7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 1/10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Char-Cloth/ 

Home Sign Up! Browse Community Submit

All Art Craft Food Games Green Home Kids Life Music Offbeat Outdoors Pets Photo Ride Science Tech

Make Char Clothby Graywolf on October 16, 2006

Table of Contents

Make Char Cloth ..............................................................................................................

Intro: Make Char Cloth ......................................................................................................

Step 1: Make the char tin .....................................................................................................

Step 2: Put the cloth in the can ................................................................................................

Step 3: Put it on the fire ......................................................................................................

Step 4: Remove the lid ......................................................................................................

Step 5: Light it up ..........................................................................................................

Related Instructables ........................................................................................................

Comments ................................................................................................................

7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 2/10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Char-Cloth/ 

Intro: Make Char ClothIn this entry I will show you how to make char cloth which will aid you in fire starting the primitive way.

Image Notes1. this is the char cloth it is already chared

Image Notes1. Here is the hole I poked it the tin it is a small hole and it put here to release thgases. It needs to have a hole in it or you risk it blowing up

Image Notes1. Heat from the fire2. smoke is let off out of the hole

7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 3/10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Char-Cloth/ 

Image Notes1. if it starts on fire dont worry it is fine and you'll know when its done, whenthere is no smoke bellowing out

Image Notes1. here is the char cloth after being chared

Image Notes1. seprating the char cloth

Image Notes1. the char cloth burning

2. here is the ember it is very hot although it looks pathetic

Image Notes1. this is a piece of char cloth not fully chared all you would have to do is coverthe tin back up and cook it longer

Image Notes1. After this is a perfect piece of char cloth2. Before

Step 1:Make the char tinYou need a tin of some sort it just hast to be a closeable tin that is kinda air tight like a tin of mints or maby a altoid can. When you get your tin you need to punch a smhole in the top with a small nail or 4-5 cm, but dont make it to big no bigger that 1cm . this must be done or you risk the chance that the gases presurize the tin and it wexplode.

after that you are ready to char some cloth.

7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 4/10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Char-Cloth/ 

Image Notes1. Here is the hole I poked it the tin it is a small hole and it put here to release the gases. It needs to have a hole in i t or you risk it blowing up

Step 2:Put the cloth in the canNow you must gently put the cloth in the can after you cut the cloth in squares. you must not pack them in tight or by just throwing them in you should place them in gelike I did in the picture. Then put the cap on. also you must use 100% cotton for the cloth this is readlly avaliable by using a old tee shirt which I use and it works fine, bremember 100% cotton!

Image Notes1. here is the char cloth after being chared

Step 3:Put it on the firenow just start a fire not a blazing inferno just a calm fire or you can use the embers (lots of embers, this usaly works much better) set it some where in the fire where itnot fall over and watch it you will eventualy see smoke billowing out or it might start on fire. dont freak out just let it burn itself out and when there is no more smokecoming out take it out. what ever you do DONT! take the lid off right away just wait a little while for two reasons. one it is probaly really hot! and two if you open it beforcools, the oxygen will rush in and might start the whole thing on fire. then you run the risk of getting burnt and you will have to start over because the cloth is all burntaway.

7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 5/10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Char-Cloth/ 

Image Notes1. if it starts on fire dont worry it is fine and you'll know when its done, when thereis no smoke bellowing out

Image Notes1. Heat from the fire2. smoke is let off out of the hole

Step 4:Remove the lidRemove the lid :] if your cloth looks like the picture where it is brown then dont worry just cover the tin back up and put it back on. if it is very starchy or crumbles whenyou tuch it you over cooked it and will have to start over. but if is knida soft completly black and is not very fragile then it is perfect. then you should take it out of the ca

and seprate each piece gently like I have done

Image Notes1. this is the char cloth it is already chared

Image Notes1. this is a piece of char cloth not fully chared all you would have to do is cover thtin back up and cook it longer

7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 6/10

7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 7/10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Char-Cloth/ 

Comments

50 comments Add Comment view all 58 commen

Eleniel says: Jan 16, 2011. 11:59 AM REP

umm.. is the can just in/on the fire. or is the fire IN the can ?

nutsandbolts_64 says: Jul 16, 2010. 6:16 AM REP

weird question: could you use cotton balls?

beehard44 says: Nov 10, 2010. 7:27 AM REP

charred balls? sounds awfully wrong

Eleniel says: Jan 16, 2011. 11:15 AM REP

ROFL!

nutsandbolts_64 says: Nov 11, 2010. 1:43 AM REP

lol. To other iblers out there: DO NOT use newspapers. I repeat, DO NOT use newspapers. If you attempt to turn it into charcoal, the end result issome pretty flammable paper, but it would be extremely smelly (I mean potent to the point of irritating and causing a sort-of burning sensation to yonose).

DieCastoms says: Jul 2, 2008. 7:15 PM REPThis comment is a little long, I apologize. Hopefully some will find it useful. I was a member of the Wachussett Mountain Men, the Leominster Sportsmans'Association, the N.M.L.R.A. and am a continuing reenactor and supporter of Living History. My Mountain Man name is Little Coon because as a child I was"always chattering and always getting into things". My father is a Rev.War period correct blacksmith and has made many fire starter kits. if you are interestin a kit, feel free to contact me. When making your charcloth, again, I must stress, ONLY 100% cotton will work. Anything synthetic will MELT instead! If yoplay with the size of the hole in the top of the tin, and get it small enough that you have a good steady flow of smoke, you can actually light the smoke itselThe can will not explode, because there is no oxygen in it, that's the whole point of doing it in a tin can. If you light the smoke you will get basically a candleflame. 9 out of 10 times, when the smoke finally burns out and will not re-light, the cloth is done. If you keep your char cloth, flint and striker and some ropefibers or DRY grass and a thin piece of leather in a TIGHTLY SEALING tin, you will always have what you need. Half bury a piece of charcloth in a 'bird'snest' of the grass or fibers and lay that on the piece of leather. Either hold the striker in one hand and hit with a GLANCING BLOW of a sharp edge of theflint, or hold the flint and swing the striker. One way will most likely work better then the other for you. Try to get AS MANY of the sparks to land on thecharcloth as possible. Once you have embers burning in the cloth, pick the entire pile up using the leather like a pot holder and blow through the fibers genlike if you were cooling off a spoonful of soup. Once the fibers catch flame, place them into your kindling to get it lit, and retrieve your leather. Once your firis going good, why not replenish your charcloth? Remember 100% cotton will dry if it gets wet, but charcloth will DISSOLVE if it gets wet. Carry cotton andmake charcloth as you need it! As a random extra story: A demonstrator came to my school when I was in 2nd grade to show us about "Primitive living".While there, he showed how to start a flint and steel fire and although I do not remember what he did wrong, many people remember what happened. Icorrected him, and of course since he was the teacher and I was the student, he was infallible and I was certainly wrong. When he made the comment "If

you're so smart, come up and show us how it's done." I set the teachers desk on fire. Had he ASKED me, I at the time held my group's record for flint andsteel fire in under 7 seconds! Remember, I was 7 years old! My parents were called and when told exactly what happened, dad told the PRINCIPLE tobugger off because of the demonstrator's attitude to me. In the following years, DAD was the demonstrator!!!! I hope my post is helpful and has not steppedon any toes. DC

peapeam says: Sep 15, 2010. 6:18 PM REP

As I've understood it, this is not correct (check Wikipedia article). The point is that it has to be a vegetable fiber. So not only 100% cotton will work, e.g.linen will also work or e.g. a mix of linen and cotton. Synthetics are of course excluded.

DieCastoms says: Sep 15, 2010. 7:11 PM REP

You are correct, thank you for pointing that out. Any 100% natural cloth will work. Anything synthetic will melt and smoke and not ignite. I have nevetried to use anything other than 100% cotton, mostly from old t-shirts.

Sir Crapton says: May 4, 2010. 9:42 AM REP

Ihad a medieval-era style blacksmith teach me how to start fires and make char cloth last time I was at a Renaissance Faire. Its a lot of fun.

Aklash, The hunchback says: Feb 25, 2010. 1:08 PM REP

One can use linen as a substitute for cotton (why one would have linen but not cotton I don't know) but both wil work fine.

Lithium Rain says: Jan 29, 2010. 3:14 PM REP

Holy massive paragraph Batman.

7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 8/10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Char-Cloth/ 

franklinonline says: Oct 25, 2009. 7:43 PM REP

wow the instructor. He could always try yours, see it works, then aplogise and say hes human and wrong sometimes. But he bes a looser and stuff.

LOOPDOP says: Jul 19, 2010. 12:46 AM REP

I think you mean 4 to 5 mm (millimetre). Am i correct?

peapeam says: Sep 15, 2010. 6:16 PM REP

Yes, looks like a typo. It must be 4-5mm, since it is to be no bigger than 1cm. A 4-5cm (appr. 2") hole of course would be way too big.

minime12358 says: Aug 2, 2010. 4:56 PM REP

Fun and useful thing to do- light the smoke on fire. it will stop burning once it is done. the smoke is flammable.

GroovyPoet says: Jun 7, 2010. 11:52 PM REP

Char cloth, excellent... do know what works nearly as well? Raman Noodles.

technodude92 says: Jan 30, 2008. 4:01 PM REP

do you need to use a fire? can you char cloth on a hotplate/gas stove? and aprox. how long does it take to char cloth?

Aklash, The hunchback says: Feb 25, 2010. 1:09 PM REPa grill will work great

sharlston says: Jun 13, 2009. 10:39 AM REP

no it wont get hot enough

dscroll says: Mar 15, 2008. 9:31 PM REP

yes you can use any heat source(not sure about hot plate) but do it out side.

technodude92 says: Mar 16, 2008. 11:33 AM REP

thanks i just might do this

pyro13 says: Jul 8, 2008. 11:03 AM REP

hot plate will most likely work, just turn it up on high

Evilrick says: Jan 15, 2010. 10:14 AM REP

Just some added information, you can use any type of tin, including a soup, bean, tuna, or any other can. Use heavy duty aluminum foil or several layers oregular weight foil for a top/ lid. I have done this many times, I have also used thin flexible wire (bread ties, snare wire, a few strands from a lamp cord)wrapped around to hold the foil tight to the sides of the can, not absolutely necessary, but it does help keep the can sealed. Be sure to let the can/tin coolcompletely before opening or the char may ignite when you open it. The thicker the cotton, the better, cotton rope works great and is less brittle. I also useone of the cheep round plastic waterproof matchboxes to keep my char in. Keeps it dry, and will hold enough char to start many fires. It's always in a pockeand a fero rod is always on my keyring.

lillady09 says: Aug 13, 2009. 12:31 PM REP

Graywolf, Great instructable and correct for period reenactors if I might add to keep your char-cloth dry try applying a drop of melted candle wax on the holin your tin. I always carry a small beeswax candle in my rucksack.

sharlston says: Jun 13, 2009. 10:40 AM REP

will this work for rags like dusters?

sharlston says: May 20, 2009. 10:12 AM REP

will this work with them material dusters for cars?

7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 9/10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Char-Cloth/ 

rofus says: Apr 6, 2009. 7:04 PM REP

char cloth is very useful to me because it takes the tiniest ember and starts smoldering. its a good idea to make it when its easy to make a fire or your out oluck. one more thing, denim jeans works better.

Graywolf says: Oct 16, 2006. 7:36 PM REP

i hope yall enjoyed this and it worked for yall please give me feed back and tell me if ther is any thing i can do to improve, also i will eventualy show yall hoto make fire with a spark and eventualy with sticks

scoutmastermike190 says: Nov 28, 2007. 7:05 PM REP

thank you graywolf. I am teaching this at a boy scout camporee this weekend

Fake_Name says: Oct 17, 2006. 1:15 PM REP

You know, there's this prillian new invention called punctuation... It's really quite usefull. Other than that, a useful and wel photo-documented instructable.This would be perfect for starting my furnace.

Graywolf says: Jul 10, 2007. 7:14 PM REP

the other invention is spell check lol jk

Gramps says: Feb 27, 2007. 7:58 AM REP

Like your imput on how you guys carry the Char Cloth while in the field, i.e. How do you recommend carrying it and what amount. I just like to get other folkIdeas. Appreciate your response. Thanks

Graywolf says:Jul 10, 2007. 6:55 PM REP

in something waterproof i use a peice of electral tape to cover the top hole and then seal the side with a length of electral tape. carry as mush as youthink you need, if your good you could start a fire with one peice

Trans_Am says: Oct 16, 2006. 9:40 PM REP

Whatever those handheld sparkers are made of. I can never get flint to work.

FrenchCrawler says: Oct 17, 2006. 12:36 AM REP

If you're refering to the sparkers that are kind of like tongs with a upside down cap on one end that are usually used in scientific classes, they use flint (least the ones I had did)...

Graywolf says: Oct 17, 2006. 6:53 AM REP

those are not real flint the are ferroisum a man made substance it is not a natural stone

FrenchCrawler says: Oct 18, 2006. 8:08 PM REP

Now that I didn't know (the teachers always refered to them as flint starters, so we believed them). Knowledge is power.... And now what does"power" do, class? PS- "It" corrupts :P

knexer1 says: May 4, 2007. 9:07 PM REP

"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"

stick1985 says: Nov 27, 2006. 12:42 AM REP

those flints are made out of magnesum. it is the same stuf as the sparker side of the magnesum bars

Ncfdpaul says: Jul 9, 2007. 10:28 AM REPactually, the bar is cheap magnesium diluted with loads of other metals. other wise everyone would die. and the striker is actually flint,with some other chemicals to toughen it, but still mostly flint. you strike them with a knife. if u actually want a true flint starter then you cabuy a flint kit with a flint rock and a piece of metal. there.

technodude92 says: Jan 30, 2008. 4:03 PM REP

die?

7/30/2019 char cloth

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/char-cloth 10/10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Char-Cloth/

Graywolf says: Oct 16, 2006. 10:11 PM REP

o i will eventualy post one of those on how to make a fire with real flint and steel then one with the magnesum bar

Bowcatz says: Feb 5, 2007. 11:08 PM REP

I used your method and made some fine charred cloth from an old 100 percent cotton t-shirt. Used two soup cans to make my cooker. Cut one down toabout 3/4 " to make a lid of sorts for the other one. Placed loosely packed fabric inside the can and secured the lid snuggly. Put a tiny hole in the top of thelid to releave internal pressure, too. Lots of smoke began to pour out after a few minutes sitting in the nest of hot coals. Puffed good for about ten minutesthen began to die down some. I waited about fifteen minutes for the first can of charred cloth and they worked perfectly the first time. The second can had tbe re-cooked a little longer. The coals were dying out and I pulled the can of charring cloth out too soon. Practiced making fires with red flint from the rockgarden and a piece of high carbon steel made from an old file. Read somewhere that quart can be used, too. The sparks were fat and caught the charredcloth easily. I would fold the one inch by two inch rectangles of charred cloth back on i tself to have the one glowing spark make two sparks on the same

piece of charred cloth ready for the dried shredded oak leaf tender bundle with just a few gentle puffs of breath. Thanks for the how-to.

stick1985 says: Nov 27, 2006. 12:36 AM REP

when you take the can off the fire put the nail back in the hole

zorahunter says: Nov 4, 2006. 11:18 AM REP

Very nice, now about that pitch that you make from birch, is it the same process to make it, or different?

zorahunter says: Nov 4, 2006. 11:17 AM REP

Very nice, now about that pitch that you make from birch, is it the same process to make it, or different?

Jrabbit05 says: Oct 22, 2006. 6:54 PM REP

Hmm smart idea on the hole in the top. When I was doing a flint and steel compition we just used an altiods tin. poped open though and charded the ma bitoo much ;o

thematthatter says: Oct 20, 2006. 11:43 AM REP

i attended this mountain man thing when i was a boy scout. one of the activites was starting a fire with flint and steel. i made a nest out of the fibers of apiece of rope with a charcoal patch inside. with real flint and steel i started a fire in 14 sec. the flint is real sharp, one kid missed the steel and cut hisknuckles up.

TheCheese9921 says: Oct 17, 2006. 7:49 PM REP

could I just cook this over the stove in the altoids tin

Graywolf says: Oct 17, 2006. 9:26 PM REP

not smart at all you will defently set off the fire alarm and you could probaly kill yourself or start the house on fire im not kiding this is a out side activityever herd of CO thats carbon monoxide that could be let off in your house if you do it inside and it can kill you

view all 58 comments