No Charcloth Flint & Steel Fire Lighting..wmv

[aussysurvival]

Thanks mate,

You have made a very valid point on char cloth, what happens when you run out.

What are the alternatives, you have shown, that similar to what i use.

yes modern methods are good, but never forget or dismiss the much older ways.

become multi skilled.

thankyou, my thoughts are similar

[historicaltrekking]

@aussysurvival Glad you liked it.

Regards, Keith.

A Woodsrunner's Diary blog.

[jkd185]

interesting film.thankyou for sharing your thoughts and knowledge .

kind regards

streetartist

[bellsmith88]

excellent video. You make a great point. I use flint and steel as a luxury. Personally I like how the friction fire works. It just feels better starting with a bigger 'coal'. But then again, who wants to break out a hand drill or bow drill just to light a candle. LOL. Excellent commentary on using natural materials.

[historicaltrekking]

@bellsmith88 Thank you Bell, you made my day. Thanks for the feedback & comment. Appreciated.

Regards, Keith.

A Woodsrunner's Diary blog (Google it if you are interested).

[robmochdre]

great video !!

its a real education watching your videos.

what sort of plant tinders are you using ?

how long does the tinder last?

is it the sort of thing you can just add to as opposed to finnish and start fresh?

cheers rob

[historicaltrekking]

@robmochdre Rob, will message you, text will not fit here, restricted!!!

Keith.

[MrBushLife]

Among us Older Ojibways up here in N.Canada. We have a Society, called Skiday Asin Society. It is where younge men, are taught all the techniques, of fire making, maintaining fire for ceremonies, 4 day fasting with a fire, and learning about the various types of tall standing ppl. (Tree/plants) Once they are initiated in the circle of men..they must carry a piece of Char Wood, taken from Ceremonial Fires only, within there Medicine bags, and exchanged only....

[MrBushLife]

@historicaltrekking...when they return to the cermonial fires, to renew their relationship to the elders, through listening to the stories, teachings, history, etc. Some of these older ndn's men, can talk for days and days, but none the less..when it is done..the younge man, will have not only his inner spiritual fire renewed, but also within his medicine bag, a fresh charcoal..that would serve him and family well Cheers. ;-))

[MrBushLife]

@historicaltrekking...when they return to the cermonial fires, to renew their relationship to the elders, through listening to the stories, teachings, history, etc. Some of these older ndn's men, can talk for days and days, but none the less..when it is done..the younge man, will have not only his inner spiritual fire renewed, but also within his medicine bag, a fresh charcoal..that would serve him and family well Cheers. ;-))

[historicaltrekking]

@MrBushLife What can I say, I love this. Thank you for sharing my Friend.

Myeengun.

[Arkolm]

Thank you sir for taking the time to make this. I will try making some legitimate tinder and see how it goes! I hope you recover swiftly. P.S. - Nice tinderbox!

[historicaltrekking]

@Arkolm Thank you for your comment, appreciated. Charred cloth is legitimate tinder, but it was mostly used in town & city homes, not in the woods. There are quite a few plant tinders available, once you know what to look for in your particular area. Most common tinder used was/is punk wood, which can be found in the base of fallen trees. Cattail (dried) seed heads are also good. The inner core of the Century Plant or American Aloe is very good.

Keith.

[petermohlman]

very enjoyable information and presentation! thanks

[historicaltrekking]

@petermohlman You are very welcome. Thank you for the feedback, appreciated.

Keith.

[MrDwaynedavis]

I have watched this vid several times, im always impressed with youre skills. i would love to see you do a tutorial on making char material ( the real stuf made in the woods) from start fo finish. allot of people would benefit from youre knowledge. god stuff as always :)

[historicaltrekking]

@MrDwaynedavis Many thanks for your kind comments Dwayne, appreciated. I have made a video on Field Preparation Of Plant Tinder For Use With Flint & Steel By Charring, but this was done in the old cottage. I will be making Forest Walk 3 as soon as I can get back into the woods with a camera crew, and this will include what you have mentioned.

I may make a start on my own later, but right now I am still recovering from a complete hip replacement.

Regards, Keith.

[MrDwaynedavis]

@historicaltrekking cool. take youre time my freind. first job is recovery.

[ytdcfjhvjvp0j]

An australian with flint?

I live in the Canberra area and I can never find any natural flint! Where do you get yours?

[historicaltrekking]

@ytdcfjhvjvp0j You do not have to use flint, agate, chert, quartz & many others will work for fire lighting. Some of the flint I have comes from the UK, pieces I brought back with me from a visit. Other English flint is gun flints from Brandon. The Australian flint I have was found near Nundle NSW. Most siliceous rocks will work striking sparks from a fire steel.

Regards, Keith.

A Woodsrunner's Diary blog.

[MYTHIRDSHADOW]

So wait... what was that black stuff inside the tinderbox? how did it catch a spark so well?

[historicaltrekking]

@MYTHIRDSHADOW Plant tinder material. Inner core of the Grass Tree flower stem & Ryvardenia Cretacia bracket fungus. Just char the surface in the fire then smother in the tinderbox. There are other plant tinders, but these are the ones I mostly use.

Regards.

A Woodsrunner's Diary blog.

[wildeornes]

So basically this is the same as you do to get a fire lit again from the remains of a previous fire but in portable form, so simple it's genius

[historicaltrekking]

@wildeornes More or less. Aventually the tinder in the box will need renewing, so you have to keep an eye on it. I often place some uncharred plant material in the tinderbox along with the prepared tinder. With use this too gets charred so I have a continuous supply. I also carry spare tinder in my gunpowder wallet.

[hoosierarcher]

My grandfather who was born in 1895 told me that they made char clothe in an earthen ware jar with a lid. Now that was the 19th century so post matches. However frugal Hoosier farmers made char clothe because matches cost money, char clothe was scraps that were basically free and fire you had anyway.

[historicaltrekking]

@hoosierarcher Yes, in 18th century city/village homes tow rag was often used as tinder. Charred directly in the fire then smothered in a tinderbox. But in wilderness areas mostly plant tinders were used. Nothing wrong with starting off with a tinderbox full of charred cloth, but you need to know about plant tinders for when you run out of charred cloth.

Thanks for your feedback & information, very interesting.

Regards, Keith.

[hoosierarcher]

@historicaltrekking I agree and here in America we gather what we call fatwood. The resin loaded chunks in a rotting pine, spruce or fir stump.

[historicaltrekking]

@hoosierarcher Good kindling, but no good as tinder. Though you may find some punkwood on the same tree.

Keith.

[hoosierarcher]

@historicaltrekking Punk wood is plentiful here in Indiana USA. Were only get moderate rain so wood rots slowly and we have a good supply of incest infesting our forests too. Anyway thanks very much for showing how to make charred plant tinder. Can the punk wood be done in a closed container like char clothe? I guess then you'd be making charcoal.

[historicaltrekking]

@hoosierarcher You can use a container yes, but really there is little point. You really only need to char the surface, not the whole thing. It will char itself with use. When using the tinderbox the tinder stays in the tinderbox. It lasts longer that way.

Regards, Keith.

[minstrale]

Thank you on behalf of one Scoutmaster. This is terrific info for the Wilderness Survival merit badge. The boys love this stuff.

[historicaltrekking]

@minstrale You just made my day, it is great when you hear that you are making a difference somewhere. Many of the skills on my videos & DVDs are directly related to the living skills of the frontier Scouts in the 18th century.

My very best wishes & most sincere regards to you & the boys,

Keith aka Le Loup.

A Woodsrunner's Diary Blog.

[texasredneck6673]

Thank you for sharing

[historicaltrekking]

@texasredneck6673 You are welcome.

[WCherokeeW]

the best tinder in the world that i've used is basically anything like the feathery down of the cattail. any weed that sprouts the stuff will do. dandelions, broom straw makes it in winter. from some unknown weed i recently collected tufts of micro versions of dandelion down along with dry crispy leaves from the stalks which will be like dried grass or leaves to make the initial fire. one spark hitting that down and it will burst into flame IMMEDIATELY as if wet with naptha. try it and see.

[historicaltrekking]

@WCherokeeW This sounds more like you are using a Ferocium rod, not flint & steel ? In my experience the cattail fluff requires charring before it will catch a spark from flint & steel.

Regards, Le Loup.

[WCherokeeW]

@historicaltrekking lol yea. on the edge of the magnesium fire starter. had too google ferrosium rod to know for sure. yes with the ferrocium and it's 3,000 degree sparks, cattail bursts into flames. and by charring i am assuming that you mean simply hot air drying, like in a container near the fire to get it REALLY dry or maybe just a TAD light brown. due to the tiny fibers of cattail down, one really couldn't char it in the usual way. just get it super dry. how's it done?

[historicaltrekking]

@WCherokeeW Any plant tinders that require charring are charred directly in the fire. Not just dried, but charred black. Then you place this charred tinder in the tinderbox to smother it. Then it is ready to catch & hold a spark struck from flint & steel. See my video: Field Preparation Of Plant Tinder For Use With Flint & Steel By Charring. On my channel.

Regards.

[oldguy537]

great demonstration and explanations Keith, YT is full of weekend warriors, I wouldn't pay to much attention to the knockers on here, experience will always come out on top .. thanks for sharing ..

[historicaltrekking]

@oldguy537 Thank you, appreciated.

[blackbat1339]

if you had a fresh tinder box a piece charcloth on top of your plant tinder could be used to burn in your tinder box, to char it, give a place to catch a spark, but at that point charcloth and tinder box are no longer associated.

[historicaltrekking]

@blackbat1339 Mate my apologies, but I am not sure I understand your question. I rarely use charred cloth. I use charred plant tinder material. I strike the spark directly onto the tinder in my tinderbox. I place the kindling dried grass (or whatever I am using) directly against the glowing ember on the tinder in the tinderbox & blow it into flame.

I hope this is what you wanted. If not, get back to me.

Regards.

[bobbycarey123]

what material would you use in New Hampshire

[historicaltrekking]

@bobbycarey123 Bobby, I live in New England Australia, so do not have all the info you require, but I would suggest Amadou from the fungus Fomes Fomentarius usually found on Birch trees. Punk wood, cattail heads.

Regards, Keith.

[bobbycarey123]

@historicaltrekking thank you

[mtnman156]

Love the instructions on the old way. I do carry charcloth though, as well as a lighter. Knowing lots of ways to make fire is the answer to survival in the bush. I practice bush craft for the relaxation factor. As I'm sure you do too. I mean if you didn't enjoy it, you wouldn't do it.

[shippen2010]

Very nice demo Thank you

[MTNMANTIM]

Your absolutely right Keith. It's not about speed in fact none of the "skills" are about speed. The key is effeciency not speed. Speed in the bush kills or injures, plain and simple ! whether it's loading a gun, starting a fire, sharpening a kife , walking etc.doesn't matter...you take your time. Speed is great and fun at rendezvous and such but has no place in the wilds.

I didn't know you we're in the hospital,my sincerest wishes for a full,complete,and swift recovery!

take good care

Tim

[historicaltrekking]

@MTNMANTIM Thank you Tim, much appreciated. I am now back home in my beloved forest.

Regards, Keith.

[willtry2survive1]

Keith, excellent job! Nice to see that somebody is keeping the old ways alive.

[quick1911]

Disregard my questions. I found your other videos on natural tinders and subscribed to your channel. God bless and have a fast recovery.

[quick1911]

Thank you for the excellent information. I can easily get an ember with quartz and steel using charred cloth but havent had luck with dry grasses yet. I haven't found any tinder fungus to try. Is the natural material in your tinder box charred? What types of material do you use in your tinder box? Thanks from Virginia USA.

[historicaltrekking]

@quick1911 I will answwere this anyway. I have tried dry grass as a tinder, but had no luck. It is a good kindling though. Some of the tinder in my tinderbox has not been charred, but it will char as I use the tinderbox to make fire. Two of the most common & easy to find tinders in your neck of the woods are Punkwood and the dried flower head tops of the cattail plant. Both need to be charred in the fire and then smothered in your tinderbox.

Good luck, and let me know how you go.

Regards.

[quick1911]

@historicaltrekking I found some punk wood and charred it as you suggested. I was amazed it takes a spark just as easy as charred cloth but burns much longer making starting the tinder bundel much easier! I'll give the cat tail heads a try when I find some. Thanks.

[historicaltrekking]

@LeftyTracking Thank you, appreciated.

Regards, Keith aka Le Loup.

[historicaltrekking]

@LeftyTracking Thank you, much appreciated. I am still in hospital recovering from surgery, and it is good to receive such messages. Hopefully I move to rehab hospital, still in Sydney, tomorrow, then home in two weeks. I will endeavour to post more videos as soon as I am home.

Keith.

[BushcraftScout]

Great Video. I very much enjoyed it. Good Show!

[historicaltrekking]

@BushcraftScout Glad you liked it, & your feedback is much appreciated.

Keith.

[dclement7]

Excellent instruction, much appreciated

[historicaltrekking]

@dclement7 Many thanks for your feedback.

Keith.

[hockey4311]

What was in the box

[historicaltrekking]

@hockey4311 Can't say for sure, this was some time ago. Probably Lietiporus Portentosus, a bracket fungus, or punk wood. I mostly use these two when I can get it. There was also some uncharred Goonagurra in there I believe.

[McHenryAnge]

I hadn't bothered with charccloth since it seemed impractical. If I can carry that, I can carry better fuels and starters.

This one makes some genuine sense and seems to be self-replicating.

Still, you took a very long time to open the box. 8D

There's no accounting for what some will say.

[historicaltrekking]

@McHenryAnge Thank you for the feedback, appreciated.

[MrAMMiranda]

Great vid, right to the point about how one should depend more on surroundings vs. the fancy stuff.

Really was admiring your tinder box, is that colonail period? Looks like brass box. Where would one find one?

[historicaltrekking]

@MrAMMiranda Yes it is colonial period & brass. I got mine many years ago from Dixie Gun Works in the USA.

[MrAMMiranda]

@historicaltrekking Ok, thanks for response. Peace, Michael

[AngelisMortis01]

@SniperTH He's Australian you muppet

[MiWilderness]

You make some excellent points in this video about the practical use of this method. Thank you very much.

[historicaltrekking]

@MiWilderness Thank you, & you are welcome.

[nedeljkomostar]

I was really enjoying watching your video and listening your English English. Your point made in here is 100% ok and many do not understand the real importance of learning to use natural resources in all aspects of bushcraft... or at least tend to use it. Thank you again for sharing it with us.

Zoran

[historicaltrekking]

@nedeljkomostar Your comment and feedback is much appreciated Zoran, thank you.

Regards.

[MrNateman89]

exactly birch bark works great to but in northern cali i have the fluff that i scrape off redwood bark

[lump88]

many, many videos showing how to take a knife and scrape a firesteel to make fire, but by far the best video on how to make fire i just watched, thanks for passing on your knowledge. i wish more people used this method, i think they wold appericate fire just a lil more...

[historicaltrekking]

@lump88 They would learn more by using flint, steel & tinderbox too my friend. Thanks for your comment & feedback, appreciated.

Regards.

[onebigyooper]

great videio, i was wondering what you were using for tinder. was it wood coals, some charred punk wood, or some of da black fungus from birch. thanks for any info.

[historicaltrekking]

@onebigyooper Could have been one of several, can't remember now. I use punkwood, Yacka, Rivardenia Cretacia (bracket fungus) mostly, but there are others. No Birch growing in the wild here in Australia.

[historicaltrekking]

Using natural materials is just as easy as using charred cloth. Personally I think you are better off using natural materials all the time, collecting it & preparing it. In that way you will become proficient.

[jpm83able]

@historicaltrekking

You are right. last weekend I actually tried to find my tinder fungus that I had prepared in lye or washing soda solution some 10+ years ago from my homeplace coudln't find it so I might have to make new. I'm just getting back to the bushcraft stuff after many years brake. Sort of getting back to the basics and finding some peace and refeshment from the wild.

[historicaltrekking]

@jpm83able  Good to hear you are getting back into it, back to your roots. Good luck.

Regards, Le Loup.

[jpm83able]

How I see it you should save the "easiest" fire strarting methods for last resort in survival or long forest trip situation. Because when conditions are good and your energy level is good it's more likely that you will get the fire going quite effortlessly with those natural materials and you won't waste that limited supply of char cloth or matches you got. And can save those to the more challenging weather conditions or to the situation it's too hard to make fire with natural materials.

[historicaltrekking]

Glad you liked it, & thanks for the feedback. Yes, I still have more to learn, it never stops.

[OutdoorEnthusiast101]

Excellent demonstration bud , Its videos like this that teach you Yeah you know quite alot but you'll never stop learning . A tin and some charred punkwood will be new additions to my flint fire kit . Thanks again and keep em comin !

[historicaltrekking]

@OutdoorEnthusiast101 Thank you for the feedback, much appreciated.

Regards.

[bargo144]

Great video. Thanks for the demonstration! 

[historicaltrekking]

@bargo144 Thanks for the feedback, appreciated.

Keith.

[geraldlee33]

You have allot to teach, I commented on one of your earlier videos and I said here in the states they say use char clothe, You teach the old way or the true way of making fire, I am hooked and I want to lean more. Please keep the videos coming.

[historicaltrekking]

@geraldlee33 Well that is why I make these videos Gerald, so I am glad you like them. Welcome to living history.

Regards, Keith.

[MrFoSizzle]

your beard gives you the :3 face

[HDCYTFAN]

@MrFoSizzle Don't be a dick and watch the video or don't comment.

[MrFoSizzle]

@HDCYTFAN hey, understand what i am really saying. it was a complement asshole.

[HDCYTFAN]

@MrFoSizzle It sure sounded like a insult dibshit.

[MrFoSizzle]

@HDCYTFAN HOW THE FUCK DOES IT SOUND LIKE AN INSULT? like i said, go look it up, and know what i mean dipshit

[TheWaggaBloke]

This Gent is so, so Wright!!! well done mate!

[historicaltrekking]

@TheWaggaBloke Thank you, much appreciated.

Regards.

A Woodsrunner's Diary (Blog).

[hellerZauberer]

That is ridiculously awesome!

[historicaltrekking]

@hellerZauberer Wow! Thanks.

Regards, Le Loup.

A Woodsrunner's Diary.

[mooseyou2]

goodstuff

-boyce

[historicaltrekking]

@mooseyou2 Thank you.

A Woodsrunner's Diary.

[lesterskinner]

Very nice. thanks for sharing.

[historicaltrekking]

@lesterskinner Thanks for the feedback Lester.

[Nativesurvival]

Nice points, i couldnt Agree More! that's why i made my Natural Char Vid recently called "CharCattail" thanks for the vid, Nice technique brother, take care and appreciate the vids!

-Mitch

[historicaltrekking]

@Nativesurvival Thank you, I must check out your video.

Regards, Le Loup.

A Woodsrunner's Diary.

[HikerJohn316]

Great vid. Thanks. BTW someone asked about sharpening the edge of the flint. For a knapper this is easilly done by pressure flaking. The decorative curl on many fire steels actully was made for this too. The dull edge of the flint was put into the curl and snapped off making a sharp edge. Most curls are just decorative now.

[historicaltrekking]

@HikerJohn316 Thanks John. I did not know about the curl being used to knap. I simply use the edge of the steel, but often the edge knaps itself in use.

[huguenot67]

a well measured dose of historical reality

[historicaltrekking]

@huguenot67 Thank you.

[MTNMANTIM]

you sir are right on the money !! many folks learn the quick and easy way usin' "modern" methods and stop there thinkin' they've got it whipped . they use nice dry shredded rope, nice perfect char made at the house under ideal conditions and they have no idea how to use stuff found in the woods or how to use other methods like bow drills etc. .keep it up i love your videos !

[historicaltrekking]

@MTNMANTIM And you Sir have made my day. Thank you. You may also be interested in my blog & our group forum. Just Google A Woodsrunner's Diary.

Regards, Le Loup.

[seanmulhall]

Excellent and detailed video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[historicaltrekking]

@seanmulhall Sean, good to hear from you, & thanks for your comment, appreciated.

Keith aka Le Loup.

[BigTVideos]

I really enjoyed your video. It was real and very pratcal. thanks and looking forward to watch other ones you have done.

[historicaltrekking]

@BigTVideos Your comments are much appreciated. You will find more on my channel.

Regards.

[historicaltrekking]

@MrGr1874 Glad you like them Gr, & many thanks for the comment/feedback. Appreciated.

[braedinn]

once again,,another fine video keith,,,ty

[historicaltrekking]

@braedinn Thank you, appreciated.

[KURGAN44]

Really excellent video. I liked the explanation of the true tinderbox usage and the reality of charcloth. I have been beginning to use flint and steel outdoors and quickly discovered the shortcomings of the cloth. lol In the tinderbox would you use charred wood from the fire or only something like amadou? Look fwd to more vids!

[historicaltrekking]

@KURGAN44 I only use plant tinders. Yes you could use Amadou, we do not have that one here. Mostly I use Punk Wood, that is the dry rotten wood often found in the base of dead fallen trees. I see you are in the US. You can use the inner pith from the stem/trunk of the American Aloe or sentry tree. Also the dry heads of cattail plants. Try the inner core of the Yucca flower stem.

[KURGAN44]

@historicaltrekking I want to really thank you for taking the extra time to give me the information that directly pertains to my area. I had not thought about those sources. While trekking a lot as a youth I used dry grass, cattails, and have used punk wood after trips to the mountains. Thank you again.

[historicaltrekking]

@KURGAN44 You are very welcome, glad I was of some help.

[Sancastrochez]

very good demostration sir, your fire skills are great thanks for share with us your knowledge.

[historicaltrekking]

@Sancastrochez The pleasure is mine sir. Thank you for the feedback.

Regards.

[deanznz]

I have never tried charred cloth because it is not readily available in the bush so I'm glad someone experienced like you does not prefer it either. It's probably blasphemy to your ears but I quite like the modern firesteel and wood scrapings to create a flame because it's repeatable until the firesteel is worn out, but now I'm going to have to try punk wood and a tinder box, many thanks for posting these rare to see historical ways.

[historicaltrekking]

@deanznz I appreciate your feedback & comments. Thank you.

Regards.

[historicaltrekking]

My apologies if you already know this, but first off the spark comes from the steel, not the flint. The tinder I am using here is punkwood, that is the soft pithy rotten wood one often finds in the base of fallen trees. But there are many other plant tinders.

Regards.

[TomsBackwoods]

Great video! But what did you use to catch the spark from the flint to light the tinder? Sorry I missed it...

[entmage]

I'm better at making fire with coals than char cloth. So this is good news for me.

[EDINBURGSTAR]

Very well explained video and most valuable since it is the truth. Life must have been hard enouth during this period and cloth must have been very important so as not to burn it for char cloth. Just a thought.

[historicaltrekking]

@EDINBURGSTAR Thank you. Yes I think you are right. No doubt in upper class homes some clothing would be passed down, possibly some items may have gone to servants. Again it would be a personell thing and depend on how much money there was and if they were thrifty or not. I should point out that the tinderbox in many houses were quite large, some of wood(!). They had an internal cover that was lowered onto the smouldering tinder to smother it.

[HowToHistory]

Great job as usual.  Do you have recommendations on how to make initial plant tinder?

[historicaltrekking]

@HowToHistory Obviously not all plants can be used as tinder. Out of those that can be used, some need no preparation and others do. There are three methods of tinder preparation/use. (1) To soake in a solution of potasium nitrate and water & dry. This was used mainly on Amadou in Europe & sold in the streets and apocothery shops. (2) To char the material in the fire and then smother it in a tinderbox for later use. (3) To use a little gunpowder to ignite the tinder/to start it smouldering.

[MuskratBushcraft]

I use a similiar methods with a lozenge tin for my tinder box.I was wondering if you could give a video on reknapping a dull flint edge.

[historicaltrekking]

@MuskratBushcraft Just for you, I will make one.

Thank you.

Regards.

[phrayzar]

G'day mate, just wondering if you waterproof your leather pouches, if so what do you use. Any advise appreciated, regards, Frazer.

[historicaltrekking]

@phrayzar Hi Frazer! Long time since I heard from you. I used to use lard & beeswax mix, the latest is a mix of beeswax & neetsfoot oil (NOT COMPOUND!). But neetsfoot oil on its own is pretty good, but does not last as long as the beeswax mix. I usually like to rub in in warm in front of the fire. With the beeswax mix I sit the container in front of the fire so it starts to melt, then rub it in with a rag.

Good to hear from you Frazer.

Regards.