Making Charcloth

E

Echo4v

Joined
Dec 10, 2008
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I know char cloth is made from cotton cloth and I have a garbage bag full of cotton shirts that I use for rags ( and some old blue jeans). So now how do I char the cloth without burning it?

I saw Les Stroud make some on his show one time but he folded it up in some metal from an airplane and threw it on the fire. Since I don't have a plane to salvage metal from I figured I'd ask you guys how you make yours?

Photos would be great...maybe someone could even do a youtube huh riley?
 
There are many ways to make char cloth, heres one of my favorites due to ease of clean up
supply list- cotton, something hot(small fire or sterno), aluminum foil, and a rack or grate to set it on
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Step-1 get some cotton roll it up 3x40in in two layers of heavy duty aluminum foil
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Step-2 poke a hole in the foil with a needle and place over heat source, in this case I used a sterno can
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Step-3 leave it on the heat until smoke stops coming out of the hole then plug the hole with a toothpick or pin to prevent oxygen from getting in the foil and combusting your charcloth. When its cool to the touch, unwrap it.
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This will give you about 36in of charcloth, like this.
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I used to make little 4x4in strips but I use it so much this way is more time effective for me. Then, take a carbon steel knife or your favorite striker.
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Set the charcloth on a piece of flint/chert and strike it with the striker/knife. If you did it right, you'll catch a spark and ignite the charcloth.
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My post from another thread on the subject:

I make my char cloth in a altoids or similar tin. Poke a small hole in the top of the tin to vent the gasses. Place the tin on some coals or a small fire so you are able to watch the smoke coming out of the hole you made. When the the tin stops smoking the char cloth is (usually) done. Only takes a few minutes. Pull it off the fire, let it cool for a bit (doesn't take long) and open up. All of the cloth should now be black like charcoal, if there is any brown on the cloth throw it back on the fire and do it again, will take even less time for the smoke to stop. 100% cotton works best, I use old t-shirts. Cut them into 2"x2.5" rectangles (depends on the size of the tin). Only put a few in a tin at at time, the will char better and faster. I usually won't do more than 5 or 6 pieces of cloth in a tin. I also have about 4 tins I use all at once to make up big batchs. I like to keep a bag of already cut up t-shirt rectangles on hand so I just have to put some in a tin and fire them up. I have a tin in my fire kit that holds my striker, a piece of flint ,and a thick stack of char cloth (just be careful it tears easily). The cotton pieces will shrink a bit when they char. I can usually get away with using half of one of the pieces to start a fire, but it is much easier with a whole one.

This is not the tin I use to make it in, or t would have a great patina on it. The pics will give you an idea of the size I like to use.
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Altoids tin or other mint tin will work fine. You can poke a hole in the lid or not as it will vent out fine from the hinges.

Cut up small swatches, but not too small as they will shrink, and stack them in the tin. Put the tin on some coals. Leave it on for several minutes. It will smoke and may even flame. I usually flip it over if it starts to flame. If all the swatches aren't black, throw it back in until they are.
 
With an Altoids tin, you really do not need to poke a hole in the tin - the two halves fit loosely enough to make great char cloth as is.

Put the cotton cloth inside, throw it on the fire; when the smoke stops coming out, pull the tin off the fire. When it's cool, open to view your char cloth. Nothing easier!
 
Grampa said:
With an Altoids tin, you really do not need to poke a hole in the tin - the two halves fit loosely enough to make great char cloth as is.

Put the cotton cloth inside, throw it on the fire; when the smoke stops coming out, pull the tin off the fire. When it's cool, open to view your char cloth. Nothing easier!
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Very true...but it looks so cool when the gasses catch fire out of the hole! :D
 
I carry a small metal can in my kit with a small pin-hole int eh lid. I just cut rounds of cloth, denim works great and fill the can. I place a wad of paper towels under the grill and soak it with charcoal lighter fluid. I then place the little can over the towels and light it up. The little hole jets smoke for a while and then stops. I usually just let it burn out on its own and cool off. I then wipe the soot off the can with a dry paper towel and out it in my possibles bag. I store it in the can I make it in and maker more as I use it up.

If you don't have an old pair of jeans Goodwill sells them for $4 and you'll have a lifetime supply of char cloth.

Mac
 
I use an old paint can that has been very well cleaned, poke a hole in the lid, put in the cotton cloth, seal it, put it on the charcoal...follow the directions everybody else has said. It is very easy. If you mess it up, just try it again :D
 
I must admit that I'm not too familiar with charcloth. What is the advantage and proper usage of it?
 
Woodsmonkey.com has a tutorial written by some guy who posts here sometimes.
 
What a nice snake striker. I usually make extr char cloth after the BBQ grill is done. Place a small tin with a friction lid, putty can, make sure it has a hole punched in it for the gases to escape. I have tried cotton tee shirts and jeans, but I have found that the woven cotton wicks for kerosene lamps work the best for me. I just throw them into the can and lay it directly on the coals. The can will begin to smoke, sometimes the gases will light on fire. I take a stick and roll the can in the coals a few times. Pull the can and let cool. If the cloth is not black, and looks tanish, it's back into the coals. I find that the woven cotton holds together well and gives me a better coal to place into the tinder. It holds well when placed next to the flint. It does not turn to dust or fall apart as easily.
 
The BIG advantage of char cloth is that it both catches and holds a spark.

That makes a huge difference if you're working with less than perfect tinder, etc.

I really do think it's easier to start a fire with flint, steel, charcloth and tinder, than with firesteel and tinder, just for the catching and holding aspect of the charcloth.

Of course, there's no law prohibiting you from using a firesteel and charcloth either! :D
 
instead of t-shirts or jeans, i read somewhere that cheesecloth will do too, but i can't find the source anymore.

does anyone know if that's true?
 
flybri said:
instead of t-shirts or jeans, i read somewhere that cheesecloth will do too, but i can't find the source anymore.

does anyone know if that's true?
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Just out of curiosity, do you have a lot more cheesecloth around than old t-shirts?
 
I've made it out of gauze, old cotton sack, T-shirt, old socks, etc. Just my opinion, no hard facts here but it seems to me that a dense/tight weave packs more cotton into a smaller space so I prefer heavy denim over the lighter/looser weaves of cloth. It all takes a spark equally well but I think denser cotton equals more fuel, longer burn time, and more heat. I haven't done any testing but this seems logical to me. Mac
 
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