How to Make Charcloth

Making char cloth in the field when surrounded by natural tinder that can be charred is not something I would do, but making it at home with scrap cotton to take with me in my fire kit is a different story. I can replenish that from the wild with natural tinder in the woods.
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[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Make sure you click subscribe and the notification bell so you can be noticed of future videos.

[@dennisbryan4070]

Thanks for the info about the Char Cloth

[@johneckert1690]

Joshua. Next week (Nov 14th) will be my 61st birthday and wife wanted to know what I wanted. I had her watch the "Gear Dump! Three days in the Eastern Woodlands (Summer)" when you showed your belt with the large dark brown leather pouch and I told her I wanted a pouch in the same size and color. She has searched the internet but didn't find one like it so with that said where did you get the pouch and what size is it. BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU SIR.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

@@johneckert1690 happy birthday! That is a small Possibles Pouch from Badgerclaw Leather: badgerclawleatherworks.com/products/badger-claw-possibles-pouch

[@nickrucinski8786]

The Gray Bearded Green Beret great video sir, I have a side note question about one of your axes is that the Crkt tomahawk? If so how do you like it thinking of buying one been on your influencer page and didn’t see it

[@Hank_E]

I remember as a little kid, old enough to play with fire, when I hammered the end of a copper tube, filling it with wood sticks and hammering the other end and left a little hole. Heated with a blow torch and lit the gas. New subscriber here 👍

[@VGrillone]

Josh: I followed the drill, made my char cloth out of an old 100% cotton t shirt and bam! Took a cold spark and worked amazing! Thanks for the coaching. I used a 16oz can and pressed the lid back on (with those new-fangled can openers that separate the lid instead of cutting.) worked like a charm! I’ll make more char cloth kits for my kids! You rock!

[@Zappa870]

I really enjoy your no nonsense approach of teaching on you videos. Very informative. Thanks

[@rene-davidduplessis8766]

Excellent demonstration, and as others have said, really give you the bug to learn. Following your channel has gotten me to read Nessmuk and Kephart, and now has me out on the deck with a Pocketrocket and a Kiwi tin. ;) I thought I was pretty slick using knife and flint to start a fire during Robin Sage with some kerosene-saturated cotton, but now I’ve clearly gotta up my game! I also have to say what a pleasure it is seeing practical demonstrations of these age-old skills; the ‘fire-pouches’ in the old sagas and the ‘tinderboxes’ in colonial history will never again be just abstract ideas. Much thanks!

[@etnrutledge8461]

Braid your cloth material before you char it, it works wonders in the end product and in how it catches a spark and lights a tinder bundle. I agree about using natural materials first though. More traditional too.

[@castleincorporated]

thanks for the great suggestion!

[@robertw1081]

Josh, I made char cloth for the first time a couple days ago , I used a kiwi boot polish tin , I burned the remaining wax out and poked a pin hole in the lid and used my esbit stove for my heat source, works great and is small enough to carry and store in my ruck .

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Nice! It works great, doesn't it?

[@robertw1081]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret yes it does ! , I used a small kiwi polish tin and small scquares of an old 100 percent cotton t shirt , I make and carry it in the same tin . I also tested a sample with a ferro rod , outstanding 🔥

[@jasoncarson369]

Haha I guess I should have looked at the comments before commenting 😁

[@shaneg31313]

Thank you for never sparing a detail. Your videos are incredibly informative and you are obviously very experienced with not only bushcraft, but also teaching.

[@temoorejr]

As always, awesome video. I have made char cloth for years but never knew about lighting the vent hole. I always let the smoke slow down to nothing and leave it there a bit then let it cool down. Thanks for the tip!

[@mowater1]

Love the suggestion of used bics and such. Old School 95 B Army- Thank You for your Service

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks for yours!

[@mowater1]

I believe in a theory that i don't have all the answers, yet know where to find them. Then i learn something new everyday. Would really enjoy attending one of your schools, been learning bush crafting and doing the Prep thing for several years or more and the more I watch on you tube the more I need to learn. Currently between work projects so things are tight. No clue where your classed are? I am in the KC Missouri area. Again during this break of work would appreciate the opportunity hang with you, maybe assist in some way shape or form. Appreciate you and your valued knowledge you impart. Thank You-randall

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

My classes are in the Adirondacks, although I do travel to other locations when it is scheduled and teach at the Pathfinder School in Ohio

[@mowater1]

@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret Thank You for taking time to respond. Call on me any I may be of service , Sir

[@JohnStyron]

I am little late discovering your videos, but I am enjoying them. You are creating the same process by which a backdraft occurs in a building fire. Liquids and solids must be heated to give off gases to ignite in the presence of oxygen. By heating the flammable cloth, once it hits ignition temperature, it begins to give off the flammable gases but you are denying the oxygen it needs to openly burn so the gas builds up and expands to create pressure, which forces it out of the can and once it reaches oxygen, it can be ignited or if hot enough, it will spontaneously ignite. If you were to open the can while the temperature inside is at ignition temp, it would flash and consume all the flammable gases and continue the free radical chain reaction, fire. In the same way, when a fire consumes all the available oxygen in a room, the gases build up and when a door is opened, oxygen rushes in and the room explodes. As a firefighter, we have gone into rooms where a fire had occured undetected and consumed all the oxygen, the fire went out, and cooled down below ignition temperature before anyone discovered it. Everything in the room was pretty much charred but there was no backdraft or reignition. The same process for making charcoal briquets.

[@paintrain89]

Josh, I grew up heavily involved in scouting and have always desired to pass on the preparedness/survival mindset to my children. Your videos have been one of the best resources that I have found to keep my knowledge sharp. Thank you for your dedication!

[@gilblue326]

Thanks for sharing so much. I have spent many days in the field as a backpack style hunter in Alaska, and the rest of the states. I wish I had half your knowledge. I am now in my 70s and still love it, thanks again!!

[@azure6392]

Great video! Here are some more tips & tricks. 1. Friends & I have made char cloth from different cottons and tested ability to actually light tinder with it. Airy cotton such as gauze pads or "wife-beater" tank tops work best. T-shirts and regular cotton shirts are somewhere in the middle. Denim works least well since its very dense. Haven't tested lantern wicks yet. An exception to the denim, that works very well, is to tightly roll denim to fill your container.Make a "cigar" about an inch thick. Char it in the tin, then cut the "char cigar" into 3/4 to 1 inch pieces. It uses a lot of cloth to make one fire, but the thing stays lit very well for a long time. Blow on it to make a big hot ember. It's possible that you may have to move from your sparking station (in a tent) to another location where your tinder is set up (rainy camp site). 2. A cool trick I saw elsewhere for the Altoids tin is to CAREFULLY make a nail hole in the long side lip of the main part of the tin. That way, to char your cloth, the box is only opened enough to expose the hole. To transport the box, it's all closed up. You can use electrical tape or a large ranger band to seal the top to the bottom, keeping your char cloth dry. 3. I've tried to make char cloth on the gas stove with mixed results. Why make a propane fire if you have another fire going? Charcoal for grilling/BBQ takes a while to heat up and the char cloth production takes about 10 minutes or so, so I put my tin on the charcoal while it's developing enough ash to cook on. More efficient of time & resources than making a separate cooking for char cloth. As he said, light the gas plume so you know when your cooking is done.

[@vonsprague7913]

Watching this for at least the third time just reaffirming my own knowledge and skill before showing my 10 year old grandson tomorrow. With great skill comes great confidence, you assume that everyone is here to learn and quietly pass on your knowledge. One day I hope to thank you by shaking your hand and buying you a drink. Smashing!

[@jeffreymchoul]

...I love that 7th Group Beret and the dual Tab sign. Reppin' the Tabs...

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, bro!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I got those from American Liquid Metal on RangerUp.com several years ago. I have a Regimental DUI that is somewhere in storage I think, didnt find it after moving down to NC a couple years ago.

[@brucermarino]

Excellent! Thanks!

[@rexteb1705]

I liked this video. You are not a fake.

[@trytheoutdoors]

Great video. Thank you.

[@mikeanuf2858]

Love your vids man!!

[@dwstrange334]

Thanks! This was great!

[@thomasknight9896]

Best video on charcloth I’ve seen and I’ve watch quite a few.

[@andresgonzalez2703]

I'm sooo giddy. I just mad and tested char cloth. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm learning so much from your channel. Please keep the vids coming.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Awesome! Glad to hear it

[@piewarrior2238]

Really learning a lot, I appreciate your channel!

[@sniper6818]

Excellent job

[@skooterbob]

Great information! Thank you for putting these out.

[@danielblanchard6487]

Thank you

[@jamesedwards1588]

Nice job.

[@kevinedward1234]

Joshua, great video and great info!!!

[@raging_rhino2582]

Great vid bro, keep'em coming

[@Eric-ew8jt]

Awesome video thanks, I have the steel and my friend sent me some chert this is a skill I def want to learn.

[@gldsmith61]

I did not know it was that simple, that was very cool thanks.

[@ericcapell3455]

Cant wait for the next video. Thank you for all the great information.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Stay tuned! That one os going to be fun to do, might even be a couple of them on natural material, so many options

[@tempest-tom9180]

Thank you for this video. I really apprectiate the detailed explanation.

[@toddmcchesney7863]

Great video ! I hope to try & make my first batch of char cloth this summer when I get a chance.

[@DTS16]

Thank you for a clear and concise video. You have motivated me to try this for myself.

[@thexitto]

Great knowledge! Easy and simple. Keep the good work!

[@salemluna8328]

Love your channel! Very informative and useful for the regular person like myself.

[@PRico1966]

Another awesome and insightful video. Great tip with the canary flame. Never seen that in any other video. I will definitely be using that tip!

[@Flashahol]

I've had a few char cloth fails lately (wouldn't take a flint n' steel spark), so I started going through all the videos I could. This is by far the one video that covers all bases, well done! Great tip on shaking and putting the can back on the fire, I think that was my problem. What to do with bad char cloth: You can re-char it OR it'll still ignite in seconds with a magnifier, will take a ferroceum spark the same as good char cloth and it also makes a perfect coal extender.

[@VGrillone]

The guru of gurus.

[@andrecedring2173]

Gonna have to go and look for a pair of old jeans and try this out, thanks for a very informative video. Greetings from Sweden!

[@arnaud1908]

Great job, great tutoriel. Thank you somuch for sharing your skills ! So useful.

[@shaneneedles2118]

Awesome beard and running around outside barefoot playing with fire, its almost like watching a video of myself!

[@pistolpetepeterson]

this is the best how-to on char cloth ive seen and when you do your char natural material video that will be the first one of those ill have seen on that subject. honestly had not known about that until you mentioned it. Keep up the good work.

[@cmliphone]

Another great video and I’m looking forward to the next one.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Working on it, takes using char to another level when you can do it in the field and not sacrifice cotton material

[@rawtothecore61]

good to know

[@eltigre8978]

Josh, this was one of your best videos yet. Very cool and totally enjoyable! I want to go out right now and make char cloth after watching this. Fantastic.

[@MichaelR58]

Joshua, thanks for sharing and taking the time to instruct us , great information !

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks for watching, Michael!

[@321southtube]

Thanks so much. Awesome vid. I "cooked up" some old towels in a Altoids tin and it seems to be working. I like the consistency of the denim better though...I need to give that a shot. Thanks again Sir.

[@hondaridgelineenduser5934]

I like the art above your head Joshua.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, got those a few years ago from RangerUp.com, American Liquid Metal

[@agnosjr]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Awesomely done.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks for watching!

[@perrycooper2260]

Too cool

[@jamesbrownmiller808]

I use 100% cotton batting from the fabric store, it works quite well. The container I use is an old shoe polish tin. After I’m finished cooking my char cloth I dig a small hole in the flower bed then place the tin in the hole upside down and then cover with dirt until the tin is cold. Once I cook a batch of char cloth I test a piece with flint and steel. Once satisfied I package the char cloth in a small zip lock bag( snack size bag).

[@descattysBushcraftbydescattys]

I love using charcloth, I enjoy the whole process from charring to burning. Thanks 👍 Des

[@timroseberry9079]

Very cool as always, clear, concise and easy to apply.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, Tim!

[@kidbach]

Awesome tips, my friend. Thanks for sharing.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks for watching!

[@vgullotta]

Ha, I was just searching your channel for a video to do this the other day. Awesome!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Great timing!

[@chiefkirk]

Awesome video Josh. Very informative. Thanks for sharing brother.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, Chief!

[@LGSkywalker82]

Thanks Josh. More great principles behind the outdoorsman’s skills and knowledge. Much appreciated!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks for watching!

[@joshmiller4753]

Just made my first batch of charcloth. Came out great. Love watching you and Dave. Ive always considered myself an outdoorsman, Time to start working on the bush craft side of things. Thank you for your outstanding, informative videos!

[@TheTamrock2007]

I truly enjoy your videos, learning something each time I watch. Liked and shared.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Tammy S Tam thanks!

[@Jonboyr700]

As always, picked up a couple new insights to something I thought I had covered 100%.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Good to hear it, I try and throw a little tip or trick in there when it fits. You never now what someone can learn from

[@desertratbushcraft9864]

Good stuff.

[@mistastabs5840]

Great video, I really like the added tips on techniques used (Flint and Steel) very helpful and another option for the tool chest. The next one sounds like it's going to be a good one as well... Thanks for knowledge sharing...

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, Mista! Glad you liked the handful of tips I threw in there to try and make it more interesting.

[@choppersFL]

Great video!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Jason Smith thanks brother!

[@hellsbellspreparedness2722]

Nice 👍! I’m was going to make up some more this winter. I saw in one of your other videos rotten pine stumps work great. The one when your looking for fatwood in old stumps. Looking forward to the next video. Also just wanted to let u know I receive the snare traps too and thanks again.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

No problem, glad to hear it! Enjoy.

[@TubeDeviant]

Good info..!! I have quite a few old cotton t-shirts with holes in them which I keep for cleaning days or painting days to wear if needed, and when I'm done with them, I'll try making char cloth with them to add to the fire kit.

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

All Good information. Good job on thoroughly explaining the process.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, Lonnie! I appreciate that

[@miciahk]

Outstanding, #Overcome #Adapt #Improvise ......

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, Mike!

[@woodslore4672]

Nice collection of cutting devices back there.Good vid Brother.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Those are some of my favorites that I tend to rotate through. A little eye candy also

[@derealovesurvival7549]

A very good video very informative thanks for sharing God bless you..

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks!

[@tomritter493]

Great tutorial brother very concise love the overhead plaques !! Be safe

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, Tom!

[@jasoncarson369]

If you can find a big can of kiwi shoe polish it's worth buying it just for the tin. They snap shut nice. I've had the same one for quite a few years.

[@tk00903]

Dryer lint works well also.

[@abeazar]

Thank you very much for teaching a step by step process. I accidentally came across your channel and am glad I did. Thank you for your service in our Armed Forces. Best to you...Abe Azar

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, Abraham!

[@preppedone1006]

Well done! I have used an Altoids tin. I’m getting charcloth hungry!😛

[@ironspur2000]

Get job explaining. I've made it in the past and may have plans to char some punky wood next.

[@jeffnotti9932]

Hey Joshua you are always totally thorough on any topic you teach.. This one had ever trick and indicator to make really nice char cloth. the cloth was subtle and effective. I have made some from an old canvas military belt.. makes nice char, it is seemingly a little brittle but it works i made it in a Altoids mini tin i am going to try again but will watch the indicators more closely. May be i should step up my game and use your method step by step and reproduce your method. Great stuff thanks.. i sure i wont go wrong J

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback!

[@NHHUNTNH]

Nice! I like denim for nice thick char cloth, i think charred punk wood is still my favorite though.

[@TheChaz1302]

Just finished my first batch. I used a pretty large tin that I recieved at a gift with candy inside, so I probably tried to char too much at once...not all of the pieces were completely charred. However, after separating the ones that got done all the way, my test piece to a flint and steel spark immediately. I'll just have to put the other half (approx.) back on the fire...no big deal there. Great istructions!!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Awesome to hear it. I really enjoy hearing about people learning from these videos and being able to duplicate the skills and get results on their own.

[@GrumpyGrunt]

I made another round of char cloth last week in an Altoids tin and a 5" Firebox stove in the back yard. The tin was glowing red at one point, but the char was perfect. Run some electrical tape around the rim of the tin, toss it in my truck or kit and go until I get low again. I always have one tin of char and one ready to char, just in case. It makes life so easy. Keep 'em coming, brother.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Will do, thanks for watching!

[@virginiacopeland108]

Thumbs up!!! Clark

[@jonathancleve6094]

So I just made my first batch of char cloth using an esbit stove, fuel tab, altoids tin and scraps of an old t shirt. Worked like a charm. Unfortunately I couldn't find a rock laying around that was hard enough to throw sparks from my knife so I used my ferro rod to test and it took a spark like a champ.

[@thomasgerace4354]

Just discovered your channel. Good Stuff! I'm 13 peaks into my ADK 46 and looking to knock out the Great Range this Summer. Maybe I'll bump into someday!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

I am right there with you sitting at 14. Its a real good possibility we will run into each other up there. Welcome!

[@choppersFL]

The knife looks good up there brother!!

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

You spotted it!

[@davidmadisontheguardian]

You should teach science or physics. Great grasp of it; and phenomenal way of relating very simply so that anyone can understand.

[@glrogers67]

15:30 looks like a yoga position! Other than that. Thanks, I've been looking for new way to start fires. I'm up to 9 ways now. I'm going to make some tomorrow

[@woodslore4672]

You know ur allready proficient at making char cloth when u concentrate on the knives and Axes in background.😂 Again ,Love ur channel Bro.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Haha yes, a little eye candy to make garage subjects more interesting.

[@leebarker6188]

Just found your channel thanks

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Welcome

[@dennishol699]

Great video.... subscribed

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Welcome!

[@stormytrails]

Could not comment on the video with ATHENA on that gorgeous boulder behind you. I LOVE her name...

[@hillbillynick2000]

Good one as always. RLTW De Opresso Liber

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

RLTW and DOL, brother!

[@erniedurocher4376]

I like rolled char cloth, and putting it into a straw to waterproof it

[@chadliggett286]

Brother, Awesome video Thank you! What size hole did you put in can 1/4"? Best Regards!

[@sosteve9113]

Same mentality as mine,look to the next fire

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Exactly

[@McNasty_101]

Hey man, just accidentally came across your channel and followed you on your IG.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Welcome!

[@davidyanceyjr]

Would you cover making char - primitively - that is without the tin can. Also, what's the best material? I think in another video you did punk wood. Can you make chared punk wood without a container? Thanks for your service and all the great videos brother.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

Yes, you can do it. Its a lot like roasting marshmallows. The char doesn't come out perfect, but it does work. I don't have a video on it at the moment, but a channel that I really enjoy watching does have one similar to what you are asking. You still need to figure a way to snuff it out (he uses a tinder box in this video, but that is a bit outside what you are asking as a no tin option). You can use dry spaghnum moss or the like to snuff it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWa6eIeuebhkd6c

[@alzathoth]

any thoughts on making charcloth in the pathfinder canteen? Not the ss water bottle, but the Gen2 canteen.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

It works just as well as the bottle if you have the nesting cup with it. Do it all the time

[@FloryJohann]

I got a question Josh. Can you store the finished char in the same where you made or does moister enter the can and the char gets moist and can not be lit anymore? You tutorial is very good and understandable and thank you for posting it.

[@GrayBeardedGreenBeret]

You can store it in whatever tin you made it in. Eventually it might soak up some moisture from the air of the tin isn’t airtight and you’re in a humid area