Flint and Steel. Comparing four types of charred cloth

Flint and Steel. Comparing four types of charred cloth used for lighting with flint and steel fires. Cattail, dryer lint, bluejeans, punky wood.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• fire
• flint
• steel
• traditional
• starting
• charred
• cloth
• burnt
• Bushcraft
• nature
• lore
• survival
• outdoors
• chad
• clifford
• wil

[ChadHClifford]

Hey that makes sense---Will try soon!

[Hedgehobbit]

That's an odd way of using punk wood. I keep a big piece in the tin and strike sparks into it. When I've finished my fire I close the tin and snuff it out.

[ChadHClifford]

Yes true---thought I would try it. What type of wood do you prefer?

[ROBwithaB]

I find that the material that works best is a thin cotton rope. It chars uniformally, and the ends can be frayed out in the target area without disintegrating. The loose strands on the ends are exceptionally good at catching sparks.

[ChadHClifford]

Good idea. I have used cedar rope to carry coal--not precharred. So charred would likely catch a good sparlk too.  Thanks

[ChadHClifford]

Good point!

Cheers

[Hedgehobbit]

For punk wood, try charring it in the fire with some tongs instead of in a tin. That way only the outer surface is charred and it should hold together better. Search "striking fire 1920" on youtube for a video of a guy apparently (hard to tell it's black and white) lighting a uncharred piece of punk wood.

[blackbat1339]

charred punk is best for a tinder box

[HikerJohn316]

Great vid. Interesting to compare. We get used to cotton cloth but cattail is more "period" for when cloth was expensive.

[ChadHClifford]

Cheers!!