6 replies to this topic

[hewettn]

1 can source some willow from the local garden center they have 4 types:

"Browns" - Dried with the Bark On

"Whites" - Sprouted, Bark stripped and then dried.

"Buffs" - Boiled, Bark stripped and then dried.

"Blacks" - Steamed and then dried with the Bark On

I would gather to make willow charcoal i would need whites as these have the bark stripped ( saves me ) would this be correct ? as i would then only have to chop up to fit into my kiln (coffee tin)

Thanks

Nigel

[adamw]

Sounds interesting. It would be helpful to have the bark removed. I dont know what 'boiling' will do to the wood in terms of making good charcoal. It could maybe remove or alter the 'volatiles' that are needed for good pyro charcoal.

[Richard H]

They are...A volatile substance is one which easily sublimes into a gas. Hence boiling or heating might drive out volatile substances in the wood - this is bad for pyro charcoal.

[hewettn]

Originally posted by Richard H
They are...A volatile substance is one which easily sublimes into a gas. Hence boiling or heating might drive out volatile substances in the wood - this is bad for pyro charcoal.

aren't you heating it to make the charcoal ?

[Richard H]

Yes, but you dont want to remove them all. That is why homemade charcoal often performs better than commercial bbq charcoal.

[hewettn]

is pussy willow recommended or should it be one of the others black willow - white willow etc?