Old cotton for charcloth - Hard water, hard luck

[rich59]

I have always noted that the only reliable char cloth I can make is if I start with new material. Old cotton garments just won't work for me.

I thought I would do some experiments to see why, and what could be done to rejuvenate them.

Theory 1 - it is the conditioner I use. A thorough wash with no conditioner did not help

Theory 2 - it is the calcium build up. I repeatedly soaked some old cotton in vinegar. A after 2-3 changes of vinegar the then charred cloth would start glowing from a flame, although I doubt it would take a spark.

I tried it in a surface descaler by the way and on that occasion it did not seem to help.

I have therefore provisionally concluded that the problem is probably a build up of calcium on the fibres of the cloth.

Perhaps others could check this out if they have the same problem and live in hard water areas.

 

[Martyn]

I live in a very hard water area and I've made several batches with old jeans that have been washed a bazillion times. No problems, it takes a spark well.

 

[Eric_Methven]

The best charcloth is made from linen. Old tea towels from charity shops work great.

Eric

 

[spamel]

I find that tea towels are best, I think because the weave of the cloth isn't so tight and there are gaps in it. I tried with some old curtains and it worked but not too well. It was a very tight weave and not so thick neither. Denim does work well and if you have an old pair of jeans will last forever!

 

[BobFromHolland]

I've had no failure yet, using my old t-shirts and boxers shorts.
Maybe the lifetime of heavy odors did the trick on those batches!

 

[Martyn]

I've had no failure yet, using my old t-shirts and boxers shorts.
Maybe the lifetime of heavy odors did the trick on those batches!

saltpeter?

 

[Brian]

Hi mate,

Like Spamel I use old tea towels that have been washed numerous times and they work fine. SWMBO keeps asking me where they keep dissapearing to though

Brian

 

[rich59]

Curiouser and curiouser.

One day I may work out why my experience is different to many others.

By the way, we have used non-biological liquid and Comfort conditioner for years. Mostly it is tumble dried.

 

[BobFromHolland]

could it have something to do with the specific temperature of a batch of charcloth?

My first batch wasn't charred to the 'well-done' state and the parts that are only half-charred aren't any good in catching sparks. They are usefull in getting the ember into flame though.

The way to get there is to exclude options, isn't it?

 

[oops56]

Well now i use new kerosene wick cut about 3/4 long it takes a spark first time ever time even a little spark i bet it be good for bow & drill put under hearth board

 

[qweeg500]

Cotton scrim makes superb charcloth.

 

[rich59]

I have started an experiment. Same bit of cloth going through every batch of washing. Every few washes I test a bit. Every wash is recorded on the cloth with marker pen. For a micro batch of charcloth I wrap one small square of cloth in tin foil and heat over the gas stove with tongs and the extractor fan on.