Holiday Tins

[Ohio Rusty]

Just a reminder to those who make their own char cloth that this time of year lots of free holiday tins are usually available, from small to large. If you are looking for a suitable container to make char cloth in, now is the time to scavenge a few tins for just that purpose. Anything free is good ... but to use it for our 18th century makin's is even better !!
Ohio Rusty

 

[pepperbelly]

What is char cloth?
Jim

 

[crockett]

Char cloth has been discussed before so there's no need to get into all the details but basically it is an all cotton cloth like ticking that is heated/cooked/burned in a tin to "char" it. It's used with a flint and steel to start a fire. The char holds a spark to help in the process. Check out prior threads if this is of interest to you.

 

[pepperbelly]

I was too lazy to do a search- thanks! That does sound interesting.
I wish I had heard about this back in the '60s when I was a scout. We hunted around for a mause nest, or stripped bark, etc. I do remember being able to build a fire I could start with one match.
Jim

 

[jrdavis]

:agree:The two and three inch square one work really well to keep your cleaning patches in... ...might have to burn off all the paint and oil to look correct!

 

[pepperbelly]

Keep patches in one and cookies in another?
Heh heh, go to the range and pull a patch out of one, then change tins and eat a cookie out of another and leave 'em guessing.
Jim

 

[brushbuster]

just be careful and don't mix em up.i can tolerate a spit patch,but my gun wont shoot fruitcake :shocking: :blah: ::

 

[jrdavis]

Keep patches in one and cookies in another?
Heh heh, go to the range and pull a patch out of one, then change tins and eat a cookie out of another and leave 'em guessing.
:master: :RO:
I always have so much lube and blackpowder fouling
on my fingers them cookies don't taste too good!

 

[musketman]

When making char cloth, remember to:

1. Poke a nail hole in the top center of the can, this will work as a chimney and let the smoke out, sometimes the hole will have a visible flame shooting out, this is OK, the flame is not on the inside where the cloth is...

2. Wait until completely cool to open, otherwise the entire contents will burst into flame before your eyes when all that oxygen hits it...

3. Half charred bits of cloth can be re-charred at another time...

4. set the charring can on hot coals, it will work better than over open flame...

5. Old blue jeans makes great char cloth...

6. Don't over fill the can, the center section of cloth will not get charred...

 

[Stumpkiller]

Do it outside.

THE ADMIRAL strongly agrees with me on this.

I use an old 1 pint MinWax can with a 1/8" hole in the friction-tight lid. The looser you pack in the cloth, the better it chars. I set 2" x 2" squares in on their edge until the can is full but very loosly arrainged.