Mkng-Charcoal-art - 1/2/10
਀ഊ"Making Charcoal" by Viscount Sir Corin Anderson (KSCA, OP).
਀ഊNOTE: See also the files: firestarting-msg, blacksmithing-msg, wood-msg, bladesmithing-msg, smeltng-coper-msg, charcoal-msg, bellows-msg, blksm-forges-msg.
਀ഊ************************************************************************
਀一伀吀䤀䌀䔀 ⴀഊ
਀吀栀椀猀 愀爀琀椀挀氀攀 眀愀猀 猀甀戀洀椀琀琀攀搀 琀漀 洀攀 戀礀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 昀漀爀 椀渀挀氀甀猀椀漀渀 椀渀 琀栀椀猀 猀攀琀 漀昀 昀椀氀攀猀Ⰰ 挀愀氀氀攀搀 匀琀攀昀愀渀✀猀 䘀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀ ഊ
਀吀栀攀猀攀 昀椀氀攀猀 愀爀攀 愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 䤀渀琀攀爀渀攀琀 愀琀㨀 栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀昀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀漀爀最ഊ
਀䌀漀瀀礀爀椀最栀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 挀漀渀琀攀渀琀猀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 昀椀氀攀 爀攀洀愀椀渀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 漀爀 琀爀愀渀猀氀愀琀漀爀⸀ഊ
਀圀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 眀椀氀氀 氀椀欀攀氀礀 最椀瘀攀 瀀攀爀洀椀猀猀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 琀栀椀猀 眀漀爀欀 琀漀 戀攀 爀攀瀀爀椀渀琀攀搀 椀渀 匀䌀䄀 琀礀瀀攀 瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀猀Ⰰ 瀀氀攀愀猀攀 挀栀攀挀欀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 昀椀爀猀琀 漀爀 挀栀攀挀欀 昀漀爀 愀渀礀 瀀攀爀洀椀猀猀椀漀渀猀 最爀愀渀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 攀渀搀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 昀椀氀攀⸀ഊ
਀吀栀愀渀欀 礀漀甀ⰀഊMark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous
਀猀琀攀昀愀渀 愀琀 昀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀漀爀最ഊ************************************************************************
਀ഊThis article was first published in issue number 30 of "Cockatrice", the A&S newsletter of the Kingdom of Lochac.
਀ഊMaking Charcoal
਀戀礀 嘀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀 匀椀爀 䌀漀爀椀渀 䄀渀搀攀爀猀漀渀 ⠀䬀匀䌀䄀Ⰰ 伀倀⤀ഊ
਀䤀渀琀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀ഊ
਀䔀瘀攀爀 猀椀渀挀攀 䤀 樀漀椀渀攀搀 琀栀攀 匀䌀䄀 䤀✀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 昀愀猀挀椀渀愀琀攀搀 戀礀 戀氀愀挀欀猀洀椀琀栀椀渀最⸀ 䤀 瀀爀漀洀椀猀攀搀 洀礀猀攀氀昀 攀愀爀氀礀 漀渀 琀栀愀琀 䤀✀搀 攀瘀攀渀琀甀愀氀氀礀 栀愀瘀攀 愀 最漀⸀ 匀漀Ⰰ 渀攀愀爀氀礀 ㈀　 礀攀愀爀猀 氀愀琀攀爀 䤀 瀀椀氀攀搀 甀瀀 猀漀洀攀 戀爀椀挀欀猀 椀渀琀漀 愀 爀漀甀最栀 猀焀甀愀爀攀 琀爀漀甀最栀Ⰰ 昀椀氀氀攀搀 椀琀 甀瀀 眀椀琀栀 眀漀漀搀 愀渀搀 猀攀琀 昀椀爀攀 琀漀 椀琀⸀ 䤀 欀渀攀眀 琀栀愀琀 礀漀甀 渀攀攀搀攀搀 琀漀 猀甀瀀瀀氀礀 攀砀琀爀愀 愀椀爀 戀甀琀Ⰰ 氀愀挀欀椀渀最 愀 猀攀琀 漀昀 戀攀氀氀漀眀猀㬀 䤀 甀猀攀搀 愀渀 攀氀攀挀琀爀椀挀 愀椀爀戀攀搀 戀氀漀眀攀爀⸀ഊ
਀圀攀氀氀Ⰰ 椀琀 猀漀爀琀 漀昀 眀漀爀欀攀搀⸀ 䴀礀 猀琀攀攀氀 戀愀爀 搀椀搀 攀瘀攀渀琀甀愀氀氀礀 最攀琀 栀漀琀 攀渀漀甀最栀 琀漀 猀栀愀瀀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 愀渀瘀椀氀 戀甀琀 椀琀 琀漀漀欀 洀甀挀栀 氀漀渀最攀爀 琀栀愀渀 䤀✀搀 攀砀瀀攀挀琀攀搀⸀ 䤀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀椀挀攀 愀昀琀攀爀 愀 渀甀洀戀攀爀 漀昀 琀爀椀愀氀猀 琀栀愀琀 愀猀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀攀 眀愀猀 爀攀搀甀挀攀搀 琀漀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 椀琀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 琀漀 戀甀爀渀 栀漀琀琀攀爀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀琀攀攀氀 戀愀爀 愀挀栀椀攀瘀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀琀椀猀昀礀椀渀最 礀攀氀氀漀眀 最氀漀眀 椀渀 氀攀猀猀 琀椀洀攀⸀ഊ
਀䄀昀琀攀爀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 眀攀戀 猀甀爀昀椀渀最 䤀 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 椀琀 眀愀猀Ⰰ 椀渀 昀愀挀琀Ⰰ 琀爀愀搀椀琀椀漀渀愀氀 琀漀 昀甀攀氀 愀 昀漀爀最攀 眀椀琀栀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 爀愀琀栀攀爀 琀栀愀渀 爀愀眀 眀漀漀搀 愀渀搀 氀攀愀爀渀琀 眀栀礀 琀栀椀猀 眀愀猀 愀 最漀漀搀 椀搀攀愀⸀ഊ
਀吀栀攀 渀攀砀琀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀 眀愀猀 琀栀愀琀 䤀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 栀愀瘀攀 愀渀礀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 愀渀搀 眀愀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 愀 戀椀琀 漀昀 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀礀 氀漀挀愀琀椀渀最 愀 猀甀瀀瀀氀礀⸀ 䈀愀挀欀 琀漀 琀栀攀 眀攀戀 愀渀搀 䤀 昀漀甀渀搀 猀漀洀攀 愀爀琀椀挀氀攀猀 漀渀 栀漀眀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀⸀ 䤀琀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 猀攀攀洀 琀漀漀 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀 猀漀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 栀攀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 䤀✀搀 最椀瘀攀 椀琀 愀 最漀⸀ഊ
਀圀栀愀琀 昀漀氀氀漀眀猀 椀猀 愀 戀椀琀 漀昀 戀愀挀欀最爀漀甀渀搀 漀渀 眀栀愀琀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 椀猀Ⰰ 眀栀礀 椀琀 椀猀 瀀爀攀昀攀爀愀戀氀攀 琀漀 爀愀眀 眀漀漀搀 椀渀 猀漀洀攀 猀椀琀甀愀琀椀漀渀猀 愀渀搀 栀漀眀 椀琀 眀愀猀 洀愀搀攀 椀渀 瀀攀爀椀漀搀⸀ ഊ
਀吀栀攀渀 琀栀攀爀攀✀猀 琀栀攀 琀愀氀攀 漀昀 洀礀 漀眀渀Ⰰ 椀渀 猀漀洀攀 挀愀猀攀猀 愀洀甀猀椀渀最 愀渀搀 搀椀猀琀甀爀戀椀渀最Ⰰ 攀昀昀漀爀琀猀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 猀漀洀攀⸀ഊ
਀圀栀愀琀 椀猀 䌀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀㼀ഊ
਀吀栀攀 圀椀欀椀瀀攀搀椀愀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 最爀攀愀琀 戀甀琀 瀀漀琀攀渀琀椀愀氀氀礀 搀甀戀椀漀甀猀 爀攀猀漀甀爀挀攀 搀攀昀椀渀攀猀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 琀栀甀猀㨀ഊ
਀䌀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 椀猀 琀栀攀 戀氀愀挀欀椀猀栀 爀攀猀椀搀甀攀 挀漀渀猀椀猀琀椀渀最 漀昀 椀洀瀀甀爀攀 挀愀爀戀漀渀 漀戀琀愀椀渀攀搀 戀礀 爀攀洀漀瘀椀渀最 眀愀琀攀爀 愀渀搀 漀琀栀攀爀 瘀漀氀愀琀椀氀攀 挀漀洀瀀漀甀渀搀猀 昀爀漀洀 愀渀椀洀愀氀 愀渀搀 瘀攀最攀琀愀戀氀攀 猀甀戀猀琀愀渀挀攀猀⸀ 䤀琀 椀猀 甀猀甀愀氀氀礀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀攀搀 戀礀 栀攀愀琀椀渀最 眀漀漀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀戀猀攀渀挀攀 漀昀 漀砀礀最攀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀甀最愀爀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀Ⰰ 戀漀渀攀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 愀渀搀 漀琀栀攀爀猀 挀愀渀 戀攀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀攀搀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀⸀ 吀栀攀 氀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 戀氀愀挀欀Ⰰ 瀀漀爀漀甀猀 洀愀琀攀爀椀愀氀 椀猀 㠀㔀─ 琀漀 㤀㠀─ 挀愀爀戀漀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 爀攀猀攀洀戀氀攀猀 挀漀愀氀⸀ഊ
਀圀漀漀搀 椀猀 洀愀搀攀 甀瀀 漀昀 昀漀甀爀 瀀爀椀渀挀椀瀀氀攀 挀漀洀瀀漀渀攀渀琀猀㨀ഊ
ਠ∀ 圀愀琀攀爀 ⴀ 䘀爀攀猀栀氀礀 挀甀琀 眀漀漀搀 挀漀渀琀愀椀渀猀 愀 氀漀琀 漀昀 眀愀琀攀爀 ⠀猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀 洀漀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 栀愀氀昀 漀昀 椀琀猀 眀攀椀最栀琀 椀猀 眀愀琀攀爀⤀⸀ 匀攀愀猀漀渀攀搀 眀漀漀搀 ⠀眀漀漀搀 琀栀愀琀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 愀氀氀漀眀攀搀 琀漀 猀椀琀 昀漀爀 愀 礀攀愀爀 漀爀 琀眀漀⤀ 漀爀 欀椀氀渀ⴀ搀爀椀攀搀 眀漀漀搀 挀漀渀琀愀椀渀猀 愀 氀漀琀 氀攀猀猀 眀愀琀攀爀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 椀琀 猀琀椀氀氀 挀漀渀琀愀椀渀猀 猀漀洀攀⸀ ഊ• Volatile organic compounds - When the tree was alive, it contained sap and a wide variety of volatile hydrocarbons in its cells. A compound is "volatile" if it evaporates when heated. These compounds are all flammable (like methanol, for example). 
ਠ∀ 䌀愀爀戀漀渀 ⴀ 䰀愀爀最攀氀礀 琀椀攀搀 甀瀀 椀渀 挀攀氀氀甀氀漀猀攀 愀渀搀 氀椀最渀椀渀 洀漀氀攀挀甀氀攀猀⸀ഊ• Ash - Ash is the non-combustible minerals in the tree's cells, like calcium, potassium and magnesium. 
਀ഊCombustion starts with the application of heat to wood in the presence of oxygen. Heat causes several reactions.  
਀ഊFirst, it raises the temperature on the wood's surface and for some depth into it. As the wood's surface temperature approaches 100 degrees C, the water in the wood begins to boil and then evaporates. As long as water remains in the timber, its boiling and evaporation rob energy from the fire. The water must be driven off before combustion can begin, so wood with a high water content is harder to ignite and will burn with less heat until it has dried out.
਀ഊAfter the water has been driven from the wood and the applied heat raises the temperature above 150 degrees C, the lightest of the volatile compounds begin to evaporate. At about 280 degrees these light gaseous compounds ignite. The heat produced by the burning of these lighter gases begins a chain of reactions where heavier and heavier volatile gases also begin to evaporate and then ignite. 
਀ഊThe visible smoke a fire produces is largely composed of these unburnt gaseous, volatile, compounds. As the volatile compounds burn they combine with oxygen to form invisible carbon dioxide and water vapour. 
਀ഊAs the wood in a fire dries out it stops losing energy to water evaporation and burns with greater heat. The increased heat causes a greater proportion of the volatile compounds to ignite. This is why the smoke of a fire clears as its timbers dry out and become hotter.
਀ഊThe volatile gases contain up to half of the potential heat energy of the wood. Because the gasses are able to mix freely with oxygen in the air they burn at a much faster rate than the carbon in the solid, non-volatile portion of the wood. The envelope of burning gasses that surround a wood fire is what we perceive as flames. Once all of the volatile gasses have been driven from the wood the flames themselves die and what is left is the burning charcoal.
਀ഊAt some point during combustion the heat produced by the burning volatile compounds ignites the carbon in the chains of cellulose and lignin molecules. In the presence of enough heat the carbon combines with oxygen to make carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, releasing more heat. Unlike the volatile gasses, which can mix freely with oxygen in the air, solid charcoal's comparatively low surface area limits the oxygen available for combustion. This means that in relatively still air charcoal burns longer with a lower rate of heat output.
਀ഊBecause charcoal has lost up 50% of its weight in water, and doesn't lose energy to evaporation, it produces twice the heat energy of an equivalent weight of raw wood. This is an important factor when considering the logistics of transporting fuel to an urban area. Raw wood can be turned into charcoal with only a moderate effort when compared with the effort of cutting the timber. At the least, a given weight of charcoal can cook twice as many meals as the same weight of timber. If transport were a significant part of the cost of production you would expect charcoal to be more profitable.
਀ഊBecause all of the water and volatile organic compounds have been removed from charcoal it burns with little smoke. In tightly packed urban areas where buildings often lacked a hearth with a chimney, the ability to cook without smoke would have seemed advantageous, further adding to the appeal of charcoal.
਀ഊThe flames of a typical campfire fire burn at a temperature of 600 - 700 degrees C. This temperature is far too hot for any kind of cooking except boiling water; food placed in the flames would most likely be burnt. Anyone with experience with campfire cooking knows that it is best to wait until a fire is reduced to coals before putting over spits or placing on pots. Because it contains no volatile organic compounds, charcoal burns slower and more evenly than raw wood, and burns without flames, making it a better fuel for cooking. Starting to cook with charcoal has the added advantage of not having to wait for a fire to be reduced to coals i.e. it saves time.
਀ഊAs charcoal burns, oxygen atoms are combined with carbon to produce carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. This results in the air immediately around the charcoal's surface being lower in free oxygen that the surrounding air. Free oxygen does mix in from the surrounding air but in still air this happens slowly enough to limit the rate at which charcoal can burn.
਀ഊWhen bellows force air quickly over burning charcoal they replace the oxygen depleted air with oxygen rich air. This allows the charcoal to burn much hotter than it would in still air (this is also the reason why bushfires are far more violent in windy conditions).
਀ഊThe difference between the temperature of charcoal burning in still air and charcoal burning with forced air can be as much as 50%. Charcoal can burn at about 800 degrees C in still air. With forced air the temperature can reach 1600 degrees C.
਀ഊThis is important in the refining and working of metals. Copper requires a temperature of about 1200 degrees C to smelt while iron melts at a temperature of about 1500 degrees C. 
਀ഊThe use of charcoal, along with the invention of the bellows, has been instrumental in the development of the Bronze and Iron ages.
਀ഊPeriod Charcoal Production
਀ഊThe simplest way to make charcoal is to light a wood fire and then extinguish it with water when it has been reduced to coals. The problem with this method is that much of the solid carbon is also burnt resulting in a lower charcoal yield.
਀ഊA more efficient method is to burn the wood in some kind of kiln. Once the volatile organic compounds and water have been removed, as indicated by the clearing smoke, the kiln can be given an airtight seal to prevent further combustion. The kiln also serves to concentrate the fires heat so that the water and volatile compounds are driven from the wood faster, and with less combustion of the solid carbon, than in an open fire.
਀ഊRather than bring wood to a permanent kiln, it was more common to create temporary kilns at the site where the wood was cut and then transport the charcoal to where it was required. Two common methods of creating these temporary kilns are known as the pit method and the clamp method.
਀ഊIn the pit method a rectangular pit is dug on the side of a hill so that the base of the pit slopes upward. The pit is then filled with timber and the top covered with finer and finer layers of overlapping braches, leaves and then finally covered with earth. Openings are left near the down slope and up slope end of the pit. A fire is lit in the lower end of the pit and the slope of the pit causes a draft that carries the fire throughout the timbers. Once the smoke that emerges from the upper opening clears the entire pit is covered with more earth to exclude any air and the whole thing left to cool. The cooling can take a number of days, depending on the size of the pit.
਀ഊ
਀倀椀琀 洀攀琀栀漀搀 ⴀ 眀漀漀搀挀甀琀 昀爀漀洀 倀礀爀漀琀攀挀栀渀椀挀愀ഊ
਀ഊPit method - modern Ghana
਀ഊIn the clamp method a large conical mound of timber is piled up around a central log, called the motey peg. The mound is covered with finer branches, leaves and earth, as in the pit method. The motey peg is then removed and the fire started by dropping hot coals into the central shaft, called the motey hole. 
਀ഊVents around the base of the mound are left open to create a draft between them and the top of the motey hole. Once the smoke of the fire clears the motey hole and vents are covered with earth to exclude air and the whole thing left to cool. 
਀ഊ
਀䌀氀愀洀瀀 洀攀琀栀漀搀 椀渀 眀漀漀搀挀甀琀 昀爀漀洀 倀礀爀漀琀攀挀栀渀椀挀愀ഊ
਀ഊCharcoal Burners in the Black Forest c 1900 
਀ഊMy Charcoal Making Attempt
਀ഊSo, now armed with the knowledge I needed to make charcoal I brought a bag of firewood from the local service station and then looked about the back yard for an appropriate spot to build my pit or clamp.
਀ഊAfter a little thinking I decided I didn't have enough dead branches and leaves in my back yard to make an appropriate base to cover with earth. I also figured by landlord would not be so happy with my digging a big hole in the lawn.
਀ഊI did, however, have the pile of bricks I'd been using as forge. After an hour or two of rearranging the bricks and dropping a steel plate on top I'd come up with a double walled kiln. My plan was to fill the space between the walls, and cover the steel plate, with earth from near the compost heap. That way I could leave the shrubs unscathed and lawn intact.
਀ഊ
਀䔀洀瀀琀礀 䬀椀氀渀 ഊ
਀吀栀攀渀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀 椀渀最爀攀搀椀攀渀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀℀ 䤀 戀漀甀最栀琀 琀栀愀琀 愀猀 愀 ㈀　 欀最 戀愀最 漀昀 昀椀爀攀眀漀漀搀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 氀漀挀愀氀 猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 椀琀 栀漀洀攀 䤀 愀琀琀愀挀欀攀搀 椀琀 眀椀琀栀 愀渀 愀砀攀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 猀瀀氀椀琀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 ㄀　 挀洀 椀渀 挀爀漀猀猀 猀攀挀琀椀漀渀 ⠀䤀✀洀 眀漀渀搀攀爀椀渀最 椀昀 䤀✀搀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 漀昀昀 戀甀礀椀渀最 欀椀渀搀氀椀渀最㼀⤀⸀ഊ
਀䤀✀搀 爀攀愀搀 琀栀愀琀 椀琀 眀愀猀 愀 最漀漀搀 椀搀攀愀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀 猀漀洀攀 猀瀀愀挀攀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 攀愀挀栀 瀀椀攀挀攀 漀昀 琀椀洀戀攀爀 琀漀 愀氀氀漀眀 琀栀攀 戀甀爀渀椀渀最 最愀猀攀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀攀 琀漀 栀攀愀琀 琀栀攀 猀甀爀昀愀挀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀⸀ 吀漀 琀栀椀猀 攀渀搀 䤀 猀琀愀挀欀攀搀 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 欀椀氀渀 椀渀 愀氀琀攀爀渀愀琀椀渀最 瀀攀爀瀀攀渀搀椀挀甀氀愀爀 爀漀眀猀 眀椀琀栀 愀 最愀瀀 漀昀 ㄀ 挀洀 漀爀 猀漀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 攀愀挀栀 瀀椀攀挀攀⸀ഊ
਀ഊWood stacked in kiln
਀ഊOnce this was done I placed the metal plate over the kiln and built a makeshift chimney out bricks. Then I filled the walls and covered the kiln with earth. All that remained was to light the fire!
਀ഊMy first impression was of the amount of smoke the kiln produced. After a mere 15 minutes the amount of smoke was prodigious. After 30 minutes a neighbour from three doors up came by to ask if the house was on fire.
਀ഊI apologised and explained I was making charcoal for blacksmithing. 'Well' she prelied, 'do you know my grandfather was a blacksmith' and 'do you make decorative gates'? She was quite enthusiastic.
਀ഊShe also offered to give me their old gas flue to add to my chimney. I happily accepted this and she was back in 5 minutes with the flue, which I immediately added to the kiln (I figured it might help increase the draft).
਀ഊ
਀ഊThe kiln on fire 
਀ഊAfter about another half hour the neighbour from two doors up, an elderly gent, came by and he was not so enthusiastic.
਀ഊ'What the hell do you think you're doing!' he yelled at me from the street. 'You're filling my back yard with smoke!' 'I've got the washing out!'
਀ഊOh! I wandered closer up the drive towards the neighbour (who I will admit I was unfamiliar with), my intention being to apologise and say I'd be finished soon.
਀ഊAs he saw me walking purposely up the drive he gave a little yelp of fright and quickly shuffled back up the street and into his home. Ooops! I didn't think I was quite that scary.
਀ഊI spent the next 90 minutes of the burn expecting to hear the sounds of a fire truck any second and wondering what the fine would be for unduly bothering them.
਀ഊI will point that I had checked that it wasn't a total fire ban day. And I did have a hose ready and laid out near by. Maybe I was just paranoid.
਀ഊAnyway, at the end of that 90 minutes (2 and a half hours after I lit the fire) the thick white smoke cleared to a thin grey smoke and then disappeared to leave just a heat haze over the chimney.
਀ഊRight, time to shut it down. I grabbed the shovel and covered all the openings, including the chimney, with earth. Every so often I would notice smoke rising from the earth. When this happened I lightly soaked the earth with the garden hose and packed it down till the smoking stopped.
਀ഊAfter another three hours had elapsed the kiln had stopped smoking for about an hour and I decided to open it and see what was there. In this respect I was perhaps a little impatient. All description I had read suggested leaving the kiln to cool overnight. 
਀ഊBut, being impatient, I decided to open it. After scraping off the dirt I lifted the metal cover and saw the results.
਀ഊ
਀吀栀攀 爀攀猀甀氀琀椀渀最 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀ഊ
਀䤀昀 礀漀甀 挀漀洀瀀愀爀攀 琀栀椀猀 瀀椀挀琀甀爀攀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 攀愀爀氀椀攀爀 瀀椀挀琀甀爀攀 ✀圀漀漀搀 猀琀愀挀欀攀搀 椀渀 欀椀氀渀✀ 礀漀甀 眀椀氀氀 渀漀琀椀挀攀 琀栀攀 瀀椀攀挀攀猀 漀昀 眀漀漀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 爀椀最栀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 椀洀愀最攀 栀愀瘀攀 氀愀爀最攀氀礀 欀攀瀀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 漀瘀攀爀愀氀氀 猀琀爀甀挀琀甀爀攀 愀猀 瀀椀攀挀攀猀 漀昀 眀漀漀搀 眀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 琀漀瀀 氀攀昀琀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 爀攀搀甀挀攀搀 琀漀 猀洀愀氀氀攀爀 瀀椀攀挀攀猀⸀ഊ
਀吀栀椀猀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 琀漀瀀 氀攀昀琀 椀猀 渀攀愀爀攀猀琀 琀栀攀 漀瀀攀渀椀渀最 漀昀 琀栀攀 欀椀氀渀 愀渀搀Ⰰ 栀愀瘀椀渀最 琀栀攀 最爀攀愀琀攀爀 愀椀爀 猀甀瀀瀀氀礀Ⰰ 栀愀猀 戀甀爀渀攀搀 栀漀琀琀攀爀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 爀攀猀甀氀琀攀搀 椀渀 焀甀椀挀欀攀爀 攀瘀愀瀀漀爀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 愀渀搀 瘀漀氀愀琀椀氀攀 漀爀最愀渀椀挀 挀漀洀瀀漀甀渀搀猀 氀攀愀搀椀渀最 琀漀 琀栀攀 戀甀爀渀椀渀最 漀昀 猀漀洀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 氀椀最渀椀渀 愀渀搀 挀攀氀氀甀氀漀猀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 猀漀氀椀搀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀⸀ 匀椀渀挀攀 椀琀 椀猀 琀栀攀 猀漀氀椀搀 眀漀漀搀 琀栀愀琀 洀愀欀攀猀 琀栀攀 戀甀氀欀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀猀 洀愀猀猀Ⰰ 戀甀爀渀椀渀最 椀琀 氀攀愀搀猀 琀漀 愀 氀漀猀猀 漀昀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀⸀ ഊ
਀䤀搀攀愀氀氀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 琀栀攀 戀甀爀渀椀渀最 猀栀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 眀栀攀渀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 愀渀搀 瘀漀氀愀琀椀氀攀 最愀猀猀攀猀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 爀攀洀漀瘀攀搀 戀甀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 洀甀挀栀 漀昀 琀栀攀 猀漀氀椀搀 眀漀漀搀 栀愀猀 戀甀爀渀攀搀⸀ഊ
਀吀栀攀 眀漀漀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 爀椀最栀琀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 椀渀挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀氀礀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀⸀ 吀栀攀 漀甀琀攀爀 氀愀礀攀爀 椀猀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 琀漀 愀 搀攀瀀琀栀 漀昀 愀戀漀甀琀 ㈀ ⴀ ㌀ 挀洀⸀ 䤀渀猀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀 椀猀 戀爀漀眀渀 戀甀琀 猀琀椀氀氀 椀搀攀渀琀椀昀椀愀戀氀礀 甀渀戀甀爀渀攀搀 眀漀漀搀⸀ഊ
਀䄀渀漀琀栀攀爀 爀攀焀甀椀爀攀洀攀渀琀 昀漀爀 最漀漀搀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀 椀猀 琀栀攀 攀瘀攀渀渀攀猀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 栀攀愀琀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 戀甀爀渀⸀ 吀栀攀 洀漀爀攀 攀瘀攀渀 琀栀攀 栀攀愀琀 琀栀攀 洀漀爀攀 氀椀欀攀氀礀 昀漀爀 愀氀氀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀 琀漀 戀攀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 愀琀 琀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 氀攀猀猀 挀栀愀渀挀攀 漀昀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀椀渀最 眀愀猀琀攀搀 漀爀 甀渀 戀甀爀渀琀 眀漀漀搀⸀ഊ
਀䴀礀 欀椀氀渀 搀攀猀椀最渀 漀渀氀礀 栀愀搀 愀 猀椀渀最氀攀 愀椀爀 椀渀氀攀琀⸀ 吀栀攀 挀氀愀洀瀀 洀攀琀栀漀搀Ⰰ 漀渀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 栀愀渀搀Ⰰ 猀攀攀洀猀 琀漀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀 昀漀爀 愀渀 甀渀氀椀洀椀琀攀搀 猀攀爀椀攀猀 漀昀 瘀攀渀琀猀 愀氀氀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀 戀愀猀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀氀愀洀瀀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 眀漀甀氀搀 栀愀瘀攀Ⰰ 䤀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀Ⰰ 愀氀氀漀眀攀搀 昀漀爀 洀漀爀攀 攀瘀攀渀 戀甀爀渀椀渀最⸀ഊ
਀吀栀攀 爀攀猀甀氀琀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀洀攀渀琀 愀瀀瀀攀愀爀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀椀挀琀甀爀攀 戀攀氀漀眀⸀ 䄀戀漀甀琀 栀愀氀昀 琀栀攀 瘀漀氀甀洀攀 漀昀 眀漀漀搀 眀愀猀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀氀礀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀 ⠀椀琀✀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 爀攀挀礀挀氀椀渀最 戀椀渀⤀⸀ 䄀戀漀甀琀 愀 焀甀愀爀琀攀爀 眀愀猀 瀀愀爀琀椀愀氀氀礀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀琀攀搀 ⠀洀椀搀搀氀攀 瀀椀氀攀⤀ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 氀愀猀琀 焀甀愀爀琀攀爀 眀愀猀 眀攀氀氀 搀爀椀攀搀 漀甀琀 戀甀琀 栀愀搀 瘀攀爀礀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 漀昀 椀琀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 挀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀⸀ഊ
਀䤀昀 䤀 眀攀爀攀 琀漀 爀甀渀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀挀攀猀猀 愀最愀椀渀Ⰰ 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 愀搀搀 猀漀洀攀 瘀攀渀琀猀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 漀昀 琀栀攀 欀椀氀渀 琀漀 栀攀氀瀀 攀瘀攀渀 漀甀琀 琀栀攀 戀甀爀渀椀渀最⸀ഊ
਀ഊDried, charred and charcoaled wood 
਀ഊI won't get the chance to run the same experiment again, though, having since discovered that in NSW it is illegal to burn wood for the purpose of making charcoal in an urban area.
਀ഊI've also located a source of cheap charcoal, the local charcoal chicken shop in the mall. The guy there is happy to sell me a 25 kg bag for $30.00. 
਀ഊAlthough $30.00 for 25 kg is too cheap to really consider making my own charcoal from an economic perspective, I'm still keen to have a go with the clamp method using about 100 kg of raw wood.
਀ഊA possibility for Festival, perhaps, or maybe some time in the middle of winter?
਀ഊFinis
਀ഊSome links (the last one is a paper on modern production and is very informative about the science):
਀ഊhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal  (15/2/2006)
਀ഊhttp://www.sron.nl/~jheise/akkadian/prehistory.html#chalcolithic  (15/2/2006)
਀ഊhttp://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta2c.htm  (15/2/2006)
਀ഊhttp://www.regia.org/charcoal.htm  (15/2/2006)
਀ഊhttp://www.twinoaksforge.com/BLADSMITHING/MAKING%20CHARCOAL.htm  (15/2/2006)
਀ഊhttp://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/X5328e/x5328e00.htm  (15/2/2006)
਀ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀഊCopyright 2006 by Gerard Tops. <gerardtops at yahoo.com.au>. Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided the author is credited.  Addresses change, but a reasonable attempt should be made to ensure that the author is notified of the publication and if possible receives a copy.
਀ഊIf this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.
਀䔀搀椀琀攀搀 戀礀 䴀愀爀欀 匀⸀ 䠀愀爀爀椀猀ऀ䴀欀渀最ⴀ䌀栀愀爀挀漀愀氀ⴀ愀爀琀ऀ倀愀最攀 㠀 漀昀 㠀ഊ
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