Charcoal

[mtsage]

Remember the rules when, about making BP. No formulas to be mentioned or how to make said. This thread is only about charcoal. Stay on topic please. Would hate to see anybody get yelled at by Admin or another member.

That being said, I have made some charcoal from willow. Bark was peeled, place in 1 gal. paint can and placed on fire. All looks well for finished product.

Here is my question. How long should a stick of char stay burning (lite) when lighted with a flame? Should it stay lite forever, for a few moments, only when air is blown on it? And is any of the length of time it says lite a judge of the quality of the char itself. In light of the that question, what is a good qualification for finished product (char that is)?
Thanks
mtsage

 

[1950DAVE]

I don't know the chemistry of this but have made lots of charcoal. Mostly in 5 gallon cans for use in the forge, from limb trimmings of alL species that grow near me and from hardwood flooring scraps. I have avoided resinous woods because of gummy residue. Not much willow close to my house but lots of wild grape, so I have made that into char for experimental purposes in gallon paint cans. Back to quality, I would think that you would have to determine the ink abomineral content of the ash after complete combustion as well as the caloric value of the burn. Too much to think about. The only test I make is to break a couple of the largest sticks to make sure that they are completely chatted to the center.
Dave

 

[ARMY]

Ok, a few weeks ago I was walking through Mejer's stores and saw a section with charcoal brickets and one of the bags said "no additives". Kingsford brand if you want to check it out. Just a thought, I might get it wrong, usually I do. Wife says I do.

 

[mooman76]

Soft wood does best for our purposes.

 

[mtsage]

That was a pretty loaded question I asked. After thinking about all the possibilities I guess I will just say that probably the best answer will be when I have venison on the table from my muzzleloader. Thanks

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Ok, a few weeks ago I was walking through Mejer's stores and saw a section with charcoal brickets and one of the bags said "no additives". Kingsford brand if you want to check it out. Just a thought, I might get it wrong, usually I do. Wife says I do.

Charcoal Briquettes are made from bits of charcoal, coal, sawdust, sodium nitrate, and use starch as the binder. They are consistent in burn rate and are cheaper than hardwood charcoal, so barbeque folks like them. They don't really work well for forge or formulas.

LD

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Very finely ground charcoal, mixed with tallow, makes boot black, which is what soldier's and others should be applying to their black, 18th century shoes.

LD

 

[rafterob]

Interesting post, I have never made charcoal that way. I always used to build a fire in the ground and then cover it with the dirt. I have discovered that my Weber Kettle makes good charcoal also. Get a good fire going and then cover it and shut the vents. My older Brother made BP when we were kids using charcoal briquettes. We mainly used it for crude rockets or flares but it seemed to work real well.

 

[Nuthatch]

My kids recently got me into making charcoal for fun projects. I had read somewhere that pine did okay for charcoal. Here, our "pine" is doug fir framing lumber (from OR, I believe) or 1x dimensional. That first batch with framing lumber was pretty unimpressive. Does anybody happen to know if framing lumber does okay and I just didn't mix it long enough? Or is the species not very useful for our purposes?

 

[NoBodyImportant]

Soft wood does best for our purposes.

I’m new to this, could I use a simple pine board from Lowe’s? Like a pine stud that’s been chunked up.

 

[flinter1977]

White pine does the best at least in my tests.

 

[NoBodyImportant]

I have some pine on my property. But I not sure if any is dry and dead

 

[flinter1977]

Cut it split it and dry. Them debark and make into kindling fill a paint can tight poke a few holes in the lid and set it in a good fire with a coal bed. Wjem flames stop coming from the vent holes its done. Pull it out and cover with a damp cloth . when cool grind it in a coffee grinder . theme it ready .

 

[appalichian hunter]

How about the cowboy charcoal for sale in stores, I use it in a brazier and it works just fine.

 

[flinter1977]

I don't know . I've only experemented with soft woods .

 

[bud in pa]

Years ago south Jersey pine barrens was known for producing charcoal from the pine trees.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Cut it split it and dry. Them debark and make into kindling fill a paint can tight poke a few holes in the lid and set it in a good fire with a coal bed. Wjem flames stop coming from the vent holes its done. Pull it out and cover with a damp cloth . when cool grind it in a coffee grinder . theme it ready .

What does the Wife(partner) say about ?? .O>D>?

 

[flinter1977]

i bought my own just for that reason.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Best Charcoal in UK was said to come from Alder or Willow.Hense the Alders and Willows flanking the streams used for water power close to Powder mills.. OLD DOG..

 

[deerstalkert]

have been using willow for 60 years and have not been disappointed.