256 replies to this topic

[BigBang]

Hi....i have a simple tip, for those of you who do not have a ball mill, like myself. When i make charcoal, i use sawdust from my local butcher, (or just buy some from a petshop). This is invariably pine, which doesnt make the best charcoal, but its more than good enough for BP.
Doing it this way, you dont have the problem of grinding the charcoal down, as its almost powdered. All you need do, is grind it with a pestel/mortar or in a blender as i do, with good results.


Andy

[broadsword]

surely using saw dust would create all sorts of problems because wit would be done in a matter of seconds/minutes? Or is it fairly easy?

Also i use a coffee grinder to make my charcoal into airfloat.

[BigBang]

Well, actually it solves all the problems!! I tend to ram the tin fairly tightly, so its only slighty quicker, but being done quicker is an advantage, is it not?

The only disadvantage is, you have to be extra careful not to let in any air, otherwise you tend to get a tin full of ash much quicker than you would normally!! I speak from experience

I tried a grinder, but it wouldnt grind that fine, so i then tried a blender and found that to be excellent. With it, i can get powders as fine as 300mesh, including metal powders. I did have to modify it though.


Andy

[Phoenix]

Sometimes bark (willow especially) will easily peel off in long strips. However, this is often not the case. It can be loosened somewhat by bashing the log with a hammer or similar, and the bark will then be easier to scrape off with a knife (not too sharp or it tends to cut into the wood and stick).

I've also recently made a big batch of willow charcoal from dead willow branches that had been lying on damp ground. The bark had started to decay, and very easily fell off the branches. However, the wood inside was pretty much unnaffected. I haven't actually tried any in BP yet, but I'll let you know how it performs when I do. I'm expecting it to work as well as any made from freshly cut wood.

[Merlinator]

Where can we get this powdered charcoal from?

[broadsword]

you can buy willow airfloat from ebay. But i think its abit of a rip off actually! (good idea whoever puts it on there!) because it is fairly easy to make your own!

Read websites on the subjects before you attempt anything (see this post)!
Personally I think this is how EVERYTHING should be done whatever you are making in pyro. I always read up on what i do on different websites so it is clear how to do it and what the dangers are etc.

[seymour]

[/QUOTE]
Right i've got 2 questions for you guys.
1. How do you strip the bark off sticks, do you need to soak it in water or something, or do you just peel the bark off with a knife?

[/Not Quote]
where I get my willow for charcoal, asuming that you are using willow too, there are at least three types of willow, weeping willow- avoid, you canot easely remove the bark off this variety.
tortured willow, I havnt tried this one yet but I think it would be similar to
weeping willow.
and this other type of willow that has straitish smooth branches. this is the
type that I use, tha bark just peels off!!! with little or no effort.

[Creepin_pyro]

I haven't had any problems debarking my weeping willow atall.

[paul]

If you have trouble getting willow wood, simply use poplar. At least here it is the cheapest wood available and there are soooo many poplars around here. Poplar is a wood out of the willow-family and has nearly the same advantages.

For blackpowder it?s as good as willow.

[Patrick]

I haven't had any problems debarking my weeping willow atall.

Me neither, I guess it depends on what you call "problems". It doesn't just fall off, but there are many other woods that are more difficult.

[seymour]

[QUOTE]
I haven't had any problems debarking my weeping willow atall.

Do you use thin green shoots, little branches or the big branches?

[Creepin_pyro]

Small branches, roughly 5-10cm in diameter. Letting them sit in a dry place for a while seems to make things easier.

[seymour]

I tried peeling them fresh. that must be why. I found, with the other type of willow, that unless you peel them straight away peeling becomes very hard. even leaving them un-peeled over night made it dificult too de-bark. when fresh I simply slit the branch lengthwise and the bark just peels off in one piece!! good for writing letters on when you have used up all the paper making tubes. also the branches that I use vare 2-3 posibly 4cm wide cos Ihave to be careful not to take notisable sized chunks of the trees as they are in a city park

[Pretty green flames]

Would it work if i put a small tin on a gas cooker.

[paul]

In a test series of different types of charcoal I had to make only small amounts of each charcoal. So I used the "Tin with Al-Foil and methylated spirits burner" method

As you can see here: http://www.kkpaul.rp...ohle_machen.jpg

It works great for small amounts.