View Full Version : Charcloth
Dave Barker
26-11-2004, 22:28
Ok so i know roughly what it is.
i have no possibility to make it here, and nowwhere i have found in Norway sells the stuff,
Is there anyone who can point me in the right direction, Might have something worth trading if anyone is kind enough to want to send me some though this shoule be taken to pm where things can be discussed.
Am I right in thinking that a firesteel will light this ( ember?) on one strike . Bythis i mean theat the sparks from normal striking are enough.
Thanks for your time .And your help.. i will learn so will ask lots of silly questions....
:shock:
This might help http://www.bushcraftuk.net/community/showthread.php?t=2523&highlight=Charcloth :biggthump
mojofilter
26-11-2004, 22:40
Dave, I would be surprised if you didnt have facilities to make charcloth, do you have a barbeque, even a throw away one would do, and two coke cans.
Just cut the ring pull ends off the cans and pierce a hole in the bottom of one. fill one half can with loose cotton (old denim or Tshirt) and then slide the other half can over the first and toss on the fire or bbq. When smoke stops coming out the hole you pierced in the can, remove from fire and plug hole with a matchstick etc... Once cool open up and voila charcloth!
Tantalus
26-11-2004, 22:45
just dont put it in the forge dave, it will be too hot and melt the aluminium can
resulting in instant disintegration :shock:
:wink: Tant
Dave,
pm on it's way in a minute...
I could have put some in the letter for you. It's really easy to make anyway. I'd be hapy to post some to you when I'm back in sheffield
Dave, why don't you go and look at my tutorial on how to make small amounts of charcloth.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/community/showthread.php?t=2523&highlight=charcloth
The photo's have become disconnected but they're all still there in the gallery under my name in the campcraft section.
just roll a bit of old denim up, stuff it in a length of copper waterpipe with a small (2mm) hole drilled in it somewhere, and bung the two ends up with damp earth.
Cook with a blowtorch in the garden until the smoke stops, then let it cool before taking the cloth out. Should take you 30 mins to do all this, then you'll know what it's all about. :biggthump
Good luck.
TheViking
27-11-2004, 18:04
Try and have a look at the main site. It's one of the best tutorials I've seen on how to make the stuff. Right here (http://www.bushcraftuk.co.uk/200/char_cloth.html). :wink:
Yes, you're right it will light with one strike and burn for minutes, depending on the size of course.
Make sure that you use cotton and nothing else for charcloth - a tablecloth works well! :wink:
Polycottons and synthetics are no good and make a major mess.
Also, keep an eye on the smoke being generated - when it starts to subside, it's nearly ready.
Dave
High carbon firesteels will catch an ember in charcloth with one gentle strike as long as you use a sharp bit of flint.
Jason
I think some of you may have not fully read Dave's post...
Ok so i know roughly what it is.
i have no possibility to make it here, and nowwhere i have found in Norway sells the stuff,
.....
we read it stew.. we were trying to point out that dave most likely does have all he needt to make the stuff! :wink:
Dave Barker
29-11-2004, 07:45
we read it stew.. we were trying to point out that dave most likely does have all he needt to make the stuff! :wink:
I probably have the stuff.... but not during the winter. i am not even going to attempt lighting the bbq in -10!
For those who answered I thank you, for those who sent pm, i thank you even more!!
:You_Rock_
you dont have a blow tourch?
and anyhow.. you got to practice your fire lighting rain or shine (or snow) :biggthump
Dave Barker
29-11-2004, 11:39
you dont have a blow tourch?
and anyhow.. you got to practice your fire lighting rain or shine (or snow) :biggthump
no blow torch at the mo.... and before i practice i wanna do it in the dry.. -10 is cold round the cobblers regardless of how much clothing you wear.
beachlover
30-11-2004, 22:15
Read this thread and today thought I'd have a go.
Shoe polish tin, 6" x 4" bit of cotton (didn't do the table cloth - coward).
stuck it on the burner on the stove.
Somewhere I read that you had to wait until the smoke stopped.
Well, I waited and then I waited some more, then I coughed a lot, then I opened the windows, then I waved frantically at the smoke alarms that are directly connected to a system that calls the fire brigade ( some of whom are my mates and would take the p*** for a lifetime).
Eventually the thing stopped smoking and after taking it off the stove and dropping it (forgot, because I was choking at the time, that the ruddy thing would be molten hot) on the wife's new chopping board (yep, permanently scarred) I have charcloth!!!!
Whoopee!!!
Teenager and missus well miffed that all the clothes I took out of the tumble drier smell like...well...smoked, and the teenager thinks I have alzheimers and burned something by accident ( how do you explain to one that this was to get something that you can light with a spark when all you need is a microwave cooker?).
But I have charcloth - a precious thing!!!
Great feeling isn't it making the first batch, almost as good as mastering the bow drill for the first time, trouble is once you've made your first batch you'll want to make more.... even if you don't need it. :-D
beachlover
30-11-2004, 22:41
Great feeling isn't it making the first batch, almost as good as mastering the bow drill for the first time, trouble is once you've made your first batch you'll want to make more.... even if you don't need it. :-D
yeah felt great. Choking, still have red eyes and if I ever do it again indoors I shall have to make it worthwhile as I shall be homeless!
WTF do I do these things?
yeah felt great. Choking, still have red eyes and if I ever do it again indoors I shall have to make it worthwhile as I shall be homeless!
WTF do I do these things?
:o): :rolmao: :biggthump
beachlover
30-11-2004, 23:25
I think making the shoe polish cooker with candle wax on cardboard upset her a bit, especially melting the wax in the Le Creusier pans, but "smoking the clothing," well I think you guys are in for a serious law suit.
The good news is that she is so p****d off that she is going to buy me a shed for Xmas. The bad news is that after the charcloth episode I think I am going to be living in it!
Is this bad news I wonder? Mmmmmmmmm?
maverick
01-12-2004, 18:06
That is one funny tale :rolmao:
I also made charcloth a couple of days ago for the first time and since then I have made 6 batches of the stuff !!! You never know when you'll need it lol. Luckily for me I played out in the garden it keeps her who must be obeyed happy :wink: To reduce the smoke just light the fumes that are being produced through the little hole, it works a treat. The smoke is almost non existant and when the flame goes out the cloth is done :wink: .
I've lit the fumes before with interesting results:
My first post at BCUK (http://bushcraftuk.net/community/showpost.php?p=3439&postcount=18)
I'm amazed you thought to make charcloth in your kitchen - I wouldn't dare!!!
beachlover
01-12-2004, 18:31
I'm amazed you thought to make charcloth in your kitchen - I wouldn't dare!!!
I certainly won't be doing it again :nono:
Thanks for the tip about lighting the fumes, I'll try that.
For what it is worth, I tried it out today and it works a treat from now on it is a full time piece of kit.
I also chanced upon a good crop of cramp ball today too, so they are drying out on the radiator with SWMBO doing more impersonations of the Marge Simpson disgruntled and suspicious growl and the teenager keeps talking about a care home for me in the not too distant future :?:
Lighting the fumes - I've seen it done with charcoal - a retort with a pipe beding back down under it, a small fire is lit to start the gas production, once that's ignited the whole thing is self sustaining.
Cramp balls - don't play with them indoors, they shed black smudgy stuff everywhere and they stink when burning. One of the finest tinders you'll ever use though.
I make my charcloth out of offcuts of hemp jeans - it makes a thick tough char that still lights easily. I used the shoe polish tin too - but I put it outside over my spirit burner.
Realgar
Cramp balls - don't play with them indoors, they shed black smudgy stuff everywhere and they stink when burning. One of the finest tinders you'll ever use though.
has anyone else ever burned them inside and got "light headed" as a result of breathing the fumes?
(sorry to go OT)