How To Make Char Cloth | Gray Bearded Green Beret

Joshua Enyart teaches techniques for making char cloth: a valuable tool for starting fires in rough conditions.
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I'm Joshua Enyart, former Army Ranger (Bco 1/75; Ranger Class 10-96), and Green Beret (18B, 7th SFG). To see my upcoming courses and in-person training, visit: graybeardedgreenberet.com/col...
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[@azure6392]

Experimented with various weights of cotton fabric to make char cloth. Fine cotton like gauze or wife beater shirt is easiest to catch a spark (lots of air around the carbon) and hold a spark but burns relatively fast. Flat jean material works but was worst to light, holds ember long time. What was awesome was rolling jean material tightly to thickness of cigar, and charring that. Cut 3/4" off the log and place on end to catch spark. You can blow this into a big hot ember that you won't have a problem lighting tinder from.

[@Badg0r]

Haha the material explaination made me laugh, about the type of material. You're a true person willing to help others. The M material.

[@ExpeditionaryJonny]

Nice job Josh! I think kids & newcomers need to see more videos like this to help them ease into things and make them realize that you can keep things simple.

[@Arthurian.]

So much this. Too many over complicate things.

[@Rayofsunshine11]

I could watch this channel all day.....oh wait I do. Calm voice, shows everything to be learned clearly. I would be a student of his any day.

[@acnud]

Best explanation of char cloth and making it in my humble opinion, thanks 👍.

[@stevek4449]

Also, dryer trap lint from the laundry room works EXTREMELY well and zero processing effort. Store in a zip lock bag for later....and it's free!!!

[@travisodr6393]

Thank you for the refresher

[@markreed1258]

Thank you Joshua 🙏

[@jerrystark3587]

Good stuff. Thanks!

[@darrellpage7329]

Good stuff Ace. Thank you.

[@samthai818]

Just made my first charcloth using your instructions! Your instructions are the most thorough! Especially on when it's done. Everyone else just assume that you would naturally know when it's done. Thank you so much!

[@dontall71]

Thanks!

[@richardcanfield2741]

Thanx for that vid.

[@williamrussell9460mountainman]

Love making char cloth and using my flint and steel set !

[@David-kg1hc]

Once I figured out how I went on a char cloth binge, is so cool a sunglass lights it up in seconds

[@frankie2124]

This is good to know.

[@jeffechols5302]

Great video

[@pi18679101]

Thank u

[@thomasbrown1206]

i wish i had found your videos years ago, fantastic.. love the no nonsense attitude. binned most others, now just have you and 2 others (ex UK marine and ex SAS) for all my bushcraft skills reminders /develoment...

[@jinxjones5497]

_those guys are never ex anything. Interesting to see who your other 2 are. My military picks are Dave Canterbury, corporals corner, grey bearded green Beret and jockos podcast_

[@keshavsingh635]

Thanks for cool video bro. This has been so helpful.

[@shawnr771]

Good instructional.

[@billygarfield5520]

Great instructor = great training. Thanks! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@domxem5551]

You are an excellent teacher

[@GlobalWalkabout]

That was really cool. I'd never taken the time/opportunity to learn how to make char cloth, so thanks very much for that.. I'm sure that'll make things just a bit more fun when I'm out motocamping with my bike :-)

[@jayaych6591]

The mullet's coming in strong. Keep it up 👍🏻

[@kejadventures241]

Char cloth is really fun to use when I'm out playing woods man.

[@BUZZKILLJRJR]

I have a bunch of old canvas i was going to use I glad I watched this I cut up a bunch last night to try it out

[@dennislane5540]

Learn alot from you're videos and just realized today in one of you're videos we have the same pow Tat. Never seen anyone with it in all these years never served but have true respect and appreciation to any that defende me and Our United States . Thanks for all you're sacrifices .Mad respect.

[@constitution_8939]

Nobody who has been in the Military since before WW 1 has been deployed in the Defense of the U.S.A. or Our Constitution and that's a Fact. Our Military has been a Mercenary Force EXCEPT the War with Japan of 1941 - 1945 as the War in the European Theater was provoked as was FDR's against Japan which was used for the justification of the U.S. making the War against Japan as the excuse for War with Germany. Our declaration of War on Japan after Pearl Harbor was exactly what FDR (a 33rd degree Freemason and a Traitor to Not Only the U.S. but to All of Western Civilization itself as he hid Japan's Declaration of War on America for at least six day's prior to P.H. knowing a perceived "Sneak Attack" on the U.S.A. would inflame the American People enough to support War on Japan and ------- It Worked. A.H. is said to have Declared War on America after We declared War on Japan which is Very suspiciously questionable as the German Kriegsmarine was specifically Warned to avoid contact with Any American Navy Warship which were escorting Merchant Marine Convoy's to supply the English though the U.S. Navy had even fired upon the German Navy/Submarines many times especially those patrolling the water's off Iceland and sinking convoy cargo ships en route to the Christian Mass Murdering Stalinist "'Bolshevik Communist"' Soviet Union that FDR & his Administration chose to Ally with instead of the Last Christian Crusader's that were the Brave & Fearless Warriors of Germany Though it is said that Germany Declared War on America (though I have yet to Ever see that Declaration) after Rosenfelt/Roosevelt declared War on Japan Dec. 8th. 1941.... though who did what first has still Not been proven just as Japan declaring War on the U.S a week before P.H. is still Not taught as Fact though the proof has existed for over 80 years just hidden away, the Fact is that Churchill, FDR, Stalin and the Luciferian Rothschild/Warburg Banking Cabal ALL Ganged up on Germany making it a Three Front War that makes me doubt that Hitler would have declared War on the U.S. just for the sake of a friendship to continue with Japan as it would have been suicide but I wish Germany or even American or British Soldiers would have Assassinated both FDR and Churchill in 1939/1940 for Churchill refusing a number of peace offers from Hitler and FDR for supplying Stalin & England with All the War supplies that gave the Communist's the Real Edge over Germany with FDR's "Lend-Lease" which Congress Never should have allowed!!

[@mike-yp1uk]

This is the best char cloth video out.

[@OurDee]

Thank you. I plan to make some tomorrow for the first time.

[@markphillips5724]

Been a while.. welcome back. Need more vids..been jonsin.

[@johneriksen5504]

Like the pilot light idea👍

[@treyellis3]

I already know how to make char cloth but clicked on this video anyways because I like the way you teach. That's what I love about green berets, all of y'all are some of the most sincere and thoughtful teachers on the planet.

[@ScottShayAKAFifty50g]

Hey, it’s that dude with the beard!!! Thanks for another great vid Josh!!! Hope to get out to a class at pathfinder and meet all you guys in person one day. badassery at its finest!

[@darellgriffin8177]

I've become a char cloth nerd. I love making it and giving it away. Most people don't want it though. 😆 😆

[@sdsurfer8152]

Shoot, I would take some. Lol. Then I would bake you some of my big brownies that I make in a big muffin pan. They just don't know until it's too late.

[@DalemGumino]

Great👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥

[@pobo6113]

I have seen a couple of videos on making char cloth. I have to say this was by far superior. I gave so much more information. Excellent job. 👍🏻

[@CleaveMountaineering]

Very nice. I've made some before, just putting the altoid tin in the campfire. But this method is a lot more controlled for manufacturing it back at home.

[@hero2006]

Great video and thanks for sharing. My first time making char cloth. I used an Altoids tin with a small hole in the top. I took the leg from an old pair of blue jeans and cut it up. Took a while but I turned the whole thing into char cloth. Ignites with just a slight spark. I'm storing the rest in a Yeti container to keep moisture free.

[@jasonh4167]

Awsome video! things I have/use are 3" magnifying glass, wood shop shavings, wax tea lights, fat wood, raw cotton balls. Ferro rod, I'm going to make char cloth now for the first time looks easy enough.

[@billleiker5314]

Thanks brthr

[@jasonjoseph3975]

When you lit the flammable gases egressing the small hole it remind me of a mini gasifier!

[@redred333]

good

[@ckamina768]

While any cotton material will work, the thicker the material the better char cloth it will make. Old jeans or canvas works the best! Tshirts and bandannas will work but results in fragile, quick burning char cloth.

[@charchark365]

I've actually done this in mass. Old hole filled blue jeans cut up and placed in mid size popcorn tin. Did one half a pair of jeans all nice and cut up at once then did the other half after I cut it up... worked real well to make the char cloth which one pair of jeans gave me a large amount of cloth to utilize over time.... but yea large to mid size tin can hold quite a bit of material to make a lot of char cloth for a stockpile....

[@David-sy8fu]

❤yes jeans work the best I've done lots of jeans ,just don't get it wet uno but thank u

[@troystokes69]

Extra comment for KZbin. Well done.

[@grainplaner216]

Back in the days on the frontier when you hunted for your meat and the only firearm available was a mussle loaded weapon , fastforward to today era char cloth is still a valuable resource.

[@Mtlk77]

Coulda used one of those squares to patch the jeans 😂

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

If I patch these jeans what am I going to use for charcloth next? 😆

[@wahyasaquii7563]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret ... straight up, honorable, Christian answer Bro! Love it!

[@hammerhound168]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret Those jeans are a valuable resource , patch'em ! after you can't patch. then u make charcloth.

[@normedwards5305]

I like to use old Wranglers for it in old pellet gun tins.

[@bradfordwetmore]

A cheap single burner hotplate (1100w: $15) also works quite well. I was surprised how fast it cooked off.

[@peterkunz3092]

Thansk for the video. Good use for old jeans and left over gauze. Do you have any experience processing towel tablets to char cloth?

[@robman247]

As you were speaking of the hole 🕳 on top of the tuna 🐬can I was remembering that I found and old shoe 👞 polish can and I noticed a small pin 🕳 on the top of it already and it’s covered up with tape has anybody ever noticed that Before ? Good vid there 👍👌✌️🔥🇺🇸

[@kidbach]

"I like to agitate it" "You call yourself a char tin? Youll never be a char tin." INSTRUCTOR AF!!!! Thanks for sharing, J.

[@chadhenry5128]

Still waitin' for the "How to char cows properly" vid series.

[@kidbach]

Should make for a "mooooooving" instructional series.

[@darrellpage7329]

One of my favorites.

[@tomasschuman6576]

Aloha GBGB, I live on kauai (the wettest island on the planet) and we do a lot of hunting out here. I've used magnesium flakes to get the wet wood to burn when its exceptionally wet, but was wondering if you had any tips that you could share. Mahalos brahddah 🤙

[@bradbolluyt9569]

Recently picked up an esee firesteel so I'll get to making some char for use with it this weekend :)

[@gemsoft2607]

Now with the char cloth being made in the field, that would've been made in the field for the next fire by longhunters and frontiersmen, even backwoods militiamen in the 18th century. If you know you're gonna be out a while, definitely bring more fresh natural fiber. It will eventually help. Edit: I am fully aware I look like a history nerd

[@robertleal7175]

Great video. Would you share what type of neck knife is it that’s in the video? Thank you

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

LT Wright Bushbaby HC

[@byrongreen2167]

Hey bubba, great video!!!..Got a fairly good question for you:how long can you keep char cloth fresh in a sealed container??…I made a huge batch earlier and don’t want to waste it….help!!!🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏😇👍👍

[@ReadySetGoPictures]

I just watched a 20 minute video of a guy burning his blue jeans in a tuna can 😂 What is life coming to. (Great video btw. I’ll be doing this tomorrow)

[@grainplaner216]

when I was a kid a woodsmantold me that he used handkerchiefs for the cotton because of the high thread count.

[@Petedrumsusa]

Have you ever tried dryer lint?

[@aml8444]

👍

[@Froglicker777]

Have you heard of those piston fire starters where you take a small piece of char and place it inside the piston starter by friction it lights up the char

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Fire piston, yeah. I am not a fan of them myself. Rubber o-rings wearing out and needing replaced, I like regular old flint and steel or solar for charred material. Simple.

[@sc7836]

Doing this with a camp stove and altoid tin now. Flames shooting out every which way. Being generally wary of propane i have been removing tin once flames are high and setting it on a rock. Slow going.

[@1mataleo1]

This is off Topic, but I figured that I would have a better chance of getting a response from you if I asked on your most recent video. I’m curious, what do you think of Helle knives? Have you ever tested any in the field? Also, I just ordered an LT Wright Patriot. I noticed that you have quite a few of their knives and am wondering if you ever tested the patriot out. Thanks. I’ve learned a lot from your channel and respect your opinion which is why I’m asking.

[@leocalabro1114]

Hello sir I watch all your videos what kind of flint striker do you use in this video

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

It’s a custom one made for me by my buddy Patrick at “Valley Forge”

[@josephboley]

Hello there bud

[@JOHNFMKN]

Next time I grill a steak I'm going to try to make some.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Ive been known to use the rest of the coals after grilling to make some myself 😂

[@eseteardrop]

"Tinder fungus " my new nickname for my ex-wife

[@mackinbox]

I bet she’ll love that

[@mackinbox]

@@melvinlanden7624 no one look this up, what he is saying is a SCAM. THIS IS A SCAM, DO NOT LOOK UP INSTAPORTAL

[@mackinbox]

@@levijacoby5479 DO NOT TRY IT, IT IS A SCAM. Look up “instaportal scam” on Reddit and you can see people talking about it

[@peterlogan2105]

I call mine "Tampon Chunk."

[@wesleyyoung6002]

Te he

[@drop8199]

so are youable to still do a pilot light with the altoid style tin?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

You have two spots on the back where the hinges are that you’d have to light. Just look for where the heavy smoke is escaping

[@thomasbrown1206]

do you have any tips on making/finding insect /bug repellant.. i get bit to fck everytime i go out, what i take runs out in the end, anti histimine tablets keeps the bits down, but id prefer not to get bit. heard coal mushroom/fungi works if burnt..

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Nessmuks Punky Dope video on this channel

[@OPiguy35]

So cotton gauze is the best material for char cloth or would you recommend any other materials as top options?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Gauze is great, denim is great, old terrycloth washcloths and towels are great

[@eddie1v]

How long will the char cloth last.

[@anvilranch1888]

Serious question. Before I get to it, I want to preface it by saying I’m not being critical and I appreciate your presentation, sincerity, and the background you bring to the table. Yours is the only channel of this type I subscribe to. To it: where do you see your channel going? There seems to be a glut of bushcraft & prepper types covering the same information in their own styles. You’ve shown homesteader tendencies, which I also appreciate. I don’t know how much headroom there is in these areas from a "making a living" point of view, but do you worry about getting boxed in…or out, I guess? One thing I’ve noticed missing from almost every channel is mental and physical training/conditioning/fitness instruction. There seems to be an unusually high number of bushcraft/prep channels where the host won’t need a go bag because they’re not going to make it to the woodline before their legs give out. Be cool to see a episode on the GB2 mental toughness & physical workout routine. If you don’t want to answer this, no worries at all. Just a fan thinking out loud.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I think its important for the longevity of any channel to not get pigeon-holed into one thing to the other. My only real plan for the channel is to keep putting out information that I think is relevant as I am able to capture it. At times I am busy teaching in person, sometimes I am working on prepping for a class and can catch some of that, sometimes I am working on the homestead, sometimes preparedness stuff, it's a mixed bag for sure.

[@jiujitsuforall8627]

Has anyone tried a Fresnel lens with a high lumen LED flashlight and char cloth??

[@cultural_lettuce1]

I just tried making char cloth in my coal fire yesterday. It didn't go so good, the char incinerated in the heat.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I would say the heat didn’t do it, only way it could burn is if it was getting air

[@fredericksweet]

I just use denim jean cuts and a old altoids tin. Pop it into my fireplace and let it burn.

[@sdsurfer8152]

I wanted to ask if there is a reason why you might prefer a Silky Gomboy 210 over a 240 or vice versa? Thank you in advance.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Either is fine

[@sdsurfer8152]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret thank you! I was trying to debate on which to buy. I am glad they aren't majorly different even though they are just over an inch in difference.

[@alancoutts4990]

Did you know the blades are interchangeable.

[@conservativesniperhunter7439]

Does moisture in the air affect char cloth and make it harder for the sparks to get it to burn ? Would it be a good idea to put char cloth into a air tight container?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Yes and yes

[@conservativesniperhunter7439]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret Thanks mate 👍. Cheers 🍻

[@MikiBlue]

Can you do video “ Smoke less fire” Thanks

[@asmith7876]

Where's there's smoke, there's fire. And often vice-versa. Usually, in fact. You can have a fire that will produce little to no smoke during PART of the process, but there's no way to make a fire from start to finish that does NOT produce smoke at some point.

[@MikiBlue]

@@asmith7876 ok. Thanks

[@thomasbrown1206]

Drier the wood, the less smoke it produces.

[@spiritseeker2831]

Do you have to use a open flame or can you use hot coals? ty in advance

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Either will work

[@spiritseeker2831]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret ty grey beard

[@JThompson_VI]

Can you make char cloth from drier lint? Anybody know offhand?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Depends. So long as it’s at least mostly natural fibers like cotton in your laundry it will work. If it’s a lot of synthetics and hair it won’t

[@austincummins7712]

Pffft.... the real trick is how to turn char cloth back into regular cloth- bet you can't pull _that_ off in your backyard! In all seriousness, great video and explanation. : )

[@anchorageprepper9008]

Josh, Can you make char cloth in a campfire if necessary?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Absolutely can. Charcloth and charred natural material are made the same way. I have an older video on making charred natural tinder in the field that will show you how

[@anchorageprepper9008]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret Thanks!

[@peterzeller5736]

This guy can light something with one hit of a flint and steel and I can't even light a fire with a whole book of matches.

[@JW-zs6tn]

how do you make it without a tin?...

[@TheMan4547]

Can you over cook char cloth?

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

No, you can't

[@johneckert1690]

Hi Joshua, Hi everyone. Terry Cloth works well for both char cloth and Rub Cloth (GREAT RUB CLOTH.) But PLEASE do not use your wife's good Terry Cloth towels, you will here about it for days, or weeks and in my case months. The good thing is a Terry Cloth towel makes so much char cloth and Rub Cloth I wont need to make any for years.

[@randybradley7427]

You could just light a lot of fires with your lighter, instead of trying to light the gas. I never done that myself. Most the time it will burn on its on. I just wait till it stops smoking then take it off and stop up the hole

[@spasebr9445]

yt: says there's 1 comment my eyes: says theres 2 comment me: *Excuse the fuc*

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

😆

[@rogergadley9965]

You call the emitted gasses, “impurities.” Isn’t the gas carbon monoxide, which was once used for lighting in homes and is still used in industry.

[@philipselman2564]

One hundred men they test today -- Only 3 will wear THE GREEN BARET - blosed boots - an jump wings

[@jasonvickers2265]

How does Mrs. Gray Bearded feel about you playing with her kitchen utensils in the yard? 🤣🤣

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

She would bring them to me. But these are my yard tongs 😂

[@jasonvickers2265]

My wife made me buy my own set to keep on my grill

[@sudilos1172]

Bill Gates be like "Emissions REEEEEE"

[@dundalk7037]

No bags, no pre prep, know BS, what are your EDC's when just leaving the house vs knowing that you are maybe on a ride of your life? So in short, want an EDC vid and precautionary EDC comparison. That would make a cool vid. EDC vs WTF are we doing EDC.....

[@larrymarkham2627]

You know what you made there was a small gasifier

[@missjennemeg1]

My question was what is char cloth? 😂

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Called it! I hope it got answered 😂

[@missjennemeg1]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret yes I got to the bottom of it. Thanks. 😊

[@BennyCFD]

I mean like is this something only Green Berets can do or can anybody do this............