how to make charcloth?

langston302

langston302

Joined
Apr 25, 2007
Messages
990
how do you make it? i have never used it and i would like to make it and try it out. i hear it works well...really want to try it;)
 
Cut the cloth into squares. Put the squares into a tin with a nailhole in the lid. Throw the tin on the grill, or into a fire until smoke stops coming out of the hole.

ALLOW TIN TO COOL BEFORE HANDLING.
 
Chose your cloth carfully. I have tried Jeans, tshirt, cotton pads (those round things I stole from the wife) and thick bandana material and NEVER was able to make charcloth that would light from flint and steel (fire steel yes, but not flint and steel).

I then tried muslin and have and consistenly good results.

I know Dude over on hoodswoods uses cattail fluff. Might want to give that a try.

Mike
 
The last batch of charcloth I made, was made out of a washcloth(100% cotton of course) and it works great....Don't tell the fiance though!
 
Don't forget to test the batch you just made before packing it away in your kit.
 
My best charcloth is made from pillow ticking. 100% cotton (blue striped muslin) that is also used as muzzleloading patches. It is dirt cheap by the yard at material stores though. When you take the tin off the fire (after the gasses have quit coming out the tiny hole) set a rock or penny over the hole. The finished charcloth can ignite if it gets oxygen while still hot. You will see this if you open the lid too soon. The ticking comes in different thicknesses. Too thick (like jeans) and it doesn't char real well. Too thin (like tee shirts) and it is too fragile. Both will work though.

Codger
 
I usually use large rifle patches. I got a whole bunch of nice muslin ones some years back. This last weekend my boys and I were out and I tried using some cotton blend. I was very surprised that I was able to spark them off right away. They did stink like synthetics while they were charring off. I save all of the cotton from vitamin bottles and any cotton balls for that matter and they work great too.
 
Haven't tried the cleaning patches (yet !) but my favorite so far is untreated canvas dropcloth and an Altoids tin. I use a lot of it to make my own gear, so I always have scraps to 'burn'. They always light on the first try (impressed the h3ll out of my fishing buddies!).
 
I've had good results doing it with t-shirt material, it's just really fragile. I found altoid cans work pretty well--I did it once with a small stain can, turns out it's nearly impossible to get all the old stain out. It didn't stop smoking for a long time, and when it was done there was some odd charcloth.
 
You don't need a tin can, you can just wrap it up in tin foil, put a small hole or two on top and toss it on the grill till the smoke clears. Works like a charm:thumbup:
 
Old blue jean material (100% cotton) in an Altoids or similar tin, no poked hole. There's plenty of air leakage already all around the edges!

Cotton cloth can be cut in squares, rolled in a long strip, or in bit's and piece left over from gramma's sewing - it doesn't matter.

The jean material is 100% effective for catching sparks from a flint and steel. Just grab a piece, and rain some sparks on it.

Been doing it the same way for over 30 years.

It ain't complicated!
 
ok so lets review...

100% cotton....jeans t shirt whatever.
or muslin
tin foil or a altios tin or can..holes in foil none in altoids hole in can

cook on fire UNTIL no smoke from the can?

then its good to go?
 
Yes, but let it cool down.

I have always used a few layers of foil in a square, the cloth laid flat and the edges rolled down tight and crimped down. I just poke a toothpick hole in it and let it sit on the coals of the grill until it stops smoking out the hole. It isn't rocket science, just heat it up without letting air get in. Mac
 
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