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An Alternative Charcloth Tutorial
The inspiration for this photo tutorial came from a chance conversation at the “Jubilante Condate” festival in Northwich this past weekend (July 04) celebrating the town’s roman heritage.
While swapping tips, a member of the Legia Secundus Augusta living history society (who were demonstrating at the event) mentioned the idea of producing charcloth in small quantities using a tube instead of a tin. The tube is closed at one end except for a small hole and the open end plugged with earth.
The idea of carrying charcloth safely in a small tube, and making it afresh with each new fire sounded interesting, so a couple of days later I grabbed a bit of 15mm copper waterpipe, crimped one end shut, drilled it through (two opposing holes) with a 2mm bit and headed for the garden.
Having never made or used charcloth before, I was amazed at how easy it was to make it this way and how my daughter Lydia was able to use it to catch the tiniest spark off a firesteel. We decided to do it again for the camera.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0637a.jpg
Notice that the end is just crimped shut, not folded over. I didn’t want any chance of the tube blowing up on me. With an earth plug I very much doubt that this could happen.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0633a.jpg
Here is the tube from the open end.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0635a.jpg
A piece of black denim about 6 x 10cm fills the tube leaving room for a plug.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0638a.jpg
Then just push the open end into the ground to plug it with earth.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0639a.jpg
Since we don’t have a fire pit in the garden, we compromised by using a blowtorch ! In practice, I expect dropping the tube in the embers at the edge of a fire will do the trick. Here it's just beginning to smoke.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0640a.jpg
Warming up a bit.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0642a.jpg
Now we’re cooking !
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0643a.jpg
It does stink, and occasionally the gas catches light. It burns like a small candle. Just blow out the flame. When it has stopped smoking, leave to cool (even better if you can plug the small hole while it's cooling), the dry earth and charcloth tap out easily. On my second attempt I didn't plug the hole and tapped out the cloth before it had properly cooled. It caught light of it's own accord once it was able to breath.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0647a.jpg
It burns long and well.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0652a.jpg
Now that I know how easily the cloth taps out and that the small hole doesn't tend to block, I'll make another with only a single 2mm hole in the end, that will be enough. Have fun !
PS - Taking up an improvement idea from hoodo after I first posted this, if you crimp the end of the tube shut around a 2-3mm dia nail then pull the nail out, you get an even better version of the tube without any need for a drill !
If you want to make more at a time, try a bit of 22mm pipe, to store the cloth in the tube after it's made, look for a plastic cap that will push over the open end after the soil has been knocked out or use a bit of duck tape.
Cheers,
Neat idea for the copper cooker.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/505/80IMG_0633a-med.jpg
I just got the properties of one of your images and placed it between image tags
paste properties of image here, leave no spaces after and before bracket
When I make char I just let the gas jet burn, when it fades the char is just about done.
Good little step by step guide... well done. Love the mini pipe charcloth cooker :-)
Ed
Great idea, and so simple too! Thanks Alick!
Schwert, Adi, thanks guys, just couldn't figure how to embed the images at first but following your tips I've edited the post to work properly. :biggthump
Schwert, Adi, thanks guys, just couldn't figure how to embed the images at first but following your tips I've edited the post to work properly. :biggthump
You're welcome Alick. That's an excellent way to make charcloth ... but I doubt I could get a whole tablecloth in there! :rolmao:
You'd have to do it bit by bit on the sly ;-)
Ed
You'd have to do it bit by bit on the sly ;-)
Ed
Well, they are good tablecloths ... you can't turn it into charcloth all at once!!!!
:rolmao: Adi will be getting a smaller table soon so that Kath doesn't notice how much her table cloth is reducing in size....... :nana:
We'll soon be putting Kath’s tablecloths in the shop, they make the best char cloth and only the best here :o):
Fantastic tutorial Alick well done :biggthump :You_Rock_
one for the articles page i think
now i know what to do with all those old pairs of jeans that are unwearable. Why do 501s always wear out at the crotch first?
i think I'm gonna need a lot of copper pipe :?:
bushwacker bob
24-07-2004, 10:58
Why do 501s always wear out at the crotch first?
:?:
boasting already Mushi? :nono:
Exellent tutorial and pictures,Thanks Alick :wink:
TheViking
24-07-2004, 12:40
Hi...
Would it be possible to 'charcloth' a piece of dead wood, in the same way as with clothes...???
Hi...
Would it be possible to 'charcloth' a piece of dead wood, in the same way as with clothes...???
Yes ... then you'd get charcoal instead of charcloth.
I have just tried this trick in my BBQ ..... i thought ... why bother with a hole and earth? .. why don't I just use some 22mm pipe and squeeze both ends shut in my vice ..... assuming that the pipe won't blow up because if there is a pressure build up .. it will just force open the crimped ends before it blows the pipe up ..... I had it a bit too near the coals ..... went to check on my potatoes .. came back to the BBQ ... and one end of the pipe was acting like a flame thrower ... the escaping gas had ignited and was shooting out flames about a foot
this is fun :D ...... cheers Alick :wink:
Excellent job mate.
Might have to add a piece of piping to my kit. Much easier than trying to find a large tin in the middle of the woods.
Next door are having a new bathroom put in. Hmm, skip divingtime me thinks...
clcuckow
29-07-2004, 17:51
Good one Alick I like the idea of using the first fire to make the charcloth for the next, when you think about it you usually start out using matches till they run out.
jakunen I usually make my charcloth with a couple of soft drink can, which unfortunately are not to rare in this countries woods :(
I love it! Great idea. One suggestion: instead of drilling a hole, when you peen the end down, how about inserting a small nail parallel to the pipe and peening the end down around the nail? Then you just pull out the nail and you have a small tube at one end for ventilation.
Evolution in action ! (my signature line on BB :wink: )
Thanks Hoodoo, perfect example of how even the simplest tool can be refined and improved :biggthump
Alick
jakunen I usually make my charcloth with a couple of soft drink can, which unfortunately are not to rare in this countries woods :(
Sadly only too true! Along with baked bean cans, glass, sweet wrappers... :?:
safty note... in your excitment about your newly made charcloth... allow the copper pipe to cool befor thring to get your charcloth out...
also mine didnt work.. :shock: i think it is because the earth plug shrunk and the cloth combusted.. a very small shrivelled peice of ash flopped out ah well take two shal comence tomorrow... also is it better not allow the smoke to ignite or does it make no difference!
Hi tomtom, absolutely right about letting it cool down :biggthump .
There's another reason apart from the obvious fried finger problem: if you don't let the whole thing cool off, the charcloth which can only smoulder when denied air in the tube will burst into flame once you give it air. I was OK first time round but fell foul of my own impatience on my second attempt as I mentioned.
We have a rather clay soil so no problems with the plug, however it's a good point. In a light sandy soil it may not work at all, at least it would be worth compacting the ground by stamping before pushing the tube into it.
Thanks for your tips.
How about punching a small hole through the crimped section and threading a largeish split ring (key ring) through the hole. Means you can then fish the pipe out of the fire when you need to, just poke a stick through the ring and lift it out. Also, when not in use, can be clipped or tied to something making it easier to carry. :roll:
Jon.
TheViking
14-08-2004, 19:13
Yes ... then you'd get charcoal instead of charcloth.
Okay, but could it be used to light a fire?? :shock:
Tantalus
15-08-2004, 17:02
Okay, but could it be used to light a fire?? :shock:
Try it and see :-)
but lighting a fire with charcoal may be a little more difficult than using charcloth mainly because charcoal is denser
most mornings i rake a campfire together and find one or 2 embers along with chunks of charcoal that formed when wood buried in ash didnt have enough oxygen to burn
a little puffing and the fire is up and running in no time
Tant
Got the chance to try the method out in a real fire at the BCUK weekend, using sandy soil too instead of clay. It works without a hitch. Just toss the tube in the glowing coals and flick it out with a stick 10 minutes later. Made a couple of batches this way and neither burned out in the tube or failed to catch a spark in just a couple of strikes.
Cheers
Thanks for that feedback Alick!
TheViking
25-08-2004, 13:34
Try it and see :-)
but lighting a fire with charcoal may be a little more difficult than using charcloth mainly because charcoal is denser
most mornings i rake a campfire together and find one or 2 embers along with chunks of charcoal that formed when wood buried in ash didnt have enough oxygen to burn
a little puffing and the fire is up and running in no time
Tant
Hi...
I tried it the same day I maked charcloth and it lights a fire just as easy as charcloth. And it burns very exellent! +++ :D :biggthump
Though it breaks very easy... :wink:
This idea is brill.
I have been waiting to get all the bits together (and a fire going ) for a while in order to get some charcloth made, but after reading this I thought I would have a go using my Epigas single burner.
I had some copper pipe and had a scout round the house looking for some donor material, when bingo! I found a tea towel, the type that has/ had "GLASS CLOTH" written on it, well it now has ASS CLOTH, due to the missing bit.
I cut a piece about 20cm X 10cm, rolled it up and placed it in the pipe, I then squashed the ends in a vice and made a 2mm hole in one end, I placed it on the stove and waited 2 mins for it to start to smoke, then using Adi's advice, waited approx 10mins for the smoke to die down, removed it from the cooker and plugged the hole, and waited for it to cool.
Well, the end result was, WOW!!! perfectly made charcloth, jet black, lights easily using my newly aquired steel striker (£2 from a re-enactors show) and a piece of flint from my garden, we now have glowing charcloth.
Many thanks for this idea, the only difficult bit is uncrimping the pipe in order to get the cloth out. :biggthump :cold2:
No need to uncrimp the ends ... take the charcloth out of the end of the pipe with the earth plug!
I didn't use the earth plug method, I crimped both ends.
I will try the earth plug this afternoon as it has got to be the easiest way. :wink:
An Alternative Charcloth Tutorial
Hi guys, seems that I'm not the owner of my own post anymore so when the pics got detached from my original post I couldn't edit them back. Would one of the mods please bump this new post back to the start of the thread - Thanks, Alick
----------------------
The inspiration for this photo tutorial came from a chance conversation at the “Jubilante Condate” festival in Northwich this past weekend (July 04) celebrating the town’s roman heritage.
While swapping tips, a member of the Legia Secundus Augusta living history society (who were demonstrating at the event) mentioned the idea of producing charcloth in small quantities using a tube instead of a tin. The tube is closed at one end except for a small hole and the open end plugged with earth.
The idea of carrying charcloth safely in a small tube, and making it afresh with each new fire sounded interesting, so a couple of days later I grabbed a bit of 15mm copper waterpipe, crimped one end shut, drilled it through (two opposing holes) with a 2mm bit and headed for the garden.
Having never made or used charcloth before, I was amazed at how easy it was to make it this way and how my daughter Lydia was able to use it to catch the tiniest spark off a firesteel. We decided to do it again for the camera.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0637a.jpg
Notice that the end is just crimped shut, not folded over. I didn’t want any chance of the tube blowing up on me. With an earth plug I very much doubt that this could happen.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0633a.jpg
Here is the tube from the open end.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0635a.jpg
A piece of black denim about 6 x 10cm fills the tube leaving room for a plug.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0638a.jpg
Then just push the open end into the ground to plug it with earth.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0639a.jpg
Since we don’t have a fire pit in the garden, we compromised by using a blowtorch ! In practice, I expect dropping the tube in the embers at the edge of a fire will do the trick. Here it's just beginning to smoke.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0640a.jpg
Warming up a bit.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0642a.jpg
Now we’re cooking !
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0643a.jpg
It does stink, and occasionally the gas catches light. It burns like a small candle. Just blow out the flame. When it has stopped smoking, leave to cool (even better if you can plug the small hole while it's cooling), the dry earth and charcloth tap out easily. On my second attempt I didn't plug the hole and tapped out the cloth before it had properly cooled. It caught light of it's own accord once it was able to breath.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0647a.jpg
It burns long and well.
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/512/80IMG_0652a.jpg
Now that I know how easily the cloth taps out and that the small hole doesn't tend to block, I'll make another with only a single 2mm hole in the end, that will be enough. Have fun !
PS - Taking up an improvement idea from hoodo after I first posted this, if you crimp the end of the tube shut around a 2-3mm dia nail then pull the nail out, you get an even better version of the tube without any need for a drill !
If you want to make more at a time, try a bit of 22mm pipe, to store the cloth in the tube after it's made, look for a plastic cap that will push over the open end after the soil has been knocked out or use a bit of duck tape.
Cheers,
Justin Time
27-11-2004, 13:22
Alick
I don't think we can move posts within a thread, or at least I can't find a way to do it. We could split your post to make a new thread though if you want....
Justin - if you can edit posts - and I presume you can in case you need to delete anything defamatory - why not cut everything out of my last post, open the original and paste the new stuff with the links into it in place of what's there.
By all means split the thread, but several of the guys who tried the idea originally made good comments that have helped develop the idea.
I meant to fix this some time ago but Dave Barker's recent thread has reminded me to get on with it. Thanks for your help - I'm happy with anything that you can do
:You_Rock_
Justin Time
27-11-2004, 14:14
Quick thinking Alick, Tony beat me to it as well. Ach well, you live and learn.....
I use an old Barbour wax tin (small one) or any small shoe polish container, makes enough cloth for me and quite small/light.
Jason
Additional notes if you dont have a blow torch or a fire.....
Ive just tried the shoe polish/barbour wax tin on a Swedish Trangia and it made perfect charcloth in about 20 mins, so theres another way of doing it with a minimum of gear and mess.
Also... as a smoker I was wandering about an easy way to hold an ember to light my fags, Im sure Ive heard wicks mentioned before and thought Id try a spare dry wick about 1/8th" diameter from an oil lamp that I had lying around. It works perfectly and can be easily lit from a bit of glowing charcloth but even more useful.... the pre-charred end of the wick will easily catch a spark from my flint and steel, so you can get an ember without having to make charcloth. Only thing is the charred end of the wick will tend to rub off very easily making it harder to light.
You could even carry the wick in a tight brass tube/pen to keep it dry but thats half way to a mechanised flint and steel striker!
Jason
maverick
05-12-2004, 13:11
Great post mate!
I made one the other night and it works a treat with very little heat.
It is now going to be an essential part of my kit. Which brings me to thinking what if there was a way to hold the firesteel and a little charcloath in the pipe when not in use so it becomes one peace of kit. I cannot try it myself at the moment as I am waiting for my new firesteel to arrive.
Am I barking up the wrong tree? Anybody got any ideas?
Sorry if it seems a dumb question but I am a newbie after all and it seems logical to me to keep the three items together to make one peace of kit.
dean4442
05-12-2004, 18:07
Good idea mate but the cynical part of my nature says that with that idea if you lose one item then you've lost all three!! And I know that with my luck I would do just that
beachlover
05-12-2004, 18:53
Good idea mate but the cynical part of my nature says that with that idea if you lose one item then you've lost all three!! And I know that with my luck I would do just that
I know it's Sunday and my brain does a bigger day of rest than normal, but following that argument why do we have knife and steel packages, carry our gear in a rucsac or for that matter advocate a possibles pouch?
Surely, the point of such a bit of combined kit would be to have it attached to one's person. Sounds cool to me.
maverick
05-12-2004, 19:59
I do understand your point of loosing all three items as I am pretty empty headed and lose things all the time but a sheaf could easily be modified to hold the pipe just like you would normally carry your steel therefore you always know where it is.
I still cannot figure out how to hold the steel and pipe together any ideas anyone. I was thinking of placing a bit of stag horn on the top of the steel and shaving it down to fit tightly into the end of the pipe :?:
I still cannot figure out how to hold the steel and pipe together any ideas anyone. I was thinking of placing a bit of stag horn on the top of the steel and shaving it down to fit tightly into the end of the pipe :?:
Sounds good to me. Wood may work as well...
dean4442
06-12-2004, 18:42
How about punching a small hole through the crimped section and threading a largeish split ring (key ring) through the hole. Means you can then fish the pipe out of the fire when you need to, just poke a stick through the ring and lift it out. Also, when not in use, can be clipped or tied to something making it easier to carry. :roll:
Jon.
I surrender guys you can't blame a guy for thinking (can you?)
To hold your steel and pipe together you could use jon's idea.
Finally got round to making some charcloth last weekend at my folks house - decided to take advantage of the real fireplace in their sitting room, and sat and played with an old coffee tin in the fire for about 20 minutes. I noticed a couple of things that might be of use to others...
1) Having tried to make charcloth in the past using various materials, I have discovere that old denim does make a very good charcloth. Rolling it up into lots of tubes is also a good way to make it, as I'm now finding it easier to transport these more durable rolls than more fragile sheets. They also ignite just as easily, and end up glowing all over as a more solid 'coal' (see the pic in the original post!).
2) A good way to tell how ready charcloth is without opening the tin is to watch the smoke - from my experience it seems to be ready when the smoke starts to lessen from the tin, but don't leave it until the smoke has completely stopped, or it might be overdone.
3) As long as you leave it to cool, you can re-seal the tin and put it back in the fire if the cloth isn't quite done. I had to do this as the pieces in the middle of the tin were underdone and didn't catch a spark properly.
Another bit of kit to add to my fire-making equipment! :o):
jdlenton
02-02-2005, 15:25
What an ace idea i'm going to give th 22m pipe method a try tonight will let you know how i get on :You_Rock_
james
I only had 10mm pipe to hand, but gave it a go. Can't fit much in, but it worked a treat and made plenty of charcloth for 3 or 4 fires.
Same piece of pipe is already part of my kit. :o):
Carcajou Garou
02-02-2005, 20:14
Excellent demo Alick, thanks for sharing :super:
With regards the earth plug, if you were doing this in the comfort of your home, as some have suggested, how about cutting down a bolt that is fractionally too big to fit the pipe. It would only need to be a few threads long. Then, work the shortened bolt into the end of the copper pipe, which being soft will have the thread cut into the pipe. Now you have a means of sealing the end which you can simply unscrew. The charcloth can also be stored within until the time comes to use it.
Furthermore, drill a small hole through the bolt head flats (where a spanner would be placed), from one side to the other, and you can thread a piece of wire through to form a loop in order to retrieve it from the fire, and to fix to a lanyard when it cools down.
I think that this pipe idea is great, as who needs to produce vast quantities of charcloth at one time, apart from that guy selling it on e-bay!!! It is much more handy and easier than carting a nescafe tin around. I cannot wait to try this out in the local forest here in germany!!
Great idea Spamel, will try this out at the weekend.
Cheers
JFW
stuart f
18-02-2005, 13:27
I just gave this method a go and it worked great,i now have a nice piece of charcloth.All the better as i have never made or used charcloth before :o):
I just got another source of cloth, the missus binned an old set of curtains. This produced very fine charcloth, and I've got an ample supply!!
Culicoidis
27-05-2005, 10:26
What an excellent step by step guide.
Inspired by the simplicity of the idea, I decided to try it out for myself. Not having any copper pipe around, but enjoying the odd cigar every now and again I used an old cigar tube. It has a screw cap so you don't need the earth plug and it is easy to poke a small hole for the gasses to escape.
Don't use a blow torch on this one as some cigar tubes are thin aluminium.
If you don't smoke, a wise choice, there must be a pub or resteraunt around that sells cigars. Just ask to see if they have any old empty tubes lying around. Don't ask don't get.
Again excellent picture tutorial
Drill another 2mm hole in the crimped end of the tube, you can pass some copper wire through and then use that to hook the tube out of the fire... Just made mine and am having a go when the chimanea's up to temp.
Joules
Success :D
thanks guys, had a great time making everything, girlfriend still rolling around laughing at my escapades... BUT, it all worked, and we have a small tin of charcloth...
Joules
Ogri the trog
01-06-2005, 22:35
I've been thinking....
...never a wholy good thing but there you go.
If you were to solder a copper "stop-end" on one end, and use a "push-fit" stop on the other, you could keep your char-cloth pretty water proof. Assuming that you drilled a 2mm hole through the copper end cap - that would be the only place moisture could penetrate. And keeping water out of a 2mm hole is a whole lot easier than keeping it out of a 15mm hole!
Stop-ends and push-fit parts are available from any plumbers merchant or DIY store.
ATB
Ogri the trog
Biddlesby
12-06-2005, 14:11
I tried this technique earlier today, and crimped it with a nail to make the hole. My fire embers were enough for four perfect batches. Thanks for the idea.
I've been thinking....
...never a wholy good thing but there you go.
If you were to solder a copper "stop-end" on one end, and use a "push-fit" stop on the other, you could keep your char-cloth pretty water proof. Assuming that you drilled a 2mm hole through the copper end cap - that would be the only place moisture could penetrate. And keeping water out of a 2mm hole is a whole lot easier than keeping it out of a 15mm hole!
Stop-ends and push-fit parts are available from any plumbers merchant or DIY store.
ATB
Ogri the trog
At these temps the solder will just melt, crimping is by far the best way, if you do use a cap, just push fit as corrosion during the fire could make it lock up...
You can't beat, just plugging the end with soil.
Joules
Povarian
16-06-2005, 21:52
A bit late in finding this thread, but thought I'd give it a go - Two rolls of denim char-cloth at first two attempts. Took on board suggestions re the nail in the crimp (Hoodoo) and ring for fishing out of fire/hooking it on (Jon)
Leatherman supertool shown for scale
http://www.povarian.plus.com/images/char.jpg
...and the hole in the end (used an oval nail and then flattened it a bit more.
http://www.povarian.plus.com/images/char_closeup.jpg
So, had char-cloth and flint and steel - got a spark to catch first strike. :D It normally takes me quite a while longer. :o
Now one thing strikes me, since each time I've tried it, the heat dries out the earth plug, making it prone to fall out. So I won't be able to pick the cooked item up by the ring with a stick, else plug and char will fall out the bottom probably into the fire - I'll have to drag it from the fire with the stick to where it can cool down.
Great concept and very clear instructions from alick - thanks.