Char cloth is a simple material that takes on miraculous properties when it comes to lighting fires. Its ability to hold a spark for several minutes while you attempt to get a fire going is legendary, and being able to make this material is one of the most important skills you can learn in bushcraft. Try it out yourself with the lesson below.

Char cloth is created through a process of pyrolysis, which Wikipedia tells us is the “thermochemical decomposition of organic material at elevated temperature in the absence of oxygen.” Basically, char cloth is created by combusting an organic material in a way that releases its gasses without burning it up completely.
Char cloth smolders longer than a match, making it advantageous in getting slightly damp tinder going, and while matches can fail on a windy day, a sturdy breeze can actually help get a spark-ignited piece of char cloth going.

Supplies Needed:

Sealable tin can. An empty, clean shoe polish can, Altoids tin, etc.
100% cotton material. An old t-shirt, pair of jeans, handkerchief, canvas, etc.
Scissors
Nail, or other puncturing tool

How to Make Char Cloth

Step 1: To ensure complete, uniform charring, cut your cotton material into strips/pieces that can be placed into your can without their being rolled or folded up.
Step 2: Make a small hole in the top of your can with a nail or other tool. The hole will allow the smoke/gasses out of the can. You don’t want the hole too big, as this will let oxygen into the can, causing the cloth to burn.
Step 3: Seal the container and place it on a small fire or a bed of coals. Smoke should escape from the hole in the can. If flames appear around it, that’s okay. Watch the can, and once it has stopped smoking, turn it over. It will begin to smoke again. Once this smoke has stopped, remove the can from the fire.
Step 4: Inspect your char cloth. It should have turned black but not become ash, and feel semi-rigid without being brittle.
Step 5: Separate the pieces to give them a little air, and then store them.

Making Fire With Your Char Cloth
Once you light your char cloth, place it in the center of your tinder nest and gently fold the sides of the bundle towards the smoldering char cloth so they touch it.
Blow on the char cloth until your nest flames up.
Place your burning tinder bundle under a teepee of twigs, and you’ll soon have a roaring fire!

One of the best features of char cloth is it's low ignition temperature, making it ideal for use with a spark rod or with a friction fire. The other excellent feature is that it is excellent for use on windy days, as the breeze just makes it burn hotter. Much like many fire starting materials, char cloth is susceptible to moisture, so be sure to store it in a sealed container and protect it from the rain.

This is an excellent lesson for anyone interested in successfully building fires in the wilderness (everyone). For more tips like this, check out the original article at The Art of Manliness.