Field Preparation Of Plant Tinder For Use With Flint & Steel By Charring.

Preparing plant tinder by charring directly in the fire & using a tinderbox.

New England Colonial Living History Group 1680-1760, Armidale NSW Australia.
Forum: http://eighteenthcenturylivinghistory.freeforums.org/
Presenter's Blog: http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• tinder
• plants
• charring
• tinderbox
• bushcraft
• survival
• woodscraft
• woods lore
• 18th century
• flint and steel
• fire lighting
• making fire
• living history
• historical reenactment
• colonial
• settlers
• New World
• America
• Australia
• Armidale NSW

[historicaltrekking]

If you watch this video you will see that I do not use a tin. Even when I did use a tin for charring cloth, there was never any tar collecting in the tin. Perhaps you are using wet wood?

No I have no idea what you can use the tar for. Sorry I can't help.

Regards.

[jtdrummer2112]

Does that tinderbox that you used have a hole in top or is it airtight?

[historicaltrekking]

@jtdrummer2112 It is not air tight, but NO it does not have a hole in the lid. You are thinking about the modern way of charring cloth, the tinderbox was/is not used that way. Plant tinders are charred directly in the fire, then placed in the tinderbox to smother the ebmers. You only char the surface of the plant material, not right through. If there was a hole in the tinderbox, the tinder would continue to smoulder until it was all consumed.

[historicaltrekking]

@jtdrummer2112 NUMBER TWO REPLY. Continued: You strike the sparks directly onto the tinder in the tinderbox, then place the kindling dry grass (or whatever you use) on the smouldering tinder in the tinderbox & blow it into flame. Then you close the lid & save it for next time. The tinder will aventually have to be renewed, but it will last for a while. You can add unprepared plant material to the tinderbox, & it will char with use.

Regards, Keith.

A Woodsrunner's Diary Blog.

[evee608]

ok from now on im carrying my lucky flint arrowhead wherever i go along with my broken steel lock piece :3

[historicaltrekking]

@evee608 Yes I guess you could use the "hammer/steel" from a flint lock, but I hate the thought of you damaging your flint arrow head! The hammer may be difficult to hold firmly enough to strike it with a flint. Pitty you don't have the whole lock, you could use that.

Regards, Keith.

A Woodsrunner's Diary Blog.

[robmochdre]

Thanks for the tip Keith !

I will be using this method in future.

Cheers

Rob

[hempseed57]

I have made char clothe and char wood before but was wondering if you know of any uses for the tar that collects on the inside of the tin?

[evee608]

@historicaltrekking i hate the thought too.

[historicaltrekking]

@evee608  Good luck. If you have any questions, just ask.

Regards, Le Loup.

A Woodsrunner's Diary (Blog).