Uploaded January 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Using natural materials for flint and steel is very rewarding, and comes with a lot of benefits, but it can be frustrating to use if you are used to char cloth.
Charred punk wood in particular can be very delicate and prone to crumbling when placed on top of the stone the way most people use char cloth, but it can be used this way with a light touch and some patience. Some punky materials are more durable than others so generally this first approach should be used with a solid piece.
The second method shown involves casting sparks (to borrow a term from my buddy David west) down onto the char, whether into a tin, or directly into your bundle. The disadvantage here is that the sparks have to travel further to strike the charred material, but with good strikes at the right angle, it can be a very useful technique; especially when dealing with especially fragile materials.
Finally, I show a hybrid approach, pinning the char up against the steel; whether that be a tool or striker. This seems to minimize the amount of fragmentation when compared with placing it on the stone, while still holding it close to the source of the sparks.
These are not the only viable techniques, but these are the approaches that work best for me; so I put together this video hoping it might be helpful to those that have struggled with using natural char, or encourage you to try using it if you haven’t already.
The char that I was using in this video was several weeks old and has lost a lot of its potency; likely due to absorbing moisture from the air, which is why you see sparks striking it long before the pieces start to smolder. Using fresher char and sharper stones will only yield better results.
Finally, please be careful if you choose to try any of these methods yourself, especially those involving sharp tools. It only takes a moment of inattention to really hurt yourself; so be careful out there.
David West’s Channel
youtube.com/channel/UCgAunVsQr42Tg1lTd45mkaA
Materials Used:
Charred Punkwood (Mix of Red alder and Big Leaf Maple)
Carbon Steel Striker
Riverbed Quartz
Silky Big Boy 2000
ESEE Laser Strike
Bahco Laplander
Music:
Luca Stricagnoli - The Last of the Mohicans (Guitar)
youtube.com/watch?v=6Kbv1OpIpaA
Using natural materials for flint and steel is very rewarding, and comes with a lot of benefits, but it can be frustrating to use if you are used to char cloth.
Charred punk wood in particular can be very delicate and prone to crumbling when placed on top of the stone the way most people use char cloth, but it can be used this way with a light touch and some patience. Some punky materials are more durable than others so generally this first approach should be used with a solid piece.
The second method shown involves casting sparks (to borrow a term from my buddy David west) down onto the char, whether into a tin, or directly into your bundle. The disadvantage here is that the sparks have to travel further to strike the charred material, but with good strikes at the right angle, it can be a very useful technique; especially when dealing with especially fragile materials.
Finally, I show a hybrid approach, pinning the char up against the steel; whether that be a tool or striker. This seems to minimize the amount of fragmentation when compared with placing it on the stone, while still holding it close to the source of the sparks.
These are not the only viable techniques, but these are the approaches that work best for me; so I put together this video hoping it might be helpful to those that have struggled with using natural char, or encourage you to try using it if you haven’t already.
The char that I was using in this video was several weeks old and has lost a lot of its potency; likely due to absorbing moisture from the air, which is why you see sparks striking it long before the pieces start to smolder. Using fresher char and sharper stones will only yield better results.
Finally, please be careful if you choose to try any of these methods yourself, especially those involving sharp tools. It only takes a moment of inattention to really hurt yourself; so be careful out there.
David West’s Channel
youtube.com/channel/UCgAunVsQr42Tg1lTd45mkaA
Materials Used:
Charred Punkwood (Mix of Red alder and Big Leaf Maple)
Carbon Steel Striker
Riverbed Quartz
Silky Big Boy 2000
ESEE Laser Strike
Bahco Laplander
Music:
Luca Stricagnoli - The Last of the Mohicans (Guitar)
youtube.com/watch?v=6Kbv1OpIpaA
