Charcoal

[Bushcraftsman]

I feel a right idiot for asking this, but how do you light charcoal without soaking it in lighter fluid? I'm thinking of trying to make my own charcoal from a tutorial I found here. Can you still do it without lighter fluid, it just takes a bit longer or something like that....sorry about the stupidity of the question...I feel asthough im missing some huge obvious sign, oh well, im sure one of you lot could point it out

Thanks

 

[launditch1]

Scrunch up some news paper and get that alight then cover it in charcoal.Blow through a tube as well to get it going.

 

[Bushcraftsman]

alright, thanks i'm guessing this would work with something like kitchen roll aswell? just any sort of paper underneath....cheers

 

[bhofmann]

Newspaper is abundant and works well. Kitchen roll probably not so well - the fibres in the paper are not significant enough to burn well. I almost always use newspaper. We have a free local one delivered every week that is pretty much only used as a protective cover on things when I make a mess, or for lighting fires.

I would suggest going for a paper that will take a fold. Kitchen paper doesn't really do a good job of it.

 

[Nigel]

If you want to get your charcoal going why not use a good bundle of feather sticks or even use bryant and may bbq matches, they have a longer burn time than newspaper.

 

[Nagual]

From what I've read on the many threads on home made charcoal, a bit of newspaper scrunchied all you need, as mentioned above. Since it's home made, you don't have all the yucky bits n bobs slowing down the initial burn. Or at least thats what I take from it... not made my own coals yet either, but am hoping to do so soon™.

 

[Bushcraftsman]

alright thanks for the help and advice everyone just got to wait for the rain to die down before I can try it!

 

[Bardster]

find some of the firestarter matches as shown in this pic (asda sell them)

One of these will start any charcoal fire.

 

[Longstrider]

Newspapers, fire starter matches

Surely, you use your bow-drill to make an ember, transfer the ember to your tinder bundle and blow it to life, then add that to some secondary tinder+twigs and use THAT to light the charcoal ?

Well, that or a jet-flame lighter !

 

[rancid badger]

If your charcoal is homemade then chances are it'll be properly dry, unlike a lot of shop bought stuff, that tends to pick up a lot of moisture while hanging around, waiting to be sold or transported.


The charcoal we make, here at Chopwell Wood ( when we can get enough volunteers) will light with sparks from a firesteel.
Very similar to "King Alfreds Cakes" fungus. Once you have an ember going on a piece, just blow gently on it to grow the ember. Then, once its glowing red and you cant really hold it much longer, put it down and add a few other bits. These should catch easily but a gentle draft of air, will of course speed things up. Tilley hats and similar are very good for this

Take your time, if your charcoal is dry and of good quality, it'll get going in no time, with no other fuel required.

If its damp or just not very good stuff, then employ the various magic tricks already suggestedokenest:

good luck

R.B.

 

[Everything Mac]

heat gun - or blow torch in my house.

we don'f fanny around when it comes to getting the bbq going

failing that those bbq matches are rather good.

as is bundles of newspaper - it just takes longer.

 

[Bushcraftsman]

no you certainly waste no time

thanks for the advice everyone, knew there was a simple method and I was just trying to over complicate things...when I looked on google pretty much EVERYTHING was directing me to these charcoal chimneys and thought there must have been an easier way

 

[rik_uk3]

find some of the firestarter matches as shown in this pic (asda sell them)

One of these will start any charcoal fire.

Agree 100%, or as I always have paraffin or naptha with me on camping trips a good splash of that does the job.