Made My First Charcloth

[Matt In Oklahoma]

This is my first attempt at charcloth, used to hold the spark and make an ember last long enough to get a tinder bundle

[barfife]

Matt, thanks for another of your training films.

It is time for all of us to practice all our survival skills. Had a guy the other day, proudly show me his B.O.B. Everything was still "new in the packages". When I asked about the unopened items, he stated that he left them that way so he would have the directions if he ever had to use them! It is akin to buying a new truck and not buying gas for it. He was wanting to protect and provide for his family but he wasn't willing to commit to the project. He was throwing money at the problem as he perceives it. I am afraid that he and his family won't survive and they won't understand why.

I asked him if he ever heard of the phrase, "In for a penny, in for a pound?" and he looked confused. I asked if he could do basic skills, could his wife, his children? Who will teach them if he is injured or dead? Will you be in an emergency situatiion and not have time to find and read those directions? What makes you think you will be with all your family members when TSHTF? You could see a light come on....thanks goodness. As he went to leave, he actually thanked me for a "reality check". There may be hope for him and his family yet.

At my place this weekend, my wife and I took the B.O.B.s for a PT hike, equipment practice and firearm drills. There is nothing better than a good looking woman that shoots straight, reads a map, starts a fire from scratch, makes a cobbler from dehydrated fruit...and.....she still has a good job! God has blessed this Christian.

[EX121]

Good job Matt. Earlier this year I experminted with lamp wicks, very good & dry Elk poop, worked OK. I think the more people practice with 'primitive means' then the better they can do with modern methods.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Good job Matt. Earlier this year I experminted with dry Elk poop, worked OK. I think the more people practice with 'primitive means' then the better they can do with modern methods.

The girl and I did a cow pattie campfire last year. We didn't cook the marshmellows on it though! LOL

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Matt, thanks for another of your training films. It is time for all of us to practice all our survival skills. Had a guy the other day, proudly show me his B.O.B. Everything was still "new in the packages". When I asked about the unopened items, he stated that he left them that way so he would have the directions if he ever had to use them! It is akin to buying a new truck and not buying gas for it. He was wanting to protect and provide for his family but he wasn't willing to commit to the project. He was throwing money at the problem as he perceives it. I am afraid that he and his family won't survive and they won't understand why. I asked him if he ever heard of the phrase, "In for a penny, in for a pound?" and he looked confused. I asked if he could do basic skills, could his wife, his children? Who will teach them if he is injured or dead? Will you be in an emergency situatiion and not have time to find and read those directions? What makes you think you will be with all your family members when TSHTF? You could see a light come on....thanks goodness. As he went to leave, he actually thanked me for a "reality check". There may be hope for him and his family yet. At my place this weekend, my wife and I took the B.O.B.s for a PT hike, equipment practice and firearm drills. There is nothing better than a good looking woman that shoots straight, reads a map, starts a fire from scratch, makes a cobbler from dehydrated fruit...and.....she still has a good job! God has blessed this Christian.

I have very few things "new" in the package unless i bought more and test one or am well versed in it.
The charcloth is new to me. I had never even heard of it till about 2 yrs ago. At first I thought why? I use tried and proven methods. My thought though is that anytime i make a fire now I can now produce something that will help me make the next fire with very little material, weight or hassle. If this wind would lay down a little round here i might get some more videos made. The sound quality stinks.
Sounds like you are blessed with a great woman there bro!

[monkeybird]

I have never heard of charcloth. Is it better than just plain dry grass and weeds?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

It takes very little spark to ignite it and then it burns slowly as you see in the video giving you time to get it into the dry grass "birdsnest" and ignite that source. I would do a video from the charcloth to the birdsnest but we have even stronger winds today running 40mph with higher gust. We have had rain but still controling fire in that wind can be challenging so better safe than sorry. maybe later

[fallout boy]

very cool thanks, i need too try this

[EX121]

Matt one little tip, use a knife to strike the spark. I find that using the blade of my leatherman and resting the end of the 'flint' on a rest allows me to get more control & thus a hotter more directed spark.
I haven't forgot your request about showing how to use pitchwood. I got some last week and took pictures. I do a fire this week and have the wife take pictures & then get them posted.
Keep practicing that OPSEC stuff.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I have discovered that I can make the charcloth while I BBQ and Grill without using any extra resources. I wasnt sure if partially cooking it each time would work or not but it seems that 3-4 cookouts get the job done!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I have taught both my teen Daughter and my grown Son how to use/make this now and the history behind it and even though they were both just humoring the ole man at first i got a "hey thats cool !" from both of them.
Life is Good!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I made another batch to put in a spare pack i just picked up and just showed my wife and she said that was the coolest thing she has seen in a while. She has been increasingly supportive in this stuff

[Matt In Oklahoma]

If you are trying this and this is happening your tin is getting to hot and you will quickly end up with ash. The tin needs to be moved farther away from the heat source.

There should only be smoke coming from the vent hole.

[TyrannyUnleashed]

I have been using my charcoal grill to make these. That should be OK, correct? Outside of that I am trying again tomorrow with only a few pieces of cloth.
My striker is throwing down a decent amount of sparks.

Worst case scenario, we'll have some good dogs from the grill

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I have been using my charcoal grill to make these. That should be OK, correct? Outside of that I am trying again tomorrow with only a few pieces of cloth.
My striker is throwing down a decent amount of sparks.
Worst case scenario, we'll have some good dogs from the grill

It should be fine, after a short time you should see the smoke coming from the venthole, the cloth will be completly black when done. If it's brown it aint there yet and wont hold a spark.