Char Cloth

by BrianS 12/11/2021, 3:25 pm

Howdy! Good to be back on the old forum sites again. Getting tired of the censorship on fb. I hope I'm putting this in the right place. If not let me know. Anyway I made some char cloth the other day. Not a big deal but hey it was my first time doing this. I'm really liking this hobby

by BrianS 12/11/2021, 3:31 pm

Bare with me. I'm having to figure out how to post pictures. Remember I grew up in the old Atari days and those were challenging to me haha

Charcloth in a round tin container. It's a good idea to use rounded corners on your containers,
save having tears and holes punched in your bags.

Here you go, now a picture appears. Buck

Very Happy

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by Guest 14/11/2021, 6:43 pm

BrianS wrote:Bare with me. I'm having to figure out how to post pictures.

Yeah, this site isn’t too intuitive for posting pics, you’ll get there.

by **FrontierGander** 14/11/2021, 6:55 pm

Posting pics is very easy using the forums pic uploader.

I too enjoy making char cloth! When it starts smoking thick white fumes, I light it and as the flame gets lower and lower, its usually ready by the time the flame is only 3/32" tall.

by Guest 15/11/2021, 7:26 am

I taught my ex-wife’s nephew how to make charcloth from a tee shirt. He complained to me that it didn’t work, the charcloth was crispy.

He used a polyester tee shirt Rolling Eyes

by Guest 15/11/2021, 7:47 am

Admin wrote:Posting pics is very easy using the forums pic uploader.

I think it would be helpful to add text under the graphic.

Two examples:

A tutorial on how to use the uploader would be extremely helpful too. I can make one if you like.

by Tenasaw 18/12/2021, 3:37 pm

just to note, if you need to make char/tinder cloth in a hurry, you don't need a can, just hold the linen or cotton cloth over flames till it all starts burning, drop it on the ground and step on. No No, not barefooted! It works, just try it before you tell me it won't, been doing it some that way since 75 or so. Yeh, you will get a spot or two that will look brown and not catch a spark but most will. If I need a lot, I use the can. My way, your milage may vary.....

by Hawken.54 5/12/2022, 2:58 pm

I once read that old blue-jeans make good char cloth. I cut up a leg from a pair into 2" squares and put a handful in an old coffee can. Folded a sheet of aluminum foil into 4 layers and press formed it over the mouth of the can. No hole, since the "top" was not tightly fastened. I laid the can on its side on my gas grill and cranked her up on full blast with the cover down. 15 or 20 minutes later, the smoke had dissipated and I shut her down. Once the can was cool to touch. I took it out and had a can of nice soft black char cloth.

If you ever want to try a burning glass on char cloth, be ready for a fire as the char will ignite ino an ember as soon as the sun hits it. Burned a blister on my finger learning that lesson.

by Mustang65 6/12/2022, 7:29 am

Guest wrote:
Admin wrote:Posting pics is very easy using the forums pic uploader.

I think it would be helpful to add text under the graphic.

Two examples:

A tutorial on how to use the uploader would be extremely helpful too. I can make one if you like.

Hawken.54 If you go to "FORUM SUPPORT CENTER" you will see a thread "HOW TO ADD IMAGES.
The instructions make it very easy to add pics/images. After a few times it get's even easier. I promise. I'm 74 and grew up with Atari also...lol.

by Mustang65 6/12/2022, 7:38 am

BrianS wrote:Howdy! Good to be back on the old forum sites again. Getting tired of the censorship on fb. I hope I'm putting this in the right place. If not let me know. Anyway I made some char cloth the other day. Not a big deal but hey it was my first time doing this. I'm really liking this hobby

You sure are correct about FB. I use it basically for our business. The first time I saw how well charcloth ignited and how esay it was made, totally floored me.

by Buck Conner 6/12/2022, 9:30 am

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These steps have been around since the first primitive men carried a fire kit, look at Ötzi's kit.

Step 1: The Char Tin

You need a tin of some sort it just hast to be a closeable tin that is kind is airtight like a tin of breath mints or any can. When you get your tin you need to punch a small hole in the top with a small nail of 4-5 cm, no larger than 1cm. this must be done or you risk the chance that the gases pressurize the tin and it will explode. After that you are ready to char some cloth.

Step 2: Place Cloth in the Can

Now you must gently put the cloth in the can after you cut the cloth into squares. Don’t pack them to tight or throwing them in, you should place them in gently like shown in the picture. Then put the lid on (use 100% cotton for the cloth an old tee shirt works fine, (must be 100% cotton!)

Step 3: Place on the Fire

Start a fire (a calm fire - you will use the embers (lots of embers, this usually works much better) set it somewhere in the fire where it will not fall over and watch until you see smoke billowing out or it might start on fire, (it burns itself out and when there is no more smoke coming out take it out. Whatever you do DONT! take the lid off right away just wait a little while, (one - it’s hot and two if you open it before it cools, the oxygen will rush in and might start the whole thing on fire. You run the risk of getting burnt then you will have to start over because the cloth burnt away.

Step 4: Remove the Lid

Remove the lid if your cloth looks like the picture where it is brown, don’t worry just cover the tin back up and put in the fire. If it is very starchy or crumbles when you touch (it’s over cooked it - you have to start over. But if it’s kind soft (completely black) and not very fragile then it is perfect. Take it out of the can and separate each piece gently like shown.

Step 5: Now Your Ready

Now all you have to do is let a spark fall on the cloth, it will glow red with a hot ember (no flame). Good for your primitive camps.

My personal Char Container.

Published.......
Backwoods Magazine
March 1981

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by Mustang65 6/12/2022, 3:06 pm

Nobody knows Bucks secret, but he actually knew "Otzi".

by Buck Conner 6/12/2022, 3:48 pm

Mustang65 wrote:Nobody knows Bucks secret, but he actually knew "Otzi".

So what's wrong with being old Stan, you're getting there too ...

by Mustang65 6/12/2022, 4:23 pm

Buck Conner wrote:
Mustang65 wrote:Nobody knows Bucks secret, but he actually knew "Otzi".

So what's wrong with being old Stan, you're getting there too ...

Buck my friend, I got there a long time ago, just not like dirt yet.....lol cheers

by Buck Conner 6/12/2022, 5:00 pm

Mustang65 wrote:
Buck Conner wrote:
Mustang65 wrote:Nobody knows Bucks secret, but he actually knew "Otzi".

So what's wrong with being old Stan, you're getting there too ...
Buck my friend, I got there a long time ago, just not like dirt yet.....lol

I have trouble sleeping anymore, get up feeling like dirt.

Char Cloth 1f615

by Mustang65 7/12/2022, 8:15 am

Buck Conner wrote:
Mustang65 wrote:
Buck Conner wrote:
Mustang65 wrote:Nobody knows Bucks secret, but he actually knew "Otzi".

So what's wrong with being old Stan, you're getting there too ...
Buck my friend, I got there a long time ago, just not like dirt yet.....lol

I have trouble sleeping anymore, get up feeling like dirt.

Unfortunately, I know that feeling. I fall asleep real good for a couple of hours, then I toss & turn all night.
When I wake, don't feel too bad though.

by Buck Conner 7/12/2022, 10:24 am

.

Stan, I always figured I wouldn't go past 50 or 60 years of age with my lifestyle. * Fast race cars, trying to duplicate our forefather's experiences and young woman ... Then here comes my current wife, she has changed my style of living. Now an old fart that can only dream ... between knees that are worn out to a bad back (bone on bone), that really pisses me off folks.

.

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