So, small victory and all, but I tried making char cloth last night and succeeded. I made two lots.
I was worried at first that the hole I'd drilled in the tin was a bit too big, but it worked out OK. One thing I did learn about that though is that in the future, given the opportunity, I'll definitely use a smaller hole to try and avoid the few bits of ash or anything that could invite an ignition to the interior.
The first lot actually set fire. I'd been doing it in a patio burner, so tried to position the wood so that nothing was above it, but a piece fell and it almost looked like a gas lamp lol. Either way, I took it out, extinguished the flame expertly (I dropped it on the floor and it landed hole-side down) and it turned out OK.
The second batch I was mindful to put the wood in to form a consistent bed of embers to seat the tin on and just let it do its thing as they died down.
I packed the tin the second time and it still only took about 10-15 minutes. So I might try a bulk load next and use one of those huge Christmas sweet tins and put a whole load in there and see how that works out.
Either way, on the whole, pretty pleased I learnt even a basic skill that will enable me to practice even more.
Also, is it just me or does it kinda smell like caramel?
I was worried at first that the hole I'd drilled in the tin was a bit too big, but it worked out OK. One thing I did learn about that though is that in the future, given the opportunity, I'll definitely use a smaller hole to try and avoid the few bits of ash or anything that could invite an ignition to the interior.
The first lot actually set fire. I'd been doing it in a patio burner, so tried to position the wood so that nothing was above it, but a piece fell and it almost looked like a gas lamp lol. Either way, I took it out, extinguished the flame expertly (I dropped it on the floor and it landed hole-side down) and it turned out OK.
The second batch I was mindful to put the wood in to form a consistent bed of embers to seat the tin on and just let it do its thing as they died down.
I packed the tin the second time and it still only took about 10-15 minutes. So I might try a bulk load next and use one of those huge Christmas sweet tins and put a whole load in there and see how that works out.
Either way, on the whole, pretty pleased I learnt even a basic skill that will enable me to practice even more.
Also, is it just me or does it kinda smell like caramel?