Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
If you’re into bushcraft, survival, or primitive fire-marking, you’ve probably heard of char cloth. If not, you should know it’s one of the best materials for catching a spark and starting a fire. It’s made by heating cotton in a low-oxygen environment until it carbonizes. The result is a blackened fabric that easily catches fire.
You can buy it online, but it’s actually very easy to make. All you need is a small tin and some cotton. In this video, Current1776 demonstrates step by step how to make char cloth. You can watch the full video below, but I typed up the instructions for those who prefer to read. (By the way, be sure to check out his other videos.)
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Materials:
- A metal container – An Altoids tin is ideal, but any small tin with a lid will work.
- Cotton material – It needs to be 100% cotton. Denim works great, just cut up some old jeans.
- Fire – A campfire, camp stove, grill, or even a gas burner.
- Small nail or awl – This is to punch a tiny hole in the lid.
How to Make Char Cloth Step by Step
1. Prepare Your Tin
Punch a small hole in the lid. This lets gases escape while preventing too much oxygen from entering, which keeps the cloth from burning completely.
2. Cut Your Cotton
Cut your cotton material into small pieces that will easily fit in your container. You can lay them flat or roll them up, whichever fits best.
3. Heat the Tin
Place the sealed tin in the fire or heat source. Set it directly on the coals or flames. As it heats up, you’ll see smoke venting from the hole.
4. Wait for the Smoke to Stop
Once the smoke stops, your char cloth is done. Remove the tin from the heat and let it cool off completely before you open it.
5. Open and Check
Inside, you’ll find your char cloth. It should still hold its shape and feel lightweight but fragile.
How to Use Char Cloth
- Place a small piece of char cloth next to your tinder.
- Strike a spark onto the char cloth using a ferro rod or flint and steel.
- Once the char cloth begins to glow, gently blow on it to grow the ember.
- Place it in your tinder bundle and start your fire.
I recommend making a whole bunch of char cloth you can keep on hand. Store it in a tin, a Ziploc bag, or some other waterproof container.
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