
How to make a cloth that can be used for starting fires with primitive methods such as a flint and steel. Note: It is important to use only 100 percent cotton to make charcloth, fabrics containing synthetic fibers will not char. Be sure that the inside of the can is clean.
Materials:
· 100 percent cotton cloth (old T-shirts or Tea-towels) tin can with tin lid (old coffee or biscuit tins work fine)
· A small hot ember camp fire.
· One small stick.
· And two larger sticks to be used as tongues for lifting the can.
Procedure:
1. Punch one small hole in the lid of the can.
2. Pack the can with a loosely rolled cotton T-shirt or Tea-towel and replace the lid.
3. Now lay the can on its side, and onto the camp fire with the hole facing away from the flames.
4. After a short while smoke and vapor should begin to escape through the hole in the lid.
5. 30 minuites into the job you will need to roll the can so that it heats all over (beware the can gets very HOT so roll it with two sticks used as tongues).
6. Now heat the can for a further 30 minutes.
7. Time elapsed should now be 60 minutes which I found was ideal.
8. With the tongues remove the can from the fire and wedge a stick into the hole in the lid, this will stop the charing process.
9. When the can has had time to cool down, open it and remove the charcloth. If the charcloth is brown it has not been heated sufficiently and will have to be returned to the can for more heating. If the cloth is brittle and crumbles at the slightest touch it has been "overcooked" and must be discarded. If the cloth is black and rips with the lightest touch you are then the proud owner of charcloth.
10. Test the charcloth with a flint and steel (you will only need a piece of charcloth no bigger than the palm of your hand). A glowing spark should catch in the cloth and spread with a little help from your lungs!….blow...blow…blow….then offer it to your tinder and kindling and you should be at the start of a healthy fire.
11. Store the remainder of your charcloth in an airtight container or zip sealable plastic bag.