiny hole in it, put on the fire embers.....smoke comes out fast....when the smoke stops plug the hole and let it cool.

5 - 7 minutes at most.

 

If the tin you're using isn't totally air tight, there's no need to punch any holes in the lid.

The smoke will find its way out.

 

Ok I'm not so inebriated now
What makes good char cloth
Them old used cotton "Tiddy Whitey's"Just don't use the part with the brown stripe That part smells funny when it chars

 

For material I use old T-shirt’s, old blue jeans or old towels. The towels work great they have little hairs all over them that catches sparks super easy.

 

I buy the 6 pack of cotton handkerchiefs for $1. I wash them 3 or 4 times to soften and fluff them out. Cut into squares and I have plenty. The char is quite thin but burns well and will catch a spark like it should. I throw one hankie in the bottom of my belt pouch for reserve

 

I think some people (certainly on the FB thread I was on) had used 99% cotton items and the 1% of plastic sh!t causes it to melt!

 

Use char rope. So much better tham cloth. Clothes Line rope/Mason rope. Just be sure it has the cotton filler.

 

Jute twine?

 

If it's cotton. Clothes Line rope with the cotton inside is awesome due to the thickness. A 1/4" piece turn into a sweet coal.

 

Good to know I might have to try that out, thanks

 

And it's dirt cheap at the dollar store, just be sure to check label to make sure it's cotton.

 

I made a slow match and haven’t gone back to char cloth since.