How to Make Good Cotton Tinder for a Fire

Good tinder is the key to easy fire lighting.

When it comes to traditional fire-lighting skills, good-quality tinder, the material used to catch a spark and start a fire, is the key to success. A single spark will ignite good-quality cotton tinder, so knowing how to prepare and make it is an important survival skill. The best cotton tinder is char cloth. Manufacturing char cloth is a straightforward process that requires no previous survival or bushcraft skills. An outdoor area is required.

Things You'll Need

• Metal can and lid
• Green wood stick about 3 feet long
• Lighter or matches
• Old cotton cloth -- jeans are ideal

Instructions

1. Tear a dozen strips of denim, each roughly 2 inches wide and 8 inches long.

2. Hang the strips over one end of a stick, avoiding any overlapping, but keeping them all at one end of the stick. Hold the other end of the stick and ignite the strips of denim. Allow them to burn well.

3. Put the strips into the metal can as soon as the flames begin to die down. Wait until the flames are extinguished and secure the lid on the can. Make sure the lid is tight and the can is airtight.

4. Wait until the can is cold and take off the lid. Carefully remove the tinder, which should look dark brown to black. Good cotton char cloth feels silky, and the individual fibers are clearly visible.

Tips & Warnings

• An alternative technique is to place the cotton inside a can with a small hole in the lid, and then heat it over a fire. Any cotton may be used: old shirts, socks and sheets work just as well as old jeans.

• Do not use material containing synthetic fibers; these produce poisonous fumes when heated and do not char properly.

References

• "Webster's New World College Dictionary 4th Edition"; Michael Agnes, ed.; 2007
• "Outdoor Survival Handbook"; Ray Mears; 2001
• "Bush Craft Expanded Edition"; Mors Kochanski; 1988
• St. Hubert's Rangers; The Medieval Way of 'Making Fire'; Richard Moore; 2002
• Practical Survivor; Char Cloth; Robert Munilla