For the last few years I have found that charcloth made from yellow duster to be the best; but the last three packs of ten, al from different shops I have bought have not worked at all. They go black and crispy rather than the flexible slightly grey that I am used to. Anybody know of any branded ones that work?
Char cloth
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Nic,
My favourite for charcloth is old pairs of jeans - my own if possible, but charity shop bargains if necessary.
I have a pathological aversion to buying new things to turn into char!
ATB
Ogri the trog
My favourite for charcloth is old pairs of jeans - my own if possible, but charity shop bargains if necessary.
I have a pathological aversion to buying new things to turn into char!
ATB
Ogri the trog
Hi Pete,
I know it seems a shame but I have never found anything I can recycle that comes close. I tried jeans and it whilst they work the difference was so marked- maybe 1 spark would take every five strikes. With dusters I was getting five sparks every strike. At the moment I am using some lamp wicking rope I bought in Thailand, which is also brilliant but not so easy to replace when it runs out.
Just found the CD of the pictures of that course- send my your address and I'll get it off to you.
Nic
Absolutely, they say cotton on the packet but there is something in there messing it up, not having any luck finding any pure ones.
Judging on what Mr Fenna sent me in his dragons breath kit Facecloths or towels work really well.
Try going down your local £ shop and getting the toweling tea towels... they take a great spark
Try going down your local £ shop and getting the toweling tea towels... they take a great spark
Erm Steve, you haven't spent much time around the Mid Wales Desert have you?
It's probably several hours drive to get to a "Pound-Shop"!
ATB
Ogri the trog
For all the hassle of making char cloth, isn't it easier to use cotton wool and Vaseline? I find it bursts into flames from a spark, it's waterproof and so easy to make (or are we talking about sparks from proper flint/steel?)
I should have been clearer these are for 'proper' flint and steel. They are for the sets that I sell on my website, so I am keen to use the easiest to light char cloth I can. For years I was fine with the dusters but now they don't seem to work. I have tried jeans, moleskin, linen nappy liners, towels, all sorts but nothing comes close to the dusters, except the Thai wick that I have but that won't last long.
Actually there is a pound shop in my nearest town, I bought two different rolls of 10 dusters from them. But as I said to no effect. Still was only a 32mile round trip.
Actually there is a pound shop in my nearest town, I bought two different rolls of 10 dusters from them. But as I said to no effect. Still was only a 32mile round trip.
I haven't had much of a play with proper F&S before - would the sparks not work with Vaseline & cotton wool?
they work with charred cotton wool, not with uncharred - not tried it with vaseline in either configuration.
My char cloth is made from old, cotton decorators' dust sheets bought from Screwfix. Works better than the stuff I made from jeans.........hc
Edit: Only used for flint & steel. Used at school demos etc. Sure it's ok for fire steels too though haven't tried
Edit: Only used for flint & steel. Used at school demos etc. Sure it's ok for fire steels too though haven't tried
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Bite the bullet and go to Tesco (one on every corner ... awaiting arson come the revolution!) I use their Tea towels... and get great joy in burning a Tescos branded product!
Mountainm got it right first time - there must be some man-made fibre in the mixture of the cloths you used. if you can find 100% cotton dusters you should be back on track. I checked the net and there are many suppliers. I suppose if it turns out to not be 100% cotton you must have purchased it from a suppliar instead!!
SimonM
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I buy off cuts of linen from our local fabric shop. They almost give it away when they get to the roll ends...
Simon
Simon
I just used some old cotton hankys, that sat at the back of the draw, all old and grey, clean and washed , they seem to work.
Have you thought about asking a local returant if they use cotton napkins?, then offer to buy the old wornout ones from them?
Have you thought about asking a local returant if they use cotton napkins?, then offer to buy the old wornout ones from them?
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