Charring Punk Wood and Using Char with Flint and Steel and Solar

[@johnqpublic2718]

I've only been "lost" in the woods with nothing a couple days out of a 6 day hike in the ozarks. That was enough for me to prepare that it never happens again.

[@waveman0]

I look at char cloth as an easy resource, it is so easy to make and makes flint and steel so easy to achieve an ember with. I buy my denim to make char cloth (which I find makes the best char cloth) from op-shops for like $5 (or less) a pair (I don't care what size or style they are and often buy $20 worth at a time) and a single pair gives me a whole heap of pieces, like 100 squares or more. I use every thing the seams and almost everything.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I just use the free punkwood.

[@waveman0]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret I too love punk wood, when I can find it. I have found though punk wood some times is a bit inconsistent taking a spark (with flint and steel). Some of it would take a spark so easily and then I got onto another lot and had to go to ember transfer method as it would not take a spark from the flint and steel.

[@johnthomasjr262]

I feel very similar about cotton cloth in the field. There is so much punk wood around here that carrying any cloth extra just for charing is a waste of space. And as for what I have found to be my absolute favorite cotton to fill up my char tin with before stepping out is the cotton rounds sold in the cosmetics department of many stores. It is not as fragile as tshirt or bandana material and is already cut to the right size!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

The rounds do work great. That and cotton gauze pads I really like also

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Several of the tips that you shared about the tinder nest and ember relationship, demonstrates your great understanding of the physics involved.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, brother! My wife and I are biologists at our core so the science of all of it fascinates us. Always appreciate you stopping in

[@Caintuckee64]

*The little A-frame idea (@**2:22**) is KILLER! So simple, yet effective! Thanks bro!*

[@kan-zee]

Outstanding job there sir ! 3 levels of Survival -------------------------------- 💥#1 *Primitive/Tribal* (natural materials & DIY tools) = 🔴Friction fire / flint on flint 🔺hoof Fungus , birds nest, grass & barks, charred wood / grease wood / Animal manure/ Tree Resin 💥💥#2 *Classical/Traditional* (mountain man , Pioneers, Explorers ) = 🔴Flint and STEEL / magnifying lens / Spunks 🔺 *Char Cloth/Charred wood* / tinder tubes / lantern wicks / lint balls / Waxed jute 💥💥💥#3 *Modern/Technology* (after industrial age) = 🔴Matches / Ferro Rod / Lighters/ Chemicals 🔺Fire Gels / Sure fire / vasey CBalls / Parabolic lense / popbottle + water lense/ ranger bands / cotton Gauze / Hand Sanitizer / rubbing alcohol / shoe polish / chap, chaff stick / bar bq chemical charcoal

[@treerat6959]

Real good demonstration on container Charing , you can also char it without the container just place real close to fire let it burn some then bury it in sand or dirt to cut of oxygen. I like that you always think ahead to have this ready for your next fire.

[@johnqpublic2718]

I grew up traipsing through the Oklahoma crosstimbers and came across oak punkwood all the time. I loved pushing over small trees that turned to punk wood while standing. Felt so powerful. Didnt know you could char it like cloth. Ya never know, this could be the bit of info to save me one day.

[@danielblanchard6487]

Thanks

[@andygrant9733]

Outstanding techniques! I know im repeating others have said, but you needed to hear it from me. I'm always learning and expanding my techniques through you. Please never stop teaching, it's in your DNA. Hooya. To quote a friend of mine " the reason we have soldiers is even sailors need heroes !!!" Thanks for your dedication!

[@stewpidasso288]

A like and a comment to help the channel.

[@mike-yp1uk]

Next fire mentality. Love it

[@josephb7460]

That's another bad arse fire. No games just get it done. I like to experiment with different materials to see if they will char. Outstanding.......

[@michaelcarter8209]

Outstanding

[@timbo4374]

Thank now!s for showing us this..never used punk char before. Can't wait to try it out

[@catmandont100]

Bracket Fungi is a Great resource, for starting embers.

[@brettlaw920]

I think you have an excellent point about charring natural materials and charcloth being suburban. Making an all natural bow saw fire can take hours, but with charred material flint and steel, smacking two rocks together is actually useful. Doesn't mean I wouldn't encourage people to practice all natural fire making, I would just encourage making all natural materials into char material a second nature thing. The other technique I think is valuable and not really discussed is packing firelays with clay and dirt to vastly extend the life of the fire, a technique I picked up from Sigma 3 survival school's videos.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I teach the packing for the pyramid fire lay (all-night/upside down, many names for it). That is really the fire lay it is appropriate for.

[@johnburgin7478]

Thanks for the information

[@timwaldroup9654]

Had never considered doing this till subscribing to your videos . New ideas for me to attempt.

[@ericcapell5062]

You are the fire starting BOSS! Thanks for sharing.

[@darellgriffin8177]

Going to the Mulberry River in Arkansas this weekend. Im going to practice these techniques. Thanks for the videos!!

[@gregcain6634]

Great tip! Thanks Josh!

[@chadsims44]

Great stuff!! me and a buddy just charred some punk wood over an alcohol stove last weekend

[@chadsims44]

It took 5 min or less and it was perfect

[@philg6676]

Awesome video as usual. I'm always amazed how you can start a fire with so little.

[@thomasnugent7602]

Very good, Thank you very much

[@BushcraftWoodsDevil]

I love solar and charred punk wood. I scored an excellent burning lens from a broken pair of binoculars on the side of the road and they work great....as long as you have sun, lol. I have not had luck getting steel sparks to catch. Dull Chert I'd guess. Probably should just break down and buy some good English Flint shards.

[@shovelhead8]

Great lesson. Thank you

[@gringo3009]

Great demo, as always. Thanks!

[@Eric-ew8jt]

Great tutorial as always thank you enjoy your weekend

[@nathanb1084]

Great video. You really have a knack for teaching.

[@BennyBladez-]

Great videos. T.Y. for your service

[@jeffsmith6441]

Always think about that next fire.

[@chiefkirk]

Good demo brother. Thanks for sharing pal.

[@kentondurrant8017]

Excellent video. Keep up the outstanding job

[@chadhenry5128]

Thanks for posting man👊

[@MichaelR58]

Joshua, thanks for sharing, atb brother !

[@jakehundley90]

What about the mocs?

[@redred333]

good

[@jojodiver8706]

Punk wood isn't really necessary for this. I just put a few hot coals into my tin and suffocate them. Sparks up just as easily as punk. Nice vid BTW. Christmas morning, windy and10℉ outside, but feeling lazy. So I'll just sit here with my coffee and watch you build us a fire. LOL

[@tyonarms6735]

I don't know if you would even have an answer for this. I certainly haven't found one. In the Sonoran desert where I live punk wood doesn't exist. First too dry, secondly the termites devour any dead or fallen wood to powder in an amazingly quick amount of time. Are there any good substitutes that you know of other than just carrying char cloth, or charred rope like sisal or hemp?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

That definitely is not my area of specialty, but in the absence of punk wood I typically char shredded inner and outer barks, fungi (which you may not have either), even dried grasses, cattail fluff, etc. basically most things that you would use for your tinder bundle to place that charcloth you are carrying in can likely be charred successfully.

[@tyonarms6735]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret thanks

[@DouglasTuret]

Hey Josh? You comment about punky wood being “soft, spongey stuff” begs a question (or two)... 1) If trees are mostly cellulose and punky wood is “soft, spongey stuff”, do you think slices or torn off chunks of old cellulose kitchen sponges would work well as char “cloth”? (And...) 2) Since I so often see/hear you and others speak of cotton bandana material as ideal material for charring, I have to wonder if cotton shop cloths or terry cloth towels would be as good (or better), given the addition of their textured surfaces. Have you ever tried charring and sparking either of these materials? Many thanks, in advance, and keep up the good work!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I think the sponges would work so long as they were in fact natural material. Cotton terry cloth towels are excellent, as well as cotton gauze, for the exact reason you mentioned. I haven’t tried the shop towels but have no reason to think they would behave the same

[@kidbach]

When is someone in the woodcraft community gonna do something about the punk wood running rampant through the wilderness unchecked? Think of the poor children. P. S. Have I mentioned that fire looks awfully familiar?

[@Just_Chuck_It]

In reference to char material, why not just use charged wood fragments from your extinguished fire. Would not not work the same?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

It is not the same, no. Char is made anaerobically (removing air from the fire triangle). Burnt wood fragments from your fire were not.

[@Just_Chuck_It]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret Right. But wouldn't burnt wood fragments (charred wood) take a spark just like the char material that was made using the charring method you demonstrate? I am just trying to wrap my head around it that's all......

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Charles Cline no, charred material is not actually burnt like the coals from a fire. It’s heated in the absence of air so that it can’t combust which pushes out impurities and leaves you with carbon fuel that isn’t burnt that readily accepts heat from the ignition source. It’s commonly used for a “cool spark” from traditional flint and steel (roughly an 800 degree spark that is short lived). Coals from the fire are actually burnt (spent) fuel because they were produced in the presence of air which allowed them to combust.

[@CalebP618]

I've never understood why folks hold the char cloth on top of the flint. You strike downward thus showering sparks in a downward direction. I hold mine underneath. Lol.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

That’s actually not true, though. If you strike down onto the steel white the flint the flint will remove material from the steel and that will be up and out from the point of impact. If you hold the steel steady and strike with the flint, the steel is removed in a downward and outward direction.

[@ronphillips6336]

Any advice on foot care?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Wear well broken in boots, change your socks often, and don’t sleep with your boots on. That’s really all I do.

[@nitafarmer3139]

Does the size of the Tin matter? When is there too much in a Tin? Thank's.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Tin size doesn’t matter but you can overstuff them and slow the process down. Just needs to be loosely packed so the heat can get all around the material.

[@rebekah-chriss-k4872]

Awesome demonstration thanks for sharing what type of footwear are you wearing in this video ?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

The ones I am wearing in this video I am sad to say are terrible. They are the only pair of Salomon boots that I have had bad luck with. The laces don’t stay tied (slick paracord-like laces) and the seams started coming apart within a week, and they were only waterproof for about that long. I bought them in a hurry and just went with the lowest cost that was right in front of me. I have had dozens of Salomon that were outstanding, but these were not. These are the Authentic LTR GTX model and I can’t wait to throw them out. The Salomon Quest 4D GTX are a better investment

[@jakehundley90]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret what about the mocs?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

@@jakehundley90 the Mocs are good, my summer ones are trashed and I need to make a new pair. The winter ones I cant wear yet because they are for extreme cold weather

[@CalebP618]

Can punk wood be any semi decomposing spongy wood?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

You can use any soft spongy wood, yes. Some is a little better than others but the only way to know is to make it and test it with what you have

[@billygarfield5520]

Is it possible to use balsa wood instead of punk wood?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I have never tried it to be able to tell you for sure. It’s possible I suppose. I don’t have any in my area to try

[@lamarcarter6699]

Why can’t you use the char from the fire

[@GrumpyGrunt]

So, I have to ask...did you trim the beard or did the fire trim it for you? 🤣

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

It gets trimmed once in awhile, but have yet to burn it

[@marvinbrock960]

You never said what you were using from nature instead of cotton.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Punkwood is from nature