Flint & Steel, Charcloth for Survival - WHY?

Pritch

Pritch

Joined
May 3, 2006
Messages
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Okay, maybe I shoudn't be posting this because it is bound to offend, but that is not my intent. If I start to veer toward dellirium, just attribute it to this raging flu I've got, give me a quick whack, and I should be okay.

Here is my question:

First, how many of you rely on Flint (NOT a Firesteel) and charcloth for your survival means of firestarting?

I mean, I understand how it might be interesting to learn slightly more primitive skills, but would you really stake your life and the lives of your loved ones on such a delicate, fussy method?

I also think there is value in being able to identify natural flint and suitable natural tinders in the field, but that is different than CARRYING a piece of natural flint and PREPARING charcloth ahead of time.

Okay, hopefully the post is sufficiently stirred! :D

-- FLINT

(Oops!)

-- FLIX
 
I know a few men that carry flint & steel w/charcloth and they are almost as fast with it, as many are with a good firesteel and modern type tinder. I asked one of them why he bothered with the old F&S, instead of using more modern gear and his reply was that he can pick up a piece of flint in the field and make fire with it and bet me that I couldn't pick up a new firesteel in the field and make fire with it. I couldn't argue the point with him.

Knowing how to use the different primitive means of firestarting can only enhance your ability to stay alive, which is why I keep working on my skills, but man, I sure do like my modern tools.
 
All good points for carrying flint & steel with you in addition to other firemaking implements. I like to practice survival techniques when I'm camping, but if the chips were down, I would have modern means of getting a fire going quickly.

That leaves charcloth. This is a prepared tinder that you have to bring with you. (Or I guess, if you already have fire, making it in the field.) Other for practice and fun, do any of you pack this as your survival tinder? WHY?

-- FLIX
 
Flint, steel, charcloth and a wad of tow were the first things I learned on for starting a fire, other than a match and Bic. I won't say they're the best, but easy to learn and fast. I carry the kit in a little flat tin. Of course, if the charcloth gets wet, I'm all done with that technique, and would have to look for natural dry tinder to catch a flint/steel spark.

Edit: It's a fun, fast and easy method to learn, and very traditional, but for survival I would count on firesteel and PJ cotton balls...and a few Bics :)
 
We talk a lot about survival and preparedness on the forum, but the full name is Wilderness and Survival Skills, and a lot of us just like to go out in the wilderness and try different styles/types of gear and techniques, high tech and low tech for camping and hiking. Fire straws and petroleum jelly cotton balls and similar stuff seem to be the items of choice for most PSKs. The traditional flint and steel and char cloth (to me) are just a way to have fun and if it happens to end up being useful someday in a tough situation, then so much the better.
 
Many people might ask us, "why do you guys go tramping off into the woods and sleep on the ground. If I want some nature I will go play a round of golf, it's so much easier."

Some of us just go the extra mile to connect with nature, I'm all for it. The first fire I made from a ferrocium rod felt just that much cozier, and the tea tasted that much better.
 
FLIX said:
I like to practice survival techniques when I'm camping, but if the chips were down, I would have modern means of getting a fire going quickly.

-- FLIX
Click to expand...

I agree. I used to smoke, but now that I don't I still ALWAYS carry a Bic lighter. Sometimes I carry a ferro rod, or flint, or try fire by friction, but I always have the bic just in case. I think its more "romantic" to start fires my non modern means, but if it were an emergency and I want a fire quick, all i have to do is "Flick the Bic" :D
 
Dumb question... what is a 'charcloth' - and how do you make and use one? Thanks!

Stainz
 
Charcloth - basically it's cotton cloth that has been blackened, it's great for catching a spark and coaxing into a flame. I make it by taking scraps of 100 percent cotton cloth...put that into a clean metal can with a lid...poke a small hole in the lid...and put that into a wood fire. As it heats up, you'll see smoke coming out of the hole. Take the can out of the fire, open it up, and the cloth should be black. Some people use folded aluminum foil instead of a can. The charcloth is a little fragile. Supposedly, this is what the pioneers used before cotton balls and petroleum jelly were invented :)
 
Stainz said:
Dumb question... what is a 'charcloth' - and how do you make and use one? Thanks!

Stainz
Click to expand...

Not a stupid question I had to ask it once. :thumbup:

Charcloth is chared cloth.

Get an altiods tin or something similar and punch a small hole in the top (to allow smoke to escape). Cut cloth into 2 inch squares, I use old cotton t-shirts, I have heard of people using old bluejeans, t-shirts work for methough. Fill the tin with the squares of cloth clothes the lid, put in fire. Watch the hole for smoke, when the smoke stops remove from fire but do not open, the residual heat will cause the cloth to ignite when the lid is opened. Let the tin cool, open and you should have little black pieces of cloth. Use a spark based fire starter or it and it will produce a glowing coal, it will not burst into flames. Put iot in your tinder bundle and blow into flames.

Thats Charcloth in a nutshell.

Guys if I missed anything or have it wrong please correct me.

Thanks
goat
 
Flix- Charred cloth is not the only thing a true piece of flint and a steel will light. Try the placenta out of milkweed pods or thin slices of burdock pith. They do not have to be charred. Innonotus obliquous is a fungus the works fantastic, and only needs to be dry. It is a skill to explore!
 
I love using flint and steel, but the charcloth and jute are the issue for long term. the thing about flint and steel is that if you have the know how and are say "stranded with only a carbon blade", you can in most areas find a rock to get spark and that just leaves you with finding tinder. I'm pretty sure that tinder fungus will take a spark from flint and steel as well as charred wood (I will try these next time i'm out).

My F&S kit contains my homemade striker, a piece of jasper (harder than flint) that I found locally, 8" piece of jute rope (5 or so birds nests), small burts bees tin with several pieces of charcloth and some tin foil.

I also usually carry a ferro rod and a lighter just in case, but the mountain man flint and steel is very fun and easy to do.
 
I know its overkill, but I carry this stuff for firemaking:

Tinder-

charcloth
milkweed ovum
Jute twine
steel wool
Drier Lint
cotton balls (dry)
cotton balls (with vasoline)


fire starting materials/tools-

Aluminum fire piston
blastmatch w/ wetfire tabs
LMF firesteel
small tin with flint and steel
small "metal match" lighter
Doan magnesium bar
Quick fire box
Zippo
3 disposable lighters

Now.......I carry all of that because I like to have a choice of how I want to start my fire, but I do not rely on just one item...In an emergency situation I woudl not try to get a fire going by bow drill 1st, lol, or even with flint and steel...I would use one of the lighters to get quick results...But I know with all that stuff I won't ever have to worry about fire, lol...thats the least of my worries when I go out inot the woods, what I think about is water...Now, I keep this stuff in my camelbak hawg (my hiking/camping bag) I do not carry all of that everyday with me wherever I go...but I do carry a seperate tin with flint, steel striker, charcloth, jute twine, a disposable lighter, and my zippo...but I live in a semi-urban enviroment so I dont have to worry about fire everyday...

For me, using primitive techniques is about having fun! Its good to know I can do it if need be...thats all...
 
IH8U said:
a piece of jasper (harder than flint)
Click to expand...

Do you find it produces just as many or even more sparks than flint? I was thinkign about trying different types of flint and never even thoguht about jasper...I know quartz will produce a spark too, but I head its a bit crumbly, same for churt...:confused:
 
As everyone else here, I carry multiple ways to start fire. One of them is carrying char cloth BECAUSE I carry a high carbon steel knife and a sharp rock is easy to find. In my larger kit, I carry it in a small mint tin so I can make more.

I also carry a four strips wrapped in plastic (waterproof) under duct tape I have wrapped around my waterbottle as I will walk away from camp or my truck with just the water bottle and knife frequently. It makes it an easy way to carry an additional method. Not MY first choice for fire; but it there if I need it.
 
Horse said:
Flix- Charred cloth is not the only thing a true piece of flint and a steel will light. Try the placenta out of milkweed pods or thin slices of burdock pith. They do not have to be charred. Innonotus obliquous is a fungus the works fantastic, and only needs to be dry. It is a skill to explore!
Click to expand...

Oops, I missed your post, you are absolutley right! I use milkweed ovum (what your talkign about, it holds the seeds inside the pods) if used like charcloth it can take a spark and be used in the same matter, this is a helpfull bit of information if your lost in the woods with just a carbon knife (you cna maybe find a good rock to use with it...you can make charcloth in the woods unless you already have a fire, so to know this is helpfull...also thgins like mullein is great to read up on as its easy to spot amongst other plants...the "bark" on the stalk when dried is good for a fire piston! and the inside is great tinder, not to mention the leaves when the plant is green is natures toilet paper!!!! a VERY good fact to know out and about in the woods, lol...
 
cutlerylover said:
Do you find it produces just as many or even more sparks than flint? I was thinkign about trying different types of flint and never even thoguht about jasper...I know quartz will produce a spark too, but I head its a bit crumbly, same for churt...:confused:
Click to expand...

the Jasper produces just as many spark as the english flint I have, but my striker was chipping the flint up pretty good. I found the jasper and it does not chip at all while using my striker. I have a old striker that a blacksmith made and it doesn't chip the english flint at all. I would carry that one, but I like the fact that I made my striker and found my rock, it a bit more gratifying.

you are right about the quartz, it crumbles away pretty easy, but it is easy to find and will work.

I like to carry around my striker while hiking and try different rocks to see if they work. Its fun and gives me something to do other than checking out the surroundings.
 
I tried dipping Q-tip cottons in my wife's Wally World 'house branded' (Equate) Chest Rub - a spark easily ignites those into little fireballs. I guess the 'charcloth' makes sense - thanks!

Stainz
 
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