Recently I converted an old pair of Levis 501s into charcloth using the method described by Ray Mears. In short, I got an old Nescafe coffee can, pierced the lid, rolled up a load of denim from the jeans and put them in, and then put the can on a small fire I made for the purpose.
I can report that denim works very well for char cloth. To test it, I started a garden bonfire using a spark from my Swedish firesteel on the char cloth, which caught the spark immediately and started glowing. I simply added it to some birch bark and kindling I had already prepared with my Fiskars mini-axe and soon I had a pleasing blaze for burning some old holly boughs left over from clearing the garden.
That was something of a milestone for me as it was the first time I have managed to start a fire without matches or a lighter.
And BTW the Levis were beyond salvaging as (like others) mine always get a hole in the inside leg just below the seat.... :yikes:
Best wishes
Bruce
I can report that denim works very well for char cloth. To test it, I started a garden bonfire using a spark from my Swedish firesteel on the char cloth, which caught the spark immediately and started glowing. I simply added it to some birch bark and kindling I had already prepared with my Fiskars mini-axe and soon I had a pleasing blaze for burning some old holly boughs left over from clearing the garden.
That was something of a milestone for me as it was the first time I have managed to start a fire without matches or a lighter.
And BTW the Levis were beyond salvaging as (like others) mine always get a hole in the inside leg just below the seat.... :yikes:
Best wishes
Bruce