Charcloth making time in the woods

[John Fenna]

I had run out of charcloth for my "Dragons Breath" flint and steel kits and my firelighting demos ... so most of today was spent in the woods turning 12 cotton teatowels into the black stuff... lots of time to read, have lunch, practice axe throwing and to chill as the fire did the work

 

[dewi]

Have you tried making charcloth (or char balls) from cotton balls John?

 

[John Fenna]

Have you tried making charcloth (or char balls) from cotton balls John?

Nope - but it sounds like an idea!

 

[dewi]

Have a tin, 5" x 4" x 1 1/2" deep and a bag of 200 cotton balls... I know I need to punch a hole in the top of the tin, but how do you know when it's done?

I read in one place its when smoke comes out of the hole and in another place that its when a flame comes out of the hole.

 

[John Fenna]

I go by when the smoke or flame die down to a trickle - you get masses of smoke or a jet engine flame to start with as the volatile gasses and steam are blown off ... once they are gone the cotton is reduced to pure carbon (ish) black as a rugby referees heart and ready to go!
Be sure to seal the hole (I turn my tins upside down in loose damp soil) to let the char cool - or it could suck in oxygen and just burn away!

 

[dewi]

Thanks John, I shall give it a go

I have an old tobacco tin and a torn t-shirt to make some charcloth with at the same time, but very keen on the cotton balls... making a range of firestarting stuff for when my lad comes with me camping again.

 

[Mesquite]

Perfect way to spend the day John

 

[bushwacker bob]

Thanks John, I shall give it a go

I have an old tobacco tin and a torn t-shirt to make some charcloth with at the same time, but very keen on the cotton balls... making a range of firestarting stuff for when my lad comes with me camping again.

Take the rubber seal out of your baccy tin first.

 

[topknot]

2 x Perfect way to spend the day John

Topknot