Making Willow Charcoal

[SmokepoleSam]

Welcome to senior moments, taking a note with you is a good idea if you remember where you put the note.

 

[MSW]

over the hill?? i don't remember any hill ...

 

[Shorthanded]

What's the best way to remove the bark? I've got some willow and it doesn't peel all that easily, so I whittle it off with the pocket knife. I can lift the bark with a finger nail and pull off a strip, but it goes much quicker with the pocket knife. Is there an easier way? The willow is pretty fresh.

How do you do it?

Power washer is the easy way, peals fence posts or willow sticks quicker than any other way.

 

[J. Paul]

Wouldn't several smaller cans work faster?

I use a 2 gallon cast iron oven with an 1/8" hole drilled in lid. I burned out too many paint cans too soon until 1 day I realized I would do no harm to my cast iron. 2 dozen batches later, it was best choice for retort. I also turn a 4 gallon stew pot upside-down over it on the gas burner to retain heat. Takes about 60 to 90 minutes until done

 

[J. Paul]

What happens if I don't strip the bark off?

Sand and dirt in bark. I cut to 6" lengths then peel with knife after it air dries a couple weeks

 

[Scott]

It seems a cast iron pot would make a better retort for longevity and larger quantities.

 

[Scott]

Question. Do you need to peel grape vines.

 

[Dude]

Cast iron pot makes sense, but I balk at the idea of drilling a hole in the lid. Hate to screw up a good lid and cast iron pots (especially as big as 2 gallons) aren't cheap like the old days.

Pressure washing the bark off is an idea I wouldn't have thought of.

 

[LME]

What's the best way to remove the bark? I've got some willow and it doesn't peel all that easily, so I whittle it off with the pocket knife. I can lift the bark with a finger nail and pull off a strip, but it goes much quicker with the pocket knife. Is there an easier way? The willow is pretty fresh.

How do you do it?

Cut it in the spring . The sap is rising and it will come off easy. If you are stripping logs, beat with anything that will break the bark from the tree/log! The bark will come off easier .

 

[J. Paul]

Cast iron pot makes sense, but I balk at the idea of drilling a hole in the lid. Hate to screw up a good lid and cast iron pots (especially as big as 2 gallons) aren't cheap like the old days.

Pressure washing the bark off is an idea I wouldn't have thought of.

I just slide I copper rivet into hole when wanting to use for cooking again, but I had a half dozen cast iron ware. Most times I used my 4 and 6 quart size for cooking