Stove Top Char

[little jim]

Here's my simple bullet proof method for makin char. First of all "any" pure cotton cloth will work.  My favorite is a Egyptian loop stitched(kinda like a rug) bath towel. Not all are 100% cotton, so make sure ya read the label and/or test it.
Next, get a cast iron skillet or a stainless steele pot and a proper fitting stainless steele lid for either one. Cut cotton into 1-2" squares and lay in pot and put on the heat. No venting is necessary. It will start venting along the perimeter of the lid. You will also see the oils bubbling as it's venting. When the venting starts getting sporadic, turn off or remove from the heat. Let cool completely(30-45 min.). DO NOT touch or move the lid, as the accumulated oils Will seal off the char and keep oxygen out.
Even though I have a 600 cfm exhaust mounted directly to an outside wall, I have orders to do it outside. Make sure you use a pot your wife doesn't want. What you and I call seasoning or patina, she will call ruined !!

[Chaffa Hosa]

i wonder if the wally world ticking is cotton? I got a lot of small odd shapes from cutting patches

[little jim]

Sure is. If not sure, just put a match to a piece of it.

[Ironwood]

Jerry... Just look on the end of the bolt of cloth.  It will tell you the name of the material and what precentage of cotton it's made up of.  Check the pillow ticking to be sure it has blue threads and white threads.  I usually take my inside/outside calipers with me to check the thickness.  :)   

[bull frog]

My wife does a lot of sewing, etc. and so she does a lot of trips to the fabric stores for material.  I often go along just to pass the time when I am not working or have some reason to go.   All fabrick stores have remnemt bins.  There is almost always 100% cotton fabrick, often pillow ticking, and other asorted material that can be used for making patches, char cloth, and other projects as well.  The best part is these are small amounts usually under a yard in length so they are discounted in price to 50 to70% off regular price.  Even wallmart has these bins in there material department.  Check em out!.....................bullfrog

[Bountyhunter]

I used to get the blue stuff, but I'm a red state guy, so now I only buy the red ticking.  You have to look on the end of the material bolt and it will say if it is 100% cotton or if it is a blend.  The canvases and drills make good char too, they are 100% cotton.

I really like linen for char, it seems to spark up better for me, I use old alfalfa seed bags that I find at old farm auctions.  Sometimes they are mouse eaten, but that dont matter after they turn black.  Old granarys will often have a bar hanging from the rafters by wires that has bags hung over it.  Thats where the linen bags live.

Some guys were talking on another forum about char and were using old jeans.  You have to be careful about that because a lot of the jeans have nylon in them.  Stretch jeans and other urban developments just make a wad of goop in your can.  Wrangler Pro Rodeo jeans the 13MW jeans work good and the Levi 501's work good, but the others can make a real stink.