Flint and Steel Char Cloth Tin - Does It Really Need a Hole?

[@clivewilkinson5394]

Awesome! Brought back memories of my father, a child of WW2, and his charcloth hand warmer. Afte making char cloth he would put it in a tin, usually a tobacco tin with a fine hole in the top. Used a fine pin nail.. he would light the chat cloth get it to burn then close the lid. If the hole is right the chat cloth will glow and get hot. For hours, it was a way to keep warm in an air raid shelter. It works.

[@jamescooper2618]

I tried making char cloth for the first time this past weekend. Tossed a bunch of denim squares into a coffee can and covered it with 4 layers of alum foil and pressed it down tightly. tossed it into the gas grill on high and let her cook. When the smoke stopped, I took it out and let it cool well. It made PERFECT char cloth. Denim material rocks! I used a magnifier glass. As soon as the sun spot hit the cloth, poof, I had smoke coming off and accidently burnt my finger tip! I was surprised just how flammable the stuff is. Good vid Brian!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks James. Yeah, the denim rocks.

[@joemccall4555]

How do I get rid of the words across the screen? They block the picture.

[@donlute3444]

@@joemccall4555 turn off cc, closed caption. If that dont work.....go out and make char cloth.

[@donlute3444]

HEY! Everyone, dont make fire unless you hotdogs or marshmallows or both other wise your wasting a good fire, there's gotta be a law against that.

[@HorizonsleatherBlogspot2012]

I always poke a hole not just to permit the gasses from escaping, but to use as a guide to gauge proper burn time. When the flame coming out of the hole disappears, your char material is done. This takes all the guess work out of the process, saving you time and producing the highest quality material.

[@abigailkreiss7215]

HORIZONS you could see the gases and flames escaping in all three examples, right?

[@_-stormtrooper703-_9]

+Abigail Kreiss hi

[@chriscastillo3866]

Never made flame when I made it, only white smoke, but when the smoke stopped I'd stop the fire, so same priciple

[@Rick-wn5oh]

@@chriscastillo3866 Stick a match to the smoke and it will light up and burn and continue burning until the char is finished. You can also do this on the stove in your house. Burning gas coming out of the hole will keep your house from smoking up.

[@chriscastillo3866]

The Hole isnt a proper indicator, the flame can go out and the cloth may not always be ready

[@matthewlanaway2239]

Interesting video SOP. It made me curious, I asked AlfieAesthetics what he thought about char tins having holes as hes pretty knowledgable, he seems to like his char a lot and this was his answer: “It largely depends on the quantity and density of the matter you’re planning to char. If you plan to only char a couple pieces of cloth or a small section of fungus, then a ventilation hole is not an absolute necessity - the gases produced in the charring process will escape through the threads and/or hinges of your tin. But if you’re planning to char a substantial amount of material, for example - packing your tin with lots of Fomes Fomentarius or Denim, then a ventilation hole is a necessity. If the gases released in the charring process can not escape faster than they are produced, then the pressure exerted by particle collisions inside your container will accumulate to the point where the tin may explode (or at-least pop the lid off), either way - that will rapidly expose your piping hot char products to oxygen and fire debris which will most certainly cause your char products to begin smoldering. Big waste of time. Bad times. However, this is assuming that the container in question is not airtight in the true sense of the word. Many common charring tins are mint tins or tobacco tins - they’re not air tight, they have loose fitting threads and hinges that allow gases to escape through. You don’t necessarily need to poke a hole in those containers unless you are charring a lot of dense matter. But if the char tin in question is infact airtight, then a ventilation hole is absolutely essential. The reason I have a hole in my char tin is because it is a true airtight container with a screwcap locking mechanism, it needs a vent or it will explode. That’s not a lesson you want to learn the hard way! So yeah, the reason why many people put holes in their char tin is the same reason as why vehicles have exhausts. Prevents kaboom.”

[@jailer23044]

I would agree, largely I think it depends on how air tight the container is and how much gas is being produced. For example, my son and I were making charcoal for a water filter for a boy scout project, in doing so I had a large can full of scrap wood in the fire. I had a hole punched in the lid which was fairly tight. The wood produced so much gas even with the hole, that the lid popped off the can (better the lid than the seam of the can). When repeating the experiment for the next batch we used less wood in the can and it worked fine and the lid stayed on. I would say if the lid on your char tin screws on you should definitely have a hole. I doubt seriously that anyone would be hurt if the seam of the can let go but it's not worth finding out either, better safe than sorry.

[@TheCryptKeeper8]

Very helpful Matthew. Cheers.

[@UuddlerLeRoyBaStart]

This is very true

[@mlangfordoutdoor]

@@jailer23044 So yeah true

[@carlsutherland3730]

So what the heck are y'all using solid pipes with srewon ends for anyway. That's against the law if they catch you doing that. Even with a hole in it ATF will say fuse hole. SEE! Motors leak gas with just a little wear and no oil, and that's people giving it their all. Unless you are inserting a fuse you probably won't need a hole.

[@censusgary]

I have always suspected that the small openings around Altoids tin hinges would be enough to vent gases when making char. I’m a little surprised that even the candy tin, with no visible gaps, still had a loose enough cover to vent gases. Good demonstration.

[@KnifeCrazzzzy]

I was talking to David Wescott about this and I’ve always used a hole and he never even heard of using a hole for it. So we tried it out and it works both ways. Glad you put this out there for everyone. Cheers.

[@gottadance5672]

Thanx Brian. I was taught with a tin that had a very tight lid; no hole. The NA elder said you would hear it when it's done. Haha, he was right. The lid pops. I push it back on with an antler and move it out of the direct heat. The char jean is the same as yours. This is a skill I will never forget and am thrilled to teach others.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks for watching.

[@jason4522]

Finally!!! A survival show with no BS. Thank you sir for plain talking and very informative videos. I have subscribed and look forward to more awesome videos.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Aw thanks.

[@socal65]

I don't think you need the hole in an Altoids tin, but if you do want to punch a hole, do this: Open the can and place the lid upside down on the stump and punch through from the inside. This way the container will not collapse. Keep the great videos coming!

[@radscientist]

For an Altoids tin, I have never punched a hole in the lid. It breathes well enough at the hinge and around the corners. If I had a screw top or other tin that sealed better, I would punch a small hole.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Yep

[@myYOLOtek]

Well said. I am a new scoutmaster and my 13-year-old senior patrol leader and I did this for the first time after watching your video. Really like your philosophy and we are building our skill because of you. Thank you

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'm glad it helped.

[@AMC-eq3jr]

This is an expert demonstration and life lesson. Your wisdom is much appreciated. Thank you, sir.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@malsoonsakit4786]

Simple instructions. They didn't teach us this in Boyscouts (Beirut-Lebanon) as we were marine scouts. I'm 76+ and willing to challenge myself learning new trics.

[@Ravenwolf31415]

Curios Malsoonsakit,know Marine John Henry last intital A

[@stephenrichie4646]

Brian: ran a test. Used 2x2 rifle cleaning patches that appeared to be cotton flannel. Put them in a ROUND Altoid tin. Apparently tight seal. No apparent escape of gasses while cooking. 16 minutes. Char cloth surprisingly strong. Caught several hearty embers easily off a cheap ferro rod. Long burn time. Color me happy!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Cool. Good idea.

[@richiedej8894]

Old video and still extremely relevant. I was making char for the first time this weekend, and this answered several questions I was pondering. Thanks.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I am glad it helped.

[@longbowshooter5291]

When trying to strike a spark with the flint & steel when the charcloth is on the ground then strike the steel with the flint. When you hold the charcloth on the top of the flint, strike the flint with the steel. Striking the flint with the steel makes the sparks shoot upwards, striking the steel with the flint makes the sparks go downward.

[@BansheeFifteen]

Glad to see it took you several to many strikes with the flint and steel. It also takes me many strikes. Like you say, practice develops the skill. Thank you.

[@johnbarber6189]

I believe the hole is just easier to see when the flame and smoke stops coming out of the hole, so you know the char cloth is done before you take it off the heat source, Nice video i enjoyed watching your test.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I agree.

[@equinociodeverao8155]

John Barber exactly! The wood char is made this way.

[@farhad_tulip]

Thank you very much for your good tutorial and comparison video

[@robb7213]

Great video, my son and I made char cloth a few months ago for our fire kits he is eight yrs.old and enjoys learning the camping and survival skills. ..thanks again we always enjoy the videos...

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks for watching.

[@jimmyjimmy951]

Nice, straight up review. Results don’t lie. If it vents it works. 👍🇦🇺

[@jamesteffertiller7813]

depends on how well the tin seals. a tight seal will cause the lid to pop off when the gas expands.

[@bashfulbrother]

Man am I glad you shot this video. I have just started getting into making char and I was under the misunderstanding a hole in the container was mandatory. So thank you. Really appreciate you doing this.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

+bashfulbrother It doesn't hurt though

[@backwoodsbushcraftingbaffo9400]

I've always poked a hole regardless of what I'm charing, I like to keep up with my burn with it. Great video, thanks for taking the time to do this! Have a great one!

[@user-xs1wh7mq4b]

Great job. Have you ever tried hitting your stone on the striker instead of striker to stone? I find I shave off the flakes of steel better and they drop. Striker to stone actually curls the flakes upward.

[@MIKESWILDWORLD]

That was great. Well done. Makes perfect sense!

[@b5maddog]

Thank you once again Bryan for another great and informative video. I never really understood this flint, steel and char cloth technique before this video, but you made it extremely clear. I will be trying this out real soon. God bless always

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'm glad it helps

[@livingsurvival]

Already has holes in the back, I've never put a hole in the tin.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I know, but a lot of people just assume you have to because they saw it on a video or read it somewhere. I'm not knocking videos or books, just saying there is no substitute for hands on experience.

[@livingsurvival]

Definitely agree with you!

[@Sam-lm8gi]

11:37 Just a friendly tip: it's easier to make an ember if you hold the steel close to the char and strike with the rock. The sparks originate from the steel, which you scrape with the rock, so you want the steel sparks as close to the char as possible, because the more distance the sparks travel, the colder they become until they vanish... Hope that helps.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks

[@spwan10]

I think it proved it's more personal preference than anything. They both yielded the same results. It just one of those things maybe that come down to personal preference and not actual fact. Thanks for the video, i also planned on making some charcoal today and ran into the dilemma of whether I should make a make hole or not and since I've never done it before I was really unsure what would yield the best results but this help me out so thanks again.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

thanks for watching

[@karencorrigan5167]

Great video on showing what anyone making char cloth already should have noticed....gas escapes from just the hole. I myself noticed this and then did what you did, checking to see if it worked without the hole. One thing I learned though is that you can over cook char cloth. You can tell this by it looking more like a screen than cloth still. :) And it falling apart into ash/dust. Also, the reason you have to let it cool down? Because if you open the tin right away, its hot enough inside and any breeze on the cloth causes embers on it immediately. :) Lessons learned. Thanks for the video!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'm glad you liked it.

[@lorenzomendoza5455]

I've never poked a hole in mine, an it has always worked great.

[@beerdrinker6452]

Always interesting and informative content. Thank you.

[@scotunotee707]

looks like it got the job done with out the vent hole. I always put a hole in a tin. thanks now I dont need to ruin the tin to make my char cloth. Thanks.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

+Scot Unotee live and learn

[@EthanBlakeProductions]

Thanks for posting. I’m going to give this a try for the first time. This was very helpful.

[@MrMalikLucius]

This was fantastic to see. I like the center hole in my tin because the long gas jet is very visible amid the fire, but I was expecting the round tin to pop open when the gas pressure became to unequal. On a note unrelated to the cloth, I've got to throw something out there, man- when you're striking your steel, using the steel to strike the flint throws your sparks upward. It's the best way to strike when you're holding your char or other tinder atop the flint, but it gives you a rough time if you're trying to throw sparks downward. Sparking down, you'll get a better result swinging the flint down against the steel, and you're going to chip your flint a lot less.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

+MrMalikLucius Yeah, sometimes it just doesn't work as well for me with the cloth on top. Other times it does great. As long as I wind up with a fire I don't care.

[@johnmurdock5001]

I learned to do this many moons ago in the Boy Scouts. We used shoe polish tins with a hole in it.

[@bluesideup007]

Thank you for the demo. As long as you have an anaerobic environment it should work as you demonstrated.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Indeed

[@bluesideup007]

Based on your video, I did my own test with 2 Altoid tins and one somewhat larger standard steel tin with fairly tight fitting lid. All were loaded with cut squares of blue jean material and filled to about 80% capacity. NO HOLES were placed. They were placed on my side burner of my gas grill, and after a few min began to smoke. Soon flames developed from escaping gas around the lids. After another 5 min the flames and smoke subsided, and they were removed after 8-10 min. They all produced the best char cloth ever!. Thank you! (made several batches)

[@barryfroelich3526]

Nice to know the container with no hole works too. Great information

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brettsteele7386]

I watched a video today where the guy used steel wool instead. That can't be made out in the field but it did work. Great video as usual Brian. I am glad it is that easy to make char cloth. I think I will make some and buy some steel wool.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

+Brett Steele Steel wool will start a fire with a battery too.

[@jbelme1]

I just used your Altoid tin technique(top load-no hole) to make char cloth. I just made a fire with the first strike using driveway gravel (chert) and a steel striker from Townsends. Thank you for the info on making char.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

thanks

[@weberbr2003]

Thanks for the comparison video. I have made char cloth multiple times in an Altoid tin without poking a hole in the lid.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Bruce Weber too, I just wanted to play around and see what would happen.

[@cwsmith17]

I'm really glad you covered this. I was actually thinking about this topic and did not see it on Dave Canterbury's site.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Chris Smith Just make sure you watch the follow up videos on this subject.

[@cwsmith17]

Ok will do

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Bottom line, holes are good after all.

[@whoever6458]

When I first went to make char cloth, I forgot about the hole part. I made my container out of two beer cans cut in half and the two bottoms stuck together so that was never going to be a super tight fit. It worked just fine and I managed to start a fire with my fire steel for the first time. It's very true that a person needs practice to do these things and it's not enough to just theoretically know how to do it. Practice makes better.

[@jeffmorefield5145]

you must be in North Georgia, In SWGA we have lots of flint or chert. I have never put holes in my Altoids can when making char cloth or punk. Thanks for the video.

[@yoopersurvival]

the CHAR KING strikes again. great info great job Bryan

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks Jim. I have a follow up coming that shows what happens if you don't put a hole in an airtight tin. WAY different results.

[@survivalprepper373]

Very interresting fussy test. It shows me that a quartz stone is as good as a flint-stone and that a no hole-tin can is good for two things. It can make good charcloth and it can keep them dry too. Now I dont need to buy a flintstone and a extra airtight container for the charcloth! Thank you very much for that!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I won't say quart works as good as flint but it does work.

[@survivalprepper373]

+Survival On Purpose I believe you Brian, but a top bushcrafter like you was saying that quartz and flint have the same hardness of 7. Do you mean this can be true?

[@jamescooper2618]

The hole is definatly not needed as long as the lid is not sealed tightly. You just need to let the smoke escape. I never had any fire coming from the can. I made several bunches of char cloth easily. Make sure to let it cool well before opening!!

[@quidestveritas8713]

I agree. Knowledge and skill are important to survival as much as anything. Good video! Thanks

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Quid est Veritas Probably second to attitude.

[@jeffcorbin9967]

I have always found all of your videos to be very unique and fun to watch.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[@PhilAnderson8010]

Good video, in all cases you've demonstrated that oxygen flow was restricted enough to keep the cloth from flaming out to dust. Thanks for sharing.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks Phil.

[@denisdegamon8224]

Next time when placing the charred material down, try striking the flint or chert down onto the steel. This will direct the sparks down onto the charred material.

[@georgeb.wolffsohn30]

When air heats it expands so it will seek a way out. While the candy tin seemed to be sealed, it wasn't perfect, so the gases were able to find a way out. As another commenter pointed out, if the seal was better the expanding gasses might have caused the top to pop off. Great experiment. Thanks for the info.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Here's the best I could do kzbin.info/www/bejne/anjQamN6g5mHmKc

[@thriftysurvivor6117]

Another great video there Brian. I always enjoy your common sense, easy going way of describing things. Something else I appreciate from you is your willingness to admit you're not an expert. Well, if we're honest, all of us can learn a thing or two from someone else, and there truth be told, there's more than one way to skin a cat. Your videos are always informative and I want to thank you for posting this video as well.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Aw shucks. You are too kind.

[@thriftysurvivor6117]

Not at all. Your videos are great. I'm just giving credit where credit is due.

[@robertstine2457]

just an observation and suggestion. when striking, strike the chert to the steel instead of steel to chert. you can direct the sparks better. and if the steel is right next to the char you should get multiple ignition spots.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'll have to try that.

[@mikegrossberg8624]

I tried doing it that way. Hit my fingers more often than hit the steel, and those flints were SHARP! Much safer(for ME, at least) to strike with the steel

[@oldgoat8861]

Denim ??? Looks to be better than my old cotton T-shirts to use. Seems to be a bit sturdier with a nice slow but efficient burn. Thanks for the tip.

[@kelticpaddler]

Good no nonsense video. Thanks bud David UK

[@johnny6148]

good to know quartz works so well. have a container with no holes going to try it with punk wood.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

go for it

[@barnaclebill1615]

I enjoyed your synopsis on debunking this misconception. Another great video. No need to refer to “as the experts say”. You’re the expert, so do as u wish. We are listening.😁

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

me an expert? Nah. I'm just a wannabe.

[@johnnyringo765]

Great video! The round can was venting a flame from the bottom of the lid. The lid wasn't airtight.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Nope

[@garrettjohnston5153]

Good video sir nice I make it always when I get a chance at it but with holes is right to do cause of the tar in Jean materials

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

thanks

[@trevormangus7832]

I’ve seen a lot of videos on making char cloth and other things to get a fire started from a spark but the one thing I found that seems to work best or just as easy as all those things and is readily available especially if you have a dryer is the lint out of your lint screen in the dryer that stuff is Super easy to light

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I may have to make a video

[@Jack-uj2vx]

Yeah, lint burns stupid easy. Make your own in shtf situations by scraping your jeans with your knife. Not practical as there is probably a million other things to make tinder from close at hand, but it can be done. Lots of scraping for such a tiny bit of fluff lol.

[@kirkha100]

This is called “due diligence”. Much respect. Thanks for the effort.

[@patriciahale6575]

Impressive Experiment ...thank you

[@charlietango1635]

That was a good demonstration you did, just proves a point.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

+CharlieTango 1 thanks

[@lolahassan4443]

I'm impressed and NEED to make this for my bug out/bug in supplies. Thanks.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

It's easy Iola

[@toddturner2356]

Well Done!

[@elliottmazur143]

The best thing I've found for char cloth is a big roll of 3/4" lamp wick (saves your jeans, too). Great video!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Elliott Mazur Yep, lamp wick works great but I use old jean once they are too worn out to wear (which makes them really old jeans)

[@elliottmazur143]

I've found anything other than the worn out ones makes for a really nasty residue on the inside of the container, one that both stinks and prevents some carbonization from reaching the inner pieces of to-be char cloth.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I never noticed that.

[@marvinconrad8736]

You can pack that tin full and do that. You can also do it with twigs. Turn them into charcoal. Grind up the charcoal and it will take a spark

[@michaelbalamuth93]

Just personal experience.... I've been making charcloth with any of the hinged tins for 25 or so years (Living History Recreator) and never used a hole. What I find is that if the tin is well filled the pressure developed from the reduction process of the cloth (or wood or anything you want to convert to charcoal) will slightly pop the lid and the gasses will ignite around the border of the tin. When the flame dies out, the cloth is done. It is important to click the lid closed tight when you take it off the fire or oxygen will leak back in and cause your cloth to completely burn to dust. I didn't really watch this video, but the title caught my eye and I thought this information might help.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks.

[@ChrisTheGrimm]

The idea about having a hole in the can is for out-gassing. If you watch the larger candy-can (at 10:06) it did out-gas from around the lid. So "technically" the gasses found a "hole". I wonder the lid had been air tight, so it couldn't out-gas, if it would have worked? Would be cool to see.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Try these and see kzbin.info/www/bejne/anjQamN6g5mHmKc and kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6Kxeod-g5ljl7M

[@Macovic]

Where thinking about it as well. Maybe a relative answer. Although a hole might make it easier to see when it is done, cause gases stop.

[@BigOStyle1]

If the lid of the tin fits tightly you will probably need to poke a hole in the lid. The air that is trapped in the tin, as it heats up will expand and pop the lid off. ( It happened to me.) So it depends on how well the lids fits the can.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

BigOStyle1 That's exactly what I confirmed on the follow up video to this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anjQamN6g5mHmKc

[@lnbjr7]

Great video! Consider using a can of Sterno as a heat source. You can get cans of them at your local “Dollar Tree” for $1.00

[@Youarefunny7284]

I think you do just fine and this from a city boy who doesn't know much. Seems to me you wanna deprive the cloth of oxygen so it off gasses but does not egnight. I realy enjoy your content thanks

[@NulodPBall]

As Alfie pointed out, for me an Altoids tin works perfectly when stuffed with denim and no hole...my issue tonight was: Testing a spark directly into the full tin of char cloth...thinking I put the spark out, closing the tin and assuming everything's fine. Luckily I put the tin on my leg and I started wondering why my leg felt heat...after several tries at snuffing the orange heat spot out, I finally just taped the edges until the tin grew cool. LoL, hot time on the town at 3 a.m. tonight Thanks for the video Brian.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Ouch

[@RandomButtonPusher]

Nice job on the comparison. Easy to go through life coasting on assumptions or received "knowledge." Thanks for putting a simple question to the test.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks. Be sure to keep an eye out for the follow up video. All I will say is there are some times you may want to punch a hole in your tin.

[@BarryDutton]

Really good stuff man, controls all roughly the same, to keep it even. You did a good job on that video front to back. Very well done, good facts and camera work and explanations. Thx. Bryan

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks Barry b

[@NormanMatchem]

I was expecting the round tin to pop from pressure. Not explode or launch the lid in the air, but thought it'd kind of come open. Learn something new every day.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

+NormanMatchem I just wanted to see what happened.

[@lancedyck3730]

Great video! Very informative

[@toml.8210]

You can closre the hoile with JB Weld, if you need to.

[@michaelperkins9936]

i put my hole in the upper lip of the lower portion of the tin so my tin is still water tight to protect my cloth from the elements ! with a hole in the top it will allow raid /water in. so when you completely close your tin the hole is covered

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Excellent idea Michael.

[@Lellobeetle]

You're set for charclith for a good bit, I'd say. Good test and you answered a question I've had for quite a while. Thx. Laura

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Lellobeetle Thanks Laura!

[@davidjohnston9279]

I made some in these containers but they work for a couple months I tested action tins but for long term I would clean out the paint can or a pellet container what if you had a bb gun the container from these work longer but I've tested those works great long time and I still use them.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Good tips

[@jamesgreen4522]

I like the video. It is as scientific as any. Both ways work. I have used denim but prefer wash cloth (terry). It leaves a fuzzy surface to catch the spark.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

james green I'll try that. Makes sense.

[@carlsutherland3730]

Loved the video. I have been saying you don't have to have a hole in your fire tin too. I think the intention of a hole was was always to tell when its done. Some people prefer soft, supple, charcloth, but the meaning got lost in the message. I'm not railing on anyone either their way is as good as mine, or maybe better. Mine works to.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Yep. If it works it works

[@markfcoble]

Thanks, again! Teaching wife how to use ferro rod. Wish me luck.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

She's probablt smarter than both of us, She can do it.

[@shckr17]

well done

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

+Matthew Lanaway Makes sense to me and Alfie knows his stuff for sure. Again, I'm not saying this is the definitive word on the subject, I really just wanted to emphasize the importance of trying things out for yourself and not just accepting whatever you hear or see (especially from me). And I certainly don't want anyone to get hurt trying something they see me do. With that said, you know I'm going to have to try to blow up a char tin now, right? Purely as a safety alert to others of course ;-) Be watching for that one soon. - Bryan

[@BarryDutton]

+Survival On Purpose I will watch for it now LOL. Or did I miss it..... this video is from 2014.

[@SpectrumSurvivalist]

+Survival On Purpose I would like to point out that most people fill the tin up not 5 pieces, I know I do. All 3 tins had a good supply of air, because when you closed them it was in there already, so of course it worked great all 3 times.I think you should fill them up, that's the real test. Others have already pointed out that the can could blow up, hence the reason for a hole. I would just drill a 1/4 inch hole in middle top of the can and be on the safe side if it were me, and I did that on mine.

[@pappawheely]

+FullSpectrum Survivalist I think your right...a safety measure against a possible blow

[@michaelturner6999]

FullSpectrum Survivalist

[@marksmith9194]

Survival On Purpose OOl

[@0steen3]

I can not vote yet. I tried to make my first charcloth with denim in an Altoids tin with a tiny hole in the top. Made a great fire, set the tin in the coals for hours, and I don't have charcloth yet. Will try again next weekend. Still wearing the jeans minus 2 inches off the bottom. :)

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

+0steen3 That is strange. You should have char cloth.

[@0steen3]

Maybe I should have put it in the flames instead of the coals. Denim is heavier than T-shirt cotton.

[@ultimateazhole]

use the rock to strike the metal if you want to throw the spark, and if you want to scrape off a spark then use the metal to scrape a spark off of the stone Just learned this methodology on a video earlier today

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks

[@sonnyboywannabe]

Good vid. I would still poke a hole in the round tin. You probably had venting, and that is the critical point: stuff explodes. The round probably vented, but u wanna be sure. Thanks for you work!

[@AmorDei316]

Best natural fire starter is pine sap. You find a bit of that on a tree, keep it, it's amber gold for making a fire, then the "old man's beard" moss which is the fluffy stuff that is Grey and/or green hanging on trees and looks like moose hair, is also another great tinder.

[@TheEndleader]

I love easy crafts!

[@hfortenberry]

Very nice experiment! Thanks! I have been wondering that too!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'm glad it helped.

[@ramonfarr]

Just uploaded a video about this That hole showed me that the Char cloth is done and saved me time and material

[@dennisdehart7451]

I have tried many things I have watched on utube many of them don't work for me. I was not sure how long to leave the tin in the fire so I left it for a pretty long time hoping that it was not to long. The char cloth works great. One little spark and I was able to make a fire.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Cool

[@karlo8093]

Nice demo! Thanks! been having some issues making char right now, and your vid I think may help.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

+Karl Olewine I hope it does.

[@MrMadhouse70]

Realy like your videos. Very educational. I dont use char at all, never have never will do i think but still i watch:)

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I don't really use it for everyday camping but I like to practice "just in case". It's also kind of fun.

[@BeMoreGooderPeople]

I do know that with a hole on a windy day,can ignite the char while its inside the tin from the breezes. I use a hole but also have a plug I put into it after I remove from fire. I also have a tin with hole on side so lid covers it when pressed on completely,they both work great.The only time you really need a hole is if the tin is a screw on cap type or it can and will pop.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I actually tried the screw on lid with no hole. As soon as I get it edited I will post the video. Stay tuned.