Char cloth 1, Bomlin 0

So today I decided to make some char cloth as part of my long term project to make my demo area at events more period.  Char cloth is essentially cloth that has been heated to the point of combustion but deprived of oxygen.  This allows the cloth to gas off anything that's non flammable making the cloth very susceptible to burning.  It is great for starting fires with a flint striker.  Real charcoal is wood that has had the same process done to it.  You are left with carbon molecules that burn very easily and hot.

My first attempt involved packing a tin container with scraps of fabric about 2" square.  Very small holes are poked to allow venting but not too large so oxygen can't get too rich in the container.  I popped the container in the oven and put the oven on the clean cycle. When I came back four hours later, the char cloth had burned too far.  I'm not sure if the heat was too high or it was just in there too long.

Anyway, second batch is in the oven.  This time I'm just going at 550 degrees to see what that gets me.