Cloth Roasting on an Open Fire: Creating Char-Cloth and Explaining the “Next Fire”Mentality

So, I made char-cloth. I went through a whole lot of trouble just to char some lousy bits of an old t-shirt. So here is my question to you guys: Is it worth it?

Let’s see what Dave Canterbury has to say on the matter. In his book, Bush Craft 101, on page 124 he says:

“By quick ignition of charred materials, you will have a guaranteed ember to provide needed heat for ignition of a bird’s nest.”

Remember when we talked about fuel in my last blog?  We talked about tinder or the material used to catch a spark, like the website. Tinder can take a flame very easily and even primitive fire methods like a bow/drill set can produce an ember to be placed into the tinder or bird’s nest. Then, provide oxygen and you should be good to go. However, using flint and steel can be difficult to get tinder started and a Ferro rod too if conditions are bad enough. The same goes for the magnifying glass. However, char-cloth can and will aid you in ember formation using a spark or the sun.

So let’s talk about how it’s made. When googling about what char is I get this phrase a lot: “The incomplete combustion of certain solids.” You can click here for where I saw it first. But incomplete is the key word here.

If you recall from my last blog, fire need three things: heat, oxygen, and fuel. If you take away the oxygen completely you have that incomplete fire. Now all we have to do is heat our fuel without any oxygen. However, oxygen is everywhere and you need this cloth for your next fire. Well we can fix that.

In one of my first blogs I showed you all my char tin. Now I’m not sure how in-depth I was about it, but the basics are a stainless steel container either with a stainless steel lid or cover to allow the gases to escape. You don’t want a 100% seal because then it could blow up. Some people even use their water bottles completely dried out and a flat rock to cover the hole.

The idea is the container will be heated and the fuel inside will heat up too. Without oxygen in its presence though, it won’t make a flame. A very important part is making sure that the fire doesn’t get into your container. This happened to my first ever batch and I got a pile of ash. A lot of people poke a hole in their tins to let out the gases, but something like an Altoids tin with hinges are enough. But enough of this, right? Let’s get to how I made it.
So about a year ago when I first started bushcraft, I took an old T-shirt that was more ragged than regale. I cut it up into squares about the width of my palm and length of my forearm. Then I just rolled them up to save space in the container. You can see a pretty good example on the left of what they looked like when rolled up. On the right, I unrolled one to show you the length. I know some people prefer them in squares, but I like to rip off what I need. Either way you do it I’m sure will be just fine.
I have made about 32 of these. I make about 6 at a time and keep them in my Char tin at all times. The ones that are waiting to be charred will remain in a plastic bag that I keep in the house until needed.
The next step is to get them into the tin for charring. Like I said I roll them up and place them at the bottom of the tin. It won’t matter if they are packed or not just be aware of how much is going into it. Normally, my
char cloth isn’t made under survival conditions. I will use my last piece of char cloth to make a more char cloth. If I didn’t have them with me then I would consider using a bandanna or the clothing I was wearing. It is all about the next fire mentality. Just like in chess, you need to plan and prepare ahead. The next part is pretty important because this will make or break your char cloth. You need some sort of cover. As I said before the cover needs to not be air tight, however it must not allow oxygen to get into the container. So what do you do?

Put a lid on it. No, I’m not telling you to shut up, just cover your mouth. Of the bottle, that is. By punching a hole on the top of your container you allow gases to escape during the carbonization process. Now something common that may happen is the gases catching fire as they escape.
This isn’t a big deal as long as the fire doesn’t go down into the container itself. If it does happen, use some fire-proof gloves or two sticks to move the char away and let the process stop. Now if something happens and all you end up with is just your stainless steel water bottle then you are still in the game. Just place it in the fire WITHOUT anything inside. This will allow any water to evaporate out and your bottle will be ready for charring. Next you would cut up or just rip some cotton fibers. You could find some different plants and fungi that'll char too.

 In Dave Canterbury’s book, “Advanced Bushcraft”, he says this:


“Char can be made from many things you find in the landscape, including punky, decaying wood or the inner pith from some plants like mullein.”

Now here on Backyard Bushcraft, we believe in working through levels. I haven’t gotten too much covered in “Advance Bushcraft”, however I would like to know how to do some even if I wasn’t ready to practice it just yet.
Back to the charring, it commonly take about 10 minute or until the fire burns out. this has been said by Dave Canterbury in multiple places. Another way to check is to wait till the smoke stops pouring out. Now one thing to remember is that you can’t overdo char. Once it is done however, do not let it get exposed to air. The char being so super heated will cause it to start to burn. Remember the 3 elements to fire. Heat, Fuel, and Oxygen. The char is already a great fuel, plus it is super heated with just a gentle blow and it will begin to consume. This is also how the char works. With the cloth itself as a fuel, the spark or sunrays provides heat, then blowing into the bundle will make the fire catch up. After the tin is cooled, it is perfectly fine to get out and examine what you have created. I find the best way is to use a solar method. To me it is the hardest method of ember creation and thus proves I have made great char. I hope you get out there and make some Char Cloth too. Next week I will be reviewing some gear I have collected. As always feel free to comment, share this blog, and check back next week for a new one. Follow me on Facebook: @BPackBushcraft and on Twitter @BPackBushCraft. Until next time, keep those fires burning and put another log on for me.