Char cloth production

Following on from my Flint and Steel Fire lighting post :-
http://teddytourteas.blogspot.com/2011/03/flint-and-steel-fire-lighting.html

I needed some more Char cloth so took some photo’s, just in case anyone fancy's a go ? A proper heat treated Steel makes the best sparks but it’s possible with just a piece of old file, hold in vice with a couple of inch showing and a sharp tap (ok smash) with a hammer should snap it off (mind your eyes) Just as an idea why not use the rest of the file to make some Tinder Tin gift sets up (different ?)see photo #2 in above link

cutting towel into rough one inch strips

then into rough squares

place in the tin, here a one ounce tobacco tin with a nail hole about the size of a match in the lid, the one in the photo’s only to illustrate this 

then in my case onto the fire though a B-B-Q or camp fire or even a blowlamp will do for as long as the smoke from the hole burns at first there might be too much pressure but it will catch and burn with a roar then begin to die down

wait until it’s about candle flame size and remove from the fire and cover the hole up, I find a coin works well, to stop any oxygen then it doesn’t smoulder away

when cool off with the lid and “Jobs a Gudun”

if it’s not black but still brown it needs to go back on to the fire, but you soon get the hang of it and even chared the towel keeps it's small loops which are idel for catching a spark

just thought I’d share – cheers all Danny