Char Cloth

Coldwood

Coldwood

Joined
Jun 5, 2006
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I don't recall seeing this mentioned, but has anybody ever experimented with using char cloth to start a fire?
I belong to an historical re-enactors groups and occasionally we demonstrate to the public how to start a fire with traditional flint and steel. I use a large musket flint and a striker forged from file steel.
We make the char cloth from 100 % cotton scraps, cut into about 3 inch squares. Put a bunch of the cotton into a clean paint can with metal lid, punch a hole with nail or icepick into the lid. Then put the can onto a bed of coals. Soon there will be a stream of smoke coming out of the hole. The trick is to char the cloth black without actually igniting it.
Later, when I want to make a fire, I make a small nest of tow (flax fiber) in the palm of my hand with a piece of char cloth on top of it. I hold the flint right above it between thumb and forefinger and strike it with a flint to get a spark. The char cloth is an excellent spark catcher, and it will start to spread.
At this point I take the whole nest between my fingers and blow on it, or wave it in the air, or let the wind catch it. It will burst into flame, kind of spectacular, a real show stopper ;) Dry tow ignites real fast.
Obviously, I want to be quick about getting this ball of flame into my pile of kindling. The process sounds complicated, but it takes less time to do it than to tell it. I carry the whole kit in a small flat metal can that I can carry in my pocket.
Anybody else ever tried this? Any thoughts?
 
My Father-in-law showed me this one time. I was very impressed how quick he could get it going with just one or two strikes.

Bruceter
 
I haven’t got one but i have tried it and found it surprisingly easy. I keep meaning to get a striker of my own but haven’t got round to it.
 
Yep...I've tried it. With good charcloth it is surprisingly easy to catch a spark. I do have some flint, but often I use quartz instead... it is easier to find.

The big challenge... as with any fire-lighting method .... is to convert that glowing cloth into a flame. You need nice dry, flammable tinder and a good technique.

I have made charcloth in an ordinary steel can ('tin')... one that fruit or baked beans came in. I use small bits of pure cotton cloth as mentioned, and I only fill the can maybe quarter full. I squash the top of the can together and fold over the top half inch or so with a pair of pliers. I heat the can in a fire until smoke stops coming out of the crimped closure at the top of the can. (This smoke often ignites and burns with a flame). When the smoke has stopped, I pull the can out of the fire and set it aside to cool down before I open it. If you open it while it is still hot you might find that the charcloth ignites and burns away.

I have read that you can make charcloth by burning cotton rag and dousing it with sand before it is completely burned away. I have never tried this...and I imagine that the quality would be inconsistent compared to heating it in a closed container. But if you didn't have a can it would be worth a try.

Firelighting with a natural stone and a striking steel is a great method to make fire if you haven't got a more modern method. There have been claims made that some natural tinders will catch the relatively short-lived spark from a natural flint and steel, but I have never had any success with anything but charcloth.

An old engineer's file makes an ideal striking steel. You can break up a file with a hammer to get bits of a more convenient size, but you have to be careful of the sharp bits of steel that are created and which may fly up into your face during the breaking process. I like to grind the teeth off the edges of the file steel where I will be striking the flint... and I remove sharp corners and edges to avoid damage to myself and my pockets.
 
Here is a simple way I make char cloth. Cut cotton patches to whatever size you wish. Stack them and then wrap tightly with foil paper. I toss them on the grill, high temp and cook till it stops smoking, around 10 minutes or less.
 
Sure, I use char cloth. I use an altoids can to make it. I use the rest of the old batch to make a new one. Throw the can into the flames after puncuturing a hole in it. Works like a charm and I keep it in my backpack for trips into the backcountry.
 
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