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Step 3Make Charcoal in a Can
Got a fire going? While you're at it, make some charcoal for later blacksmithing or a bbq.
1. Cut an X in the top of a can and pry the flaps up.
2. Saw up some wood and fill the can with it. Dry hardwood is best. Pallet wood is good.
I use the handy bandsaw.
3. Close the flaps and put the can upside down on a fire. We use Mr. Fireface.
4. Watch the fire and play banjo.
5. Smoke will come out of the can. The smoke will burn. When those extra flames die down lift the can with sticks. It should be a lot lighter.
6. Put the can upside down in a puddle or a bucket of water. It will instantly suck water up until it's full of water. That quenches the charcoal and keeps it from burning any more.
7. The can is suddenly cold. Pick it up, dump out the water, pry open the flaps and dump the charcoal into a mesh bag to drain.
8. You have charcoal. It's very clean. It won't smudge you. This can had some sticks that weren't fully charred. Put them aside to dry and do it again. Next time cut the sticks all one size and be more careful to get enough heat and burn enough smoke.
This method burns a lot of wood to make a bit of charcoal, but it's a good method if you've got a fire going anyway.
1. Cut an X in the top of a can and pry the flaps up.
2. Saw up some wood and fill the can with it. Dry hardwood is best. Pallet wood is good.
I use the handy bandsaw.
3. Close the flaps and put the can upside down on a fire. We use Mr. Fireface.
4. Watch the fire and play banjo.
5. Smoke will come out of the can. The smoke will burn. When those extra flames die down lift the can with sticks. It should be a lot lighter.
6. Put the can upside down in a puddle or a bucket of water. It will instantly suck water up until it's full of water. That quenches the charcoal and keeps it from burning any more.
7. The can is suddenly cold. Pick it up, dump out the water, pry open the flaps and dump the charcoal into a mesh bag to drain.
8. You have charcoal. It's very clean. It won't smudge you. This can had some sticks that weren't fully charred. Put them aside to dry and do it again. Next time cut the sticks all one size and be more careful to get enough heat and burn enough smoke.
This method burns a lot of wood to make a bit of charcoal, but it's a good method if you've got a fire going anyway.
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One of the most important historical applications of wood charcoal was as a constituent of gunpowder. It was also used in metallurgical operations as a reducing agent, but its application has been diminished by the introduction of coke, anthracite smalls, etc. A limited quantity is made up into the form of drawing crayons; but the greatest amount is used as a fuel, which burns hotter and cleaner than wood. Charcoal is often used by blacksmiths, for cooking, and for other industrial applications.
[edit] Cooking fuel
Charcoal briquettes are widely used for outdoor grilling and barbecues in backyards and on camping trips.
In many non-industrialized countries, for instance in Africa, charcoal is used for everyday cooking by a large portion of the population. This is potentially a serious health problem when used indoors since carbon monoxide (CO) is a combustion product.[4]
[edit] Industrial fuel
A charcoal powered bus being "fired up" in post war Japan (late 1940's)
A charcoal powered bus being "fired up" in post war Japan (late 1940's)
Historically, charcoal was used in great quantities for smelting iron in bloomeries and later blast furnaces and finery forges. This use was replaced by coke during the Industrial Revolution. For this purpose, charcoal in England was measured in dozens (or loads) consisting of 12 sacks or shems or seams, each of 8 bushels.
[edit] Automotive fuel
In times of scarce petroleum, automobiles and even buses have been converted to burn wood gas (gas mixture containing primarily carbon monoxide) released by burning charcoal or wood in a wood gas generator. 1931 Tang Zhongming developed an automobile powered by charcoal, and these cars were popular in China until 1950s. In occupied France during World War II, wood and wood charcoal production for such vehicles (called gazogènes) increased from pre-war figures of approximately fifty thousand tons a year to almost half a million tons in 1943.[5]
[edit] Purification/Filtration
The porosity of activated charcoal accounts for its ability to readily adsorb gases and liquids; charcoal is often used to filter water or adsorb odors. Its pharmacological action depends on the same property; it adsorbs the gases of the stomach and intestines, and also liquids and solids (hence its use in the treatment of certain poisonings). Charcoal filters are used in some types of gas mask to remove poisonous gases from inhaled air. Wood charcoal also to some extent removes coloring material from solutions, but animal charcoal is generally more effective.
Animal charcoal or bone black is the carbonaceous residue obtained by the dry distillation of bones; it contains only about 10% carbon, the remainder being calcium and magnesium phosphates (80%) and other inorganic material originally present in the bones. It is generally manufactured from the residues obtained in the glue and gelatin industries. Its decolorizing power was applied in 1812 by Derosne to the clarification of the syrups obtained in sugar refining; but its use in this direction has now greatly diminished, owing to the introduction of more active and easily managed reagents. It is still used to some extent in laboratory practice. The decolorizing power is not permanent, becoming lost after using for some time; it may be revived, however, by washing and reheating.
[edit] Art
Two charcoal pencils in paper sheaths designed to be unwrapped as the pencil is used and two charcoal pencils in wooden sheaths.
Two charcoal pencils in paper sheaths designed to be unwrapped as the pencil is used and two charcoal pencils in wooden sheaths.
Four sticks of vine charcoal and four sticks of compressed charcoal.
Four sticks of vine charcoal and four sticks of compressed charcoal.
Charcoal drawing
Charcoal drawing
Charcoal is used in art for drawing, making rough sketches in painting and is one of the possible media for making a parsemage. It must usually be preserved by the application of a fixative. Artists generally utilize charcoal in three forms:
- Vine charcoal is created by burning sticks of wood (usually willow or linden/Tilia) into soft, medium, and hard consistencies. Bamboo charcoal is the principal tool in Japanese Sumi-e (u lit: charcoal drawing) art.
- Compressed charcoal charcoal powder mixed with gum binder compressed into round or square sticks. The amount of binder determines the hardness of the stick. Compressed charcoal is used in charcoal pencils.
- Powdered charcoal is often used to "tone" or cover large sections of a drawing surface. Drawing over the toned areas will darken it further, but the artist can also lighten (or completely erase) within the toned area to create lighter tones.
[edit] HorticultureOne additional use of charcoal rediscovered recently is in horticulture. Although American gardeners have been using charcoal for a short while, research on Terra preta soils in the Amazon has found the widespread use of biochar by pre-Columbian natives to turn otherwise unproductive soil into very rich soil. The technique may find modern application, both to improve soils and as a means of carbon sequestration.
sorry for the REALLY LONG comment. article and full credits go to wikipedia.com.
here is the link Wikipedia: Charcoal