View Full Version : Charred Cloth
Ive recently been experimenting with different types of 100% cotton cloth to catch sparks. Not to scientific standards though. :-?
I found that there were tremendous differences between the cloths. The worst I used was a cotton dress shirt which was thin but good quality cotton. It would catch a spark but was irregular and not reliable. :-(
The best was a cotton tea towel. It seems that the more fibrous the cotton the better. It is regular as clock work. :-D
Another tip is that when you make your charred cloth don't cut and throw the brown patches away. When you have made your ember you can wrap the brown cloth around this giving you a bigger and hotter ember.
Fluffy towels work well I used one of these (an old army one pre-charred) for fire lighting scene the king Arthur programme.
Another good material is Yellow duster.
I quite like using denim - probably because that is what I have to hand...
The best was a cotton tea towel. It seems that the more fibrous the cotton the better
Yes, I found that too.... Thick fibres like towels and terry nappies work a treat. Cotton t-shirts work fine (its what I normally use) they do the job, but very thin cotton shirts make very delicate char which easily breaks apart if over cooked.
:-)
Ed
Another thing I fine is cheap cotton works better - hence the tea towels and dusters and I suspect this is due to the loosness of the fibres in the weave.
Three things I've learnt about making charcloth:
Tablecloths make good charcloth
Don't use cotton that's been flame-proofed (kids clothing has usually has a fire retardant finish)
Don't use tablecloths :oops:
Anyone got any scraps of Ventile to try out?
Anyone got any scraps of Ventile to try out?
Silk's what you want to try!
Is that Kath's sleeping bag liner I can see over there!
:rolmao: lol, I think those castrations rings for the tracking stick that kath wants is going to get a more formal use..... :shock:
Three things I've learnt about making charcloth:
Tablecloths make good charcloth
Don't use cotton that's been flame-proofed (kids clothing has usually has a fire retardant finish)
Don't use tablecloths :oops:
:rolmao: It the doghouse again Adi ?? ROTFL !!
I think the quote is "Don't use Kath's Best linen tablecloths......hahaha
(although that charcloth you had at the NEC worked great...Was that the tablecloth in question?)
(although that charcloth you had at the NEC worked great...Was that the tablecloth in question?)
Yep! :lol:
I just made a batch a couple hours ago in the garden. It wourked alright, ive made char-cloth a couple of times, and never had failure... however the stuff I just made(and tested) takes a spark and embers, with encouragement, but it just dusn't seem great.
My question is, in your more extensive experiences, is it beter to 'cook' it for aeges, or to leave it so that there is still something left in it to burn??
Cheers,
Lawrence.
I cook it until the gas given off starts to ease off ... any more and I find that it it is harder to light too! I did some a while back that I used to take pictures of the process and baked it too much and it wasn't as good as usual.
Cheers Adi,
thats what i was thinking, that I'd burn't everything out of it.
Live and Learn... :-D
Silk's what you want to try!
Is that Kath's sleeping bag liner I can see over there!Anyone know if an Arktis smock makes good charcloth? :-P :twisted:
Silk's what you want to try!
Is that Kath's sleeping bag liner I can see over there!Anyone know if an Arktis smock makes good charcloth? :-P :twisted:
Nope ... it's a 50/50 polycotton which means it has a lot of polyester in it that will look like a melted carrier bag when charred ... :-D
Whatever you use needs to be 100% cotton (or silk :wink: ).
Why can I hear the sounds of someone digging their way to Oz? :-D
BTW Adi, what's Kath thinking of cooking for YOUR birthday??? :twisted:
Why can I hear the sounds of someone digging their way to Oz? :-D
BTW Adi, what's Kath thinking of cooking for YOUR birthday??? :twisted:I don't know - I haven't thought about it yet. But you can bet your boots the table will be beautifully laid with ... charcloth! :lol:
qweeg500
08-05-2004, 11:46
The best charcloth I've made was with a roll on the white cotton car polishing cloth you get in Halfords.
It takes a spark like nothing else.
Matt
The best charcloth I've made was with a roll on the white cotton car polishing cloth you get in Halfords.
It takes a spark like nothing else.
Matt
Thanks for that info Matt! :biggthump
qweeg500
10-05-2004, 21:55
Aha! I knew there was a proper name for it.
When I can't work out where I've put it, there are rapidly some improper names for it...
Anyone ever tried making it with cotton wool???
Anyone ever tried making it with cotton wool???
Did think about it but haven't gotten around to it yet ... I would imagine it's going to be spectacular or just burn in the tin.
Anyone ever tried making it with cotton wool???
Interesting idea but surely it would make it more of an effort to light as you get instant flames from normal cotton wool.
Not from the stuff I got from Asda's. It doesn't seem to want to catch from sparks so I ended up using my permanent match... :-?
Not from the stuff I got from Asda's. It doesn't seem to want to catch from sparks so I ended up using my permanent match... :-?
Strange.
Is it pure cotton and did you "fluff" it first?
Yeah I did fluff it. Will have to check the bag when I get home but think it is pure cotton. They were doing a deal on it in the babycare section...
bushwacker bob
12-05-2004, 13:35
I had similar problem with poorly combusting cotton wool, It was the coloured balls, did burn when fluffed up, but it was harder to light than the usual white stuff. That'll teach me not to raid my daughters cosmetic bag! :oops:
HAH! All that glitters is not gold and all cotton wools are not cotton!
Yep believe it or not some cotton wools are synthetic (not sure what they are made of mind you) - especially cosmetic ones which are designed not to PILE when used to put on/take off make up ect.
Your best bet is to stick with Tampons - after all millions have been spent designing and researching these and thus far cotton is still the best absorbsion material available so they are good for first aid as well as fire lighting.
Just remember to remove them from your nose once the bleeding stops or when your in public!
A lot of cotton wool on the market isn't cotton but a fluffy polyester. Check the pack ... 100% cotton wool should be cotton but watch out for generic labelling.
Your best bet is to stick with Tampons - after all millions have been spent designing and researching these and thus far cotton is still the best absorbsion material available so they are good for first aid as well as fire lighting.
Just remember to remove them from your nose once the bleeding stops or when your in public!
:lol:
Excuse me sir, is that a mouse up yer nostril?
No Officer. It's a tampon...
:rolmao:
I knew someone would crack that joke! :lol: :lol:
I ended up with some charred cloth setting fire whilst I was making it, not quite sure what happened but i got a very long jet of flame (2.5 ft), has anyone else had this happen. I tried with a bit of cottn wool but it just broke up and didn't work at all.
what happens if you put PP on cotton wool the ste fire to it?
Same here. 3ft flamer.
PP on cotton wool give a great firestarter. Nice hot flame that burns well and lights kindling very well.
Smoke is a bit unpleasant hto...
Cotton Wool is good in fairly calm conditions as it gives a big flame quickly, to make it last longer apply a bit of vaseline (petroleum jelly) as this gives a considerably longer burn time. For charcloth I use old gash canvas (retired 1950's army tents who have finally died...) which I have access to a near endless supply. This I prepare in an upturned A10 size tin with a marlin spike hole punched in the base, an a saturday nights camping I put it upside down next to the growing fire and build up around it. This I leave overnight- in the morning it's cooled down an is great stuff- as its so thich and tough to start with it is still stong enough to fold and carry in a plastic bag for weeks at a time.
If you allow any oxygen (air) into the can before it is fully cooled the charcloth will instantly burn (as some of you found out!). With lighter cloths you will probably need to remove the can sooner(make sure no air gets in though!) and always pack the cloth tightly (again to minimize air available for combustion). Charcoal can also be made in the same manner, but the bigger tins are better as you will of course need larger quantities.
Hope this helps, Blue Sky!
Jim. :bu:
Just got a pressie from our roller towel supplier, two old roller towels, 100% cotton, must be 20-30 yards worth in each towel. I asked him last week if they had any old ones they would no longer use and he said no problem we only chuck them away.Any one who needs material for making char cloth and you have a rollertowel supplier at work, just ask.
Just browsing this forum and had a thought, I use thick canvas to make my char cloth- it takes a spark extremely well and and I can light a fire very quickly in all weathers with this stuff. If anone fancies giving it a go I'm off to a work camp on friday and can pick up a load of the raw canvas there should be a large quantity available (but limited as I'm travelling to and from by foot, boat and train). I'll pick up as much as I can and will happily send quantities if people will pay for p+p (depending on quantity obviously!). Please let me know if this interests anyone. :feedback:
Blue Sky, Jim.
Thanks for having me on your forum. Just an additional thought on charcloth. Suppose that I am crossing a stream. My char falls in the river and drowns. Now what?
Personally i have had good success using cattail down...commpressed like a pancake. I put it in the open fire for a few secs until it is well charred and then put my foot on it to stop the "burn". Catches flint or quartz sparks almost as quickly as charcloth made of denim.
-Soarn
Whenever I'm out and about I carry two survival tins- my 'open' one which I use stuff from (such as firestriker and tinder) and my 'closed' tin (which is sealed and strictly for emergencies). Obviously the 'open' tin needs frequent restocking. I carry these in different places and elsewhere I carry a big firestriker, flint and steel (as it's a pleasure to use if I am not in a hurry) and a bag of tinder (char cloth usually). This may sound like a lot but amounts to 1 normal size tobbacco tin (my 'closed' tin) a half size tin ('open' kit) a small pouch (4" across) and a tiny bag in a back pocket. This ensures thhat I will always have dry tinder somewhere on me (even if I fall in a river as all the tinder is kept in plastic bags). :bu:
Blue Sky, Jim.