How to make non expensive char cloth?

[Mesquite]

I use new dusters
£1 for 5 or 10 depending on where you get them from
The fibers are very thin so take a spark very well

Whatever you do don't make any charcloth when Mad Dave and Dr Jones are anywhere near you.

As Drew found out once the perfectly formed charcloth that he made miraculously changed back into pristine dusters whilst cooling in the tin and he was accused of buying fire retardant dusters...

 

[rik_uk3]

A pair of old jeans will give you a heck of a lot of char cloth.

 

[Jonbodthethird]

A pair of old jeans will give you a heck of a lot of char cloth.

Sounds like a plan to me. I'll cut some up tonight for my outing Tuesday.


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[Jonbodthethird]

I'll try it with a 1l paint can and let you guys know how it went.


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[Neanderthal]

Char Pith

Elder pith chars really well if you want to try something free and a bit more bushcrafty. A bit on the fragile side though so wrap it for transport.

Stu



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[georann]

+1 to the dusters! And I find a boiled sweet tin is amply big enough. Less space in the tin seems to help and takes less room on the fire (which also makes it easier to control the heat). You'd be surprised how far it goes so don't feel like you have to make a ton of it!

Posted by carrier pigeon

 

[Toddy]

Boiled sweetie tin works well and if you're making a big batch then one of those tall, skinny redondo biscuit tins are very good.

We just use a blow torch.
No stink in the kitchen, and very controllable.

Old well washed jeans, old well washed dishtowels, old well washed tshirts....common theme, washed and no fabric conditioner left in them, and it all works well.
Knitted cotton dusters are very good too though.

For natural stuff, pack the tin with offcuts of fomes, the tubular inner bits, or slices of piptoporus or the inner pith of the reedmace or similar. The latter's a bit messy since it can be full of water, but if you used dried it's not so bad. Punk wood is very good too.

M

 

[Jonbodthethird]

Ok making it tomorrow forgot to make it last week. See how it goes.


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[Ogri the trog]

I have an issue with making charcloth in large batches - any more than a few days in this weather and I find it gets damp and becomes difficult to ignite rather than being the fire-lighters friend that it ought to be.

So I carry cloth ready to char and a short length of copper pipe. The pipe is bashed flat at one end all bar a tiny hole the other end is left round and smooth.
I use freshly made stuff to light a fire - and then make more as and when I need it - take a strip of cloth and roll it and stuff it into the pipe. When your fire is going, plunge the prepared pipe into the ground close to the fire - open end downwards so it sticks into the earth - scrape some embers around it and allow the cloth cooks away, smoking merrily. When the smoke stops you take a stick and knock the pipe out of the fire - a wad of soil & ash plugs the open end of the pipe and you allow it to cool away from the fire, covering with ash if you think it might burn away.
When it is cool, take a ranger band (piece of inner tube) and wrap it over the ends of the pipe to seal it until needed.

Freshly made charcloth every few days, minimising any moisture ingress.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[lannyman8]

i find old jeans best, i like the fact the strands are a bit bigger and can be spread out at the edge to take a spark, its just what i like....

as for the char its self, any tin will do, but a screw top air rifle pellet tin is big enough, does not need a hole, can be carried in your pocket with a bit of flint and steel inside too, just put some cotton wool on top to stop it damaging the char cloth...

jobs a gooden...

regards

chris.

 

[21st century pict]

I remember I got caught out once , I had to use the last of my char cloth to light a fire and had to make a new batch before the fire went out so l tore the white cotton out of my pocket and folded it into the tinfoil I use as a wind brake for my tranger , folded it envelope style and just chucked it on the fire , it puffed up a bit and billowed smoke from the seams for a while and as soon as it stopped smoking I flicked off fire, it worked just fine the nex day.

 

[Jonbodthethird]

I have an issue with making charcloth in large batches - any more than a few days in this weather and I find it gets damp and becomes difficult to ignite rather than being the fire-lighters friend that it ought to be.

So I carry cloth ready to char and a short length of copper pipe. The pipe is bashed flat at one end all bar a tiny hole the other end is left round and smooth.
I use freshly made stuff to light a fire - and then make more as and when I need it - take a strip of cloth and roll it and stuff it into the pipe. When your fire is going, plunge the prepared pipe into the ground close to the fire - open end downwards so it sticks into the earth - scrape some embers around it and allow the cloth cooks away, smoking merrily. When the smoke stops you take a stick and knock the pipe out of the fire - a wad of soil & ash plugs the open end of the pipe and you allow it to cool away from the fire, covering with ash if you think it might burn away.
When it is cool, take a ranger band (piece of inner tube) and wrap it over the ends of the pipe to seal it until needed.

Freshly made charcloth every few days, minimising any moisture ingress.

ATB

Ogri the trog

That's a Good plan. Will try that when I get some odd cut from my plumbing friend.


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[Jonbodthethird]

Well I've made it last night on the fire and I've already used about a quarter lol. It's really good fun making a fire from it and a fero rod.


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[Jonbodthethird]

I've just been thinking while laying in my hammock thinking how amazing this stuff is and how it's became quite forgotten outside the world of bushcraft.


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[mountainm]

I've just been thinking while laying in my hammock thinking how amazing this stuff is and how it's became quite forgotten outside the world of bushcraft.


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Not sure it's been forgotten. More like it's redundant. There are far easier ways of making fire.

 

[Jonbodthethird]

Not sure it's been forgotten. More like it's redundant. There are far easier ways of making fire.

Maybe so but it's mega rewarding when it all catches and i get a nice fire from just a spark.


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[Balloonatic]

Jon, next stop flint and steel! I find great satisfaction in building a fire using only flint and steel, I practice as often as I can even if it's only to light the stove in my shed. Well done on the char cloth, I tend to carry an altoid type tin with me and a stash of scraps of fabric, once the fire is built the first job is to replenish my tinder box with char etc.

 

[Jonbodthethird]

Jon, next stop flint and steel! I find great satisfaction in building a fire using only flint and steel, I practice as often as I can even if it's only to light the stove in my shed. Well done on the char cloth, I tend to carry an altoid type tin with me and a stash of scraps of fabric, once the fire is built the first job is to replenish my tinder box with char etc.

I've already bought one can't wait to go out next and make a good fire with it all.


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[wolf man]

Here's a blog I wrote on how to make Char cloth using cheap yellow dusters from the pound shop. I find the material brilliant, as it's fine when turned into char cloth and catches a spark very well.

http://www.wildernesspioneers.co.uk/blog/

hope it helps.