Tinder tube... forget charcloth!

[Martyn]

I've just made myself a tinder tube and it rocks. Way easier and more convenient than charcloth.

Some pics. These are not mine, but you get the idea...





These things are bril. The cord or tape is cotton which smoulders. Initially, you have to light it with a match the first time - then you pull the smouldering edge/end into the tube, which does two things. It snuffs out the smouldering edge and preserves the charred edge for the next use. Then when you are ready to use it again, light your fire or even light a cigarette, push out an inch or so of cord, place charred edge on your flint, strike with a steel and the charred edge of the cord springs to life. I've found this to take a spark FAR easier than charcloth.

You can then either put the smouldering end of the cord into a tinder nest and breath life into it to light a fire, or just light cigarettes or a pipe directly from the smouldering end.

When you are done, pull the smouldering end back into the copper or brass tube and the smoulder is snuffed out almost instantly. The delicate charred edge is then protected from damage, ready for the next use. Brill.

So easy to make too. I think I'll do a quick how-to.

Anyone else used a tinder-tube?

[Rollnick]

Never seen one before, but i'd be certainly interested in one. Looks good...

[Jason_01]

Yep, very neat way to light fags ! I messed around with something similar but never found a piece of tube the right size!

Only problem with it is you dont have much char to mess around with and its easy to knock or abrade the charred end off, then youre stuffed, I think my lamp wick was smaller diameter than that tho! Pretty cool!

Jason

[zackerty]

Very, very nice, Martyn!
Why is it that the simplest ideas are always the best?

[Martyn]

Here's some pics of the one I made....

A while ago, I bought a Swedish army arctic smock and it had these drawstring tapes inside. I swapped em for paracord strings and saved the tapes. Well the tapes are 100% cotton and about an inch wide (couple of metres in length but I only used 10" or so). I used an old bit of central heating plumbing thing - dunno what it's from, but it's about an inch long and has an internal dia of 0.25 of an inch, or about 6mm. When the tape is rolled, it can just be squeezed into the tube - it's a nice tight fit. All I have to do to get the tape out of the tube, is twist - it works well.



Under normal "not in use" conditions, the charred end stays tucked away inside the tube. When you want it, just twist the tube and push the tape to carefully expose the delicate, charred end....



As I used tape (you can use round cord also), I am able to unfold the tape and place it flat on top of the flint, holding it in place with my thumb. This gives a nice broad edge to catch the spark...



Between 1-3 strikes with a steel is usually all that it takes to bring the charred edge back to life. It really is far better than charcloth for this - honestly!

If you want to start a fire with it, just leave a quarter inch of smouldering tape poking out the end of the brass tube, then drop it into a tinder nest. When the tinder bundle bursts into flame, pull out the tinder tube by it's tail. The tape will not burn down past the end of the brass tube.

To snuff it out, just pull it's tail so the charred end dips down into the brass tube and it is snuffed out almost instantly.

Well cool!

[MotorbikeMan]

What a great idea, we used to use smouldering rope tied onto an eppaulette when I was in the A.T.C., but never thought to use a bit of tube to put it out and protect the charred end. A trip down to B & Q I think. What sort of cord did you use Martyn?

EDIT : Sorry Martyn, missed the last post

[Martyn]

I should add that the firesteels in the pics were comissioned from Jason_01 and are superb. Fully forged, they might have been forged out of a bloom from a 1000 year old Viking smelt. Lovely pieces and cast a big shower of hot sparks - recommended!

Thanks Jason.

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by MotorbikeMan

What a great idea, we used to use smouldering rope tied onto an eppaulette when I was in the A.T.C., but never thought to use a bit of tube to put it out and protect the charred end. A trip down to B & Q I think. What sort of cord did you use Martyn?

EDIT : Sorry Martyn, missed the last post

As said, it was the drawstring tie from a Swedish army smock. I swapped it out for paracord in the smock, so the tie was surplus.

It's 100% cotton, but I figure any piece of cotton rope or tape will work. The tape is neat because you can unfold it and lay it flat on the flint.

The tube works increadibly well. I was dubious as to how long the cord/tape would smoulder inside, but it's snuffed out almost instantly - a couiple of seconds at most.

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by Jason_01

Only problem with it is you dont have much char to mess around with and its easy to knock or abrade the charred end off, then youre stuffed...

Yes, this is true. You do have to take care to protect the delicate charred end. If you brush it down or rub it off, it'll be very difficult or impossible to get it to catch a spark. A couple of small pieces of charcloth as a backup would be wise.

But, as a regular use item, it's great. Far more convenient than charcloth, as that is such a PITA to make, with such variable results.

[Rollnick]

Cheers Martyn,

I wonder why i have never seen anything like that before? Im gonna have to try it out...

Jake

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by Rollnick

Cheers Martyn,

I wonder why i have never seen anything like that before? Im gonna have to try it out...

Jake

Jake, if you're struggling to get something suitable as a "wick", try Dunelm Mill - they stock all sorts of stuff that could be used (and they have a shop in Cardiff).

B&Q or any DIY shop should provide you with small lengths (I'd recommend 1.5 to 2 inches) of 1/4 inch dia brass or copper tube.

You can also get them commercially, look here and here, but only from the US I think.

[PS_Bond]

Originally Posted by Martyn

The tube works increadibly well. I was dubious as to how long the cord/tape would smoulder inside, but it's snuffed out almost instantly - a couiple of seconds at most.

I wonder if that holds true of it is soaked in potassium nitrate? That was an old standard - but I really don't know if it can be snuffed as easily!

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by PS_Bond

I wonder if that holds true of it is soaked in potassium nitrate? That was an old standard - but I really don't know if it can be snuffed as easily!

Saltpeter right? Where to get it from? Though the tube works fine as is. What would be the benefits?

[Danzo]

Martyn, are these the same sort of things that old naval gunners kept smouldering as fuses for cannon? Y'know like in the classic pictures of Blackbeard, with them fizzing away in his hair and beard?

Danzo

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by Danzo

Martyn, are these the same sort of things that old naval gunners kept smouldering as fuses for cannon? Y'know like in the classic pictures of Blackbeard, with them fizzing away in his hair and beard?

Danzo

Yup - I believe you can even get antique deco versions.