Hey everyone, I am new here so first of all....nice to meet you all.
I have been learning how to use a flint and steel and have gotten pretty good at starting a fire with pre-made cloth. I have researched making my own cloth for some time now and I have made it successfully and unsuccessfully. At first I used an altoids tin but I didn't really pay much attention to all the variables. Now I am looking at it as a science experiment. I have used 100% cotton, punk wood, altoids tin with a hole, without a hole, with a nail inserted after taking it out and without the nail. I have also used a tin purchased from a vendor that is probably 2 1/2 x 2 x 8 inches around with a very small hole in the top. I have tried using a few pieces of cloth and more (between 4 on 2 inch squares and 8) My last results were a no go on the altoids tins at all and they have worked in the past, and the vendor tin worked. I used bulk 100% cotton material from walmart in the altoids tins and an old shirt and some cotton from the vendor in the larger tin (the one that worked). I put a nail in the hole after I took the vendor tin out.
As far as how long to leave the char in the fire....I have read or seen 6-10 minutes which is a big difference and also those who say when the smoke is done coming out of the tin then its done. The problem with no hole in the altoids tin is that its hard to see when it stops smoking in a fire at night. I have tried the smoke test and various time limits as well as stages of heat in the fire. What I am getting is char cloth that is black not ash and wont ignite even with a fire steel. When it works I get a light on the first flint and steel strike. Ideas?
To narrow this long post down (sorry)
1) Altoids tin- how long do you leave it in?
2) With or without a hole- I know that the tin is not air tight
3) What could cause char to not ignite- mine is completely black -no brown- I guess this is the big question!
4) How much cloth do you put in at one time
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