How To Make Charred Punk Wood

A great supply of Punk Wood just fell right out of the sky into my back yard.... About 5 years ago a large River Birch branch lodged in the top of another River Birch. I noticed after a bad storm a couple of weeks ago that a large section of that branch broke off and hit the ground.... I was very happy to find out that it had all turned to punk.... I show you the partof the widow maker still in the tree, the punk that fell to the ground, some of it that I've already dried out, and two char tins full that I cook up into the charred punk wood in this video. ... Please SUBSCRIBE at the end of the video. Thanks!

[@olalabamahillbilly9677]

Brother David thank you for sharing this video, my grandson was asking me about Punk wood and how to char it , so I showed him your video before I went out an demonstrated how to look & find the punk wood , it was a very helpful video , he recognized the punk wood and knew exactly what was happening when we charred the wood! It was a great teaching tool! 👍 still watching in Alabama!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Did you try some of it out?

[@John-of5sh]

Recently I wanted to follow your path into making some char cloth as well as charred punk wood. Its the beginning of spring where I am located which means everything is wet. I couldn't get very far into the woods behind my house and I really wanted to try your trick of laying down a bed of punkwood and "cooking" the char cloth on top. I had to settle for some thoroughly saturated plain old rotted wood. I layered the bottom of my large tin with the wet wood, draped several layers of handtowel over the wood and drilled a couple of 3/16ths holes in the lid. Couldn't find enough dry wood to use my HoBo stove so I had to cheat and use my Coleman propane stove. Had to cook it for almost an hour before the smoke stopped coming out. I was rewarded with very supple char cloth as well as charred wood. Both take a spark readily. No soot on the "steamed" cloth. I am very happy with my results. Thank you once again for pointing me inthe right direction Sir!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I've steamed some before too.

[@John-of5sh]

@@DavidWestBgood2ppl My apologise Sir. I have to admit I haven't seen all your videos yet. The weather is starting to break here and soon I will be able to try out that new HoBo stove I learned to build from your videos. Can't wait to try out the polished Coke can stove i saw in your videos. I need to find it again so I can use the same stuff you used to polish the can!

[@752brickie]

Hey Dave I just made a bunch of charred punk. This morning I was out in the shop and thought I would try this. And low and behold it took the ember. And it is at the bottom of a Prince Albert Tobacco Can. Love your videos. You have lit a fire under me to work with the flint and steel. Have a very Blessed Christmas Dave!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks Thom... love me some char ignitions!

[@752brickie]

Me too David. These are skills that can save your life especially in the great white north .

[@BushcraftBaking]

Very nicely and clearly explained. It was a pleasure to listen to. Thanks for making this video!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks BB!

[@PJ_Grateful]

Great video! Awesome tips! Thanks David👍👍👍

[@jasonwolf7767]

This is an interest of mine at the moment. I love flint and steel, but have always used charred cotton to catch my spark. I believe this is probably the most sustainable natural resource to replace cotton material. I thank you for this video and all of the others you have made. I appreciate it!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thank you!

[@carol-anntrudell9990]

It always fascinates me to see what you come up with. Cannot wait to try these tips. God bless you David and your family.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks CAT!

[@perryrush5378]

made charred punk wood right after watching you do it. Works great.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thank you. I like all the little voids and crevices in it that gives the sparks a place to lodge.

[@ChrisWall]

Charred punk is my go-to for catching sparks. It’s abundant, exists in every forest, and any type of wood works.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Yes, thank you!

[@richardcranium6554]

Excellent knowledge. Thanks!

[@lizchatfield692]

Thanks for that will try this as it looks easier than char cloth, been doing this for years and still learning .

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Both chars are awesome to have on hand. Thanks!

[@okiescout9497]

Good video David. I have never made char out of punk wood but...I discovered in making char cloth over loading the container can result in some pieces not getting charred properly. This may have been the issue with several of your pieces not being lit as readily as others. Great job though and exactly what I was looking for on where to find punk wood.

[@JohnCapps]

Very well explained. Great video David!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

John Capps Thanks JOHN!!!

[@dominickcabal5347]

I find that charred materials soak up moisture from high humidity conditions thus making the char useless. I keep it in the tin even when I throw sparks into the tin. Also, I don't fully char the punk wood, only a portion of it. This keeps the char from totally crumbling into powder. Sorta like partially charred lampwick. Remember, sparks from a spent bic lighter or a sparklite will work as an ignition source. BTw, great videos. Keep 'em coming!👌👍

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Yes, it absorbs moisture and is harder to ignite. I've also had good success with mostly charred materials but prefer to fully char them. Please visit my Empty Bic Playlist.

[@DJ-dt4kz]

Very good, love your vids, thanks for,knowledge sharing

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks David!

[@exploringbiblicalendtimes779]

brilliant work

[@snaponjohn100]

Good one David. I have had hit or miss luck with my punk-wood char. Now I think that it has to do with the sponginess of it. God bless. John

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thanks John!

[@jerrydavis5365]

Great video very informative.

[@blacksquirrelbushcraft2643]

Great video. Time for me to get cooking!

[@shotgunsherman]

Im hooked on your vids dave! im watching them all. your channel is awesome!!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Thank You!

[@choppersFL]

Great video

[@casperpercas9305]

Gracias señor,👍👍 😀😀 👏👏🙌🙌, saludos desde Argentina.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Gracias por pasar por el canal, amigo!

[@CaptMaxADV]

Great!

[@the430movie]

Feels like really soft cork, but spongy

[@natedunn5937]

Nice video. I plan on trying to make my first punk wood charcoal and cotton charcoal this weekend. BTW, has anyone told you that you sound like the Motel 6 guy? "We'll leave the light on for ya" :D

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

LOL!

[@kevinhanley4536]

Dave I have been hit or miss with punk wood. Sometimes chars amazingly well for me and takes a first spark, other times I shower it with sparks from my ferrorod and they land but go out. Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong. Great videos brother, I’m learning a great deal from you. Got some big peach cans from my local school cafeteria lady and will try and make your hobo stove.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Kevin Hanley This video and my current video is all you need know to make great Charred Punk Wood.

[@kevinhanley4536]

Thank you for the reply. The trouble I have Dave with some batches of charred punk wood is similar to what you experienced in this video. That’s why I find your videos so valuable, you show the successes and failures too, without editing them out. Best way to learn. Some batches readily take a spark, but just like those pesky fragments, some don’t! I was wondering if you had any insight into why this occurs so that I can consistently produce reliable charred punk wood? Always trying to hone my skills.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Kevin Hanley Moisture, inconsistent batch of char, never was good Punk Wood to start with, the most reactive pieces get used up first and eventually leaves you with only the most non reactive pieces pieces.

[@kevinhanley4536]

David West Thanks Dave, I thought moisture might be the issue, or the punk wood itself. I agree the selection of the punk wood is key; light weight, soft and spongy works best. Will keep experimenting. Great channel, keep up the excellent videos.

[@MrArtbyart]

ty. How long did it take to char?

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Typically 15 minutes. It's char when smoke stops coming out the vent hole.

[@vancass1326]

purhaps the problem withe the last few is a dull striker

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Probably so. Thank you!

[@all4180]

Is it possible to "overchar" the punk wood? I made a batch once that wouldn't take a spark. Seemed like decent punk wood but not sure.

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I've heard of over charring char cloth not punk wood. Even that is not from over cooking it. I think brittle char cloth is from the gases not being able to exit the can fast enough and so they saturate the cloth.

[@all4180]

I see, I'll pay more attention to these details and do more experimenting. Still pretty new at it. Thanks for the quick and concise response!!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Great charred punk wood will be hard to ignite in high humidity. Char is most easy to ignite straight out of the fire, cooled off, and pulled from the char tin for the first time. It has zero moisture content when it's that fresh. Just always make sure you have a decent sized vent hole when you make it and it should be as good a char as can be made.

[@all4180]

10-4, my vent hole (well not mine, the tin's........) may be too small. I'll enlarge it a tad. Thanks for the advice!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Oh by the way, I only cook my char tin in the flames never the coals. Somehow the hotter flames expel gases better.

[@BykerBub]

How did the old timers make char wood without a tin can. Or how did they use a flint and steel without char cloth or char punk?

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

I think they smothered it out after the punk wood burned down to embers.

[@JLeighBralick]

@@DavidWestBgood2ppl This was my question, too! So, would they just burn the wood like in a normal fire and then rescue the pieces before they completely burned to ash? Thank you for the awesome video!

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

@@JLeighBralick I like to burn punk wood or char cloth black then snuff it out with leaves.

[@JLeighBralick]

@@DavidWestBgood2ppl Thank you sir! That's good to know!

[@CaptMaxADV]

Great!