Using char cloth or charred linen tinder for lighting fires dates back to the Palaeolithic times. This is a good tinder to carry when you are doing firelighting with kids, as it is really combustable, and takes a little of the frustrations out of the process.
Especially if you have tried to use normal tinder to light a fire off a flint and striker, it can be quite difficult. So to make this easier, use the char cloth to catch the sparks, an ember forms almost immediately. Then wrap the cloth in a fire nest, and blow gently your fire should burst into life.
Here is how to make char cloth
What you will need:
Old natural linen (like cotton bed sheets) cut into small squares
A small tin – like a tobacco tin
A hot fire
Some tongs
1. Get your ingredients ready
How to make char cloth
2. Light your fire
Light your fire
3. Cut up your linen into small squares
Char cloth squares
4. Squash the linen into the tin and close the lid tight
Squash the fabric in the tin
5. Place the tin into the fire and leave for about 10 – 25 minutes to cook
Burning char cloth
6. Remove the tin using the tongs and leave somewhere to cool
Removing char cloth tin from the fire
7. Open the tin – if the cloth starts to glow, replace the lid again and leave until it is cooler
Char cloth cooling - notice the glow? This one needs a bit longer.
8. When the cloth is cooled it can be stored and used to light a fire by catching a spark
Char cloth will easily catch a spark
If you want to learn more about fire lighting you may be interested in these items:
The Mighty Eagle Firelighting Kit
Fire Lighting Kit
This kit contains all the things you need to make a fire with and without matches. It also contains a detailed instruction manual for how to light the best campfires, and our popping corn basket More Info
The Mighty Eagle Fire Bow Kit
Fire Bow Kit
How to light fires the old fashioned way. This kit shows you how to make a fire using the stone age method of a fire-bow. Included are the key wooden elements, detailed instructions and more. More Info
Date: June 6, 2012 by Ben R
Using char cloth or charred linen tinder for lighting fires dates back to the Palaeolithic times. This is a good tinder to carry when you are doing firelighting with kids, as it is really combustable, and takes a little of the frustrations out of the process.
Especially if you have tried to use normal tinder to light a fire off a flint and striker, it can be quite difficult. So to make this easier, use the char cloth to catch the sparks, an ember forms almost immediately. Then wrap the cloth in a fire nest, and blow gently your fire should burst into life.
Here is how to make char cloth
What you will need:
Old natural linen (like cotton bed sheets) cut into small squares
A small tin – like a tobacco tin
A hot fire
Some tongs
1. Get your ingredients ready
How to make char cloth
2. Light your fire
Light your fire
3. Cut up your linen into small squares
Char cloth squares
4. Squash the linen into the tin and close the lid tight
Squash the fabric in the tin
5. Place the tin into the fire and leave for about 10 – 25 minutes to cook
Burning char cloth
6. Remove the tin using the tongs and leave somewhere to cool
Removing char cloth tin from the fire
7. Open the tin – if the cloth starts to glow, replace the lid again and leave until it is cooler
Char cloth cooling - notice the glow? This one needs a bit longer.
8. When the cloth is cooled it can be stored and used to light a fire by catching a spark
Char cloth will easily catch a spark
If you want to learn more about fire lighting you may be interested in these items:
The Mighty Eagle Firelighting Kit
Fire Lighting Kit
This kit contains all the things you need to make a fire with and without matches. It also contains a detailed instruction manual for how to light the best campfires, and our popping corn basket More Info
The Mighty Eagle Fire Bow Kit
Fire Bow Kit
How to light fires the old fashioned way. This kit shows you how to make a fire using the stone age method of a fire-bow. Included are the key wooden elements, detailed instructions and more. More Info
June 6, 2012 | Activities, Fire lighting | No comment
