Charcoal

2026-02-18T21:25:05Z

Thenoobietrex: Just fixed some grammar, spelling, and made it a tad clearer

{{distinguish|Coal}}
[[File:Charcoal Production - Namibia.jpg|thumb|Charcoal production in Namibia, 2021]]

'''[[wikipedia:Charcoal |Charcoal]]''' is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating [[wood]] (or other animal and plant materials) in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents.

== Materials used ==

* '''[[Wood]], bamboo''' or other ligneous sources of carbon

* '''[[Mud]]''' or '''[[clay]]'''

==Crafting instructions==

=== Accidental ===
Within any fire, as a result of some of the wood collapsing and getting covered with ash, will naturally produce charcoal. The yield may be enhanced by dousing the flame with water, and allowing the rest of the wood to smoulder. After a night's rest, the charcoal should be cool, but test it by holding your hand near. It should not radiate heat. This produces low quality charcoal in small quantities, but does notably work in every scenario, and is theorized to be how ancient humans first discovered and harnessed charcoal.

===Mound===
[[Wood]] is collected and cut or broken into lengths of roughly 40-70cm. A hole is dug and a larger piece of wood is driven into it so that it stays upright and acts as a central "post" for the other pieces of wood to lay against. The rest of the wood is stacked around the post upright, with the largest pieces in the center and smaller sticks and leaves around the outside so that its sides slope downward, to build a mound up to 5-6 meters in diameter and 3 meters high. The woodpile is then covered with mud and leaves to prevent gas exchange, except for a hole at the top and 8 smaller air holes around the circumference. A fire is lit at the top hole to set the covered woodpile alight.

Once the fire has burned up against the lower air holes, plug all the holes to seal the mound and let it fire. When the mound is cool to the touch (depending on the size of the mound it can take as long as 2 weeks) excavate the mound and harvest the charcoal. This process cannot recover other products such as tars or wood gas.

=== Pyrolysis ===
You can use most fire-proof containers as a chamber for making charcoal. An example would be a paint bucket. Fill the paint bucket with chunks of wood (preferably hardwood for the best charcoal), then drill some small holes in the paint bucket. A visual indication of the charcoal being finished is when the gas escaping the small holes stops burning, however even if you cannot tell if it is burning or not you can just estimate that the charcoal will take 2-5 hours to complete. Take the bucket out of the fire and let it cool down before removing the charcoal for later use.

If a larger pyrolysis chamber, such as a closed brick structure, is being used for mass producing charcoal then the process will take longer, maybe even over a day. Since each structure or method of heating is different, no exact time can be given so this is a matter of personal experimentation to figure out the timing of your own charcoal production.

== Uses ==
=== Fuel ===
Charcoal is very light, burns for a reasonably long time, and has a consistent temperature throughout, which makes it an ideal [[fuel]] source for carrying long distances. Charcoal is most commonly used as a fuel for [[cooking]], [[Heat|heating]] and manufacturing processes.

Charcoal is harder to light than dry wood, but burns much hotter. Due to its porosity, it is sensitive to the flow of air and the heat generated can be moderated by controlling the air flow to the fire. For these reasons charcoal is still widely used by blacksmiths. A chimney starter, camp fire or electric charcoal starter can ignite charcoal, as it cannot be directly lit easily.

=== Filtration ===
{{See also|Activated charcoal}}
Charcoal processed into [[activated charcoal]] is commonly used to filter contaminants from [[water]] and [[air]], among many other uses.

Activated charcoal readily adsorbs a wide range of organic compounds dissolved or suspended in gases and liquids. It is also used to absorb odors and toxins in gases, such as [[air]]. Charcoal filters are also used in some types of gas masks. The medical use of activated charcoal is mainly the absorption of poisons.
===Carbon feedstock ===
Charcoal can be used as a carbon feedstock for the production of items like as [[black powder]]. Only the best pieces of charcoal should be used for these purposes; they will have the lowest impurities, and produce more consistent products.

It is usually ground into a fine powder, with airfloat grade being the finest particle size available commercially. When used in black powder compositions, it is often ball-milled with other ingredients so that they are intimately mixed together.

==Dependencies==

*[[Wood]]
**'''Charcoal'''
**[[Fuel]]

==See also==
*[[Activated charcoal]]
*[[Black powder]]
*[[Coal]]
*[[Tar]]
*[[Burning gas]]

==References==
{{wa|charcoal}}
{{wa|activated_charcoal}}
== External links==
*[https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/2016/02/19/making-charcoal/ Making Charcoal] - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 19 February 2016
*[https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/2017/06/17/reusable-charcoal-mound/ Reusable Charcoal Mound] - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 17 June 2017
*[https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/blower-and-charcoal/ Blower and Charcoal] - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 18 May 2018
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzLvqCTvOQY Primitive Technology: Charcoal] - Primitive Technology, 19 February 2016, YouTube
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjK2XlNE39Q Primitive Technology: Reusable charcoal mound] - Primitive Technology, 17 June 2017, YouTube
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgQ-07VgJuY Primitive Technology: Blower and charcoal] - Primitive Technology, 18 May 2018, YouTube
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AHVnzXIDzc charcoal stove | charcoal making oven In forest. pre technology .survival] - Pre Technology, 14 June 2022, YouTube

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[[Category:Fuel]]
[[Category:Hydrocarbons]]

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Charcoal