Hello everyone- been a while since I've posted, but I've been reading most days.
On this page on maltese fireworks http://www.maltafire.../irdieden2.html
I talks about a method of making charcoal that involves burning the wood (vine) for a few minutes, then sealing it in a barrel for 8 weeks.
The maltese do have their own ways of doing many things in pyrotechnics, but I would have thought that this method of charcoal making would be less efficient and repeatable than other almost-as-simple methods.
Has anyone tried this method? What do people think of it?
Maltese charcoal making
Started by lord_dranack, Jan 15 2006 11:40 AM
4 replies to this topic
#1
lord_dranack
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Posted 15 January 2006 - 11:40 AM
#2
Andrew
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Posted 15 January 2006 - 02:59 PM
I don't think many people have 8 weeks of patience. And grape vines are a little scarce in the UK. I?ve never heard of charcoal being made in completely air tight conditions though; might be why you need 8 weeks. Might give the whole air tight thing a go one day.
#3
Damp Squib
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Posted 15 January 2006 - 08:22 PM
It sounds like they actually set fire to the trimmings while they are in the drum and then seal it,you could have ten attempts and still end up with a load of unburnt wood and ash,might explain why their black powder looks so grey,but hey works for them 
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#4
RegimentalPyro
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Posted 18 January 2006 - 12:29 AM
Did anybody ever read Arthur Ransomes series of "Swallows and Amazons" books. There are a couple of sections in there that describe charcoal being made in the old traditional way. It has a lot of simalrities to the Maltese method described.....
From memory - more recent readers should feel free to correct me.
It seems they dug a large hole and set a fire in it. The wood to be made into charcoal was then stacked into the firepit above the level of the ground and banked up with strips of turf so that the entire thing looked like a "plum pudding" 15 feet across.
This was then minded, day and night. Any wisps of smoke coming out the top had more turf added to block the opening. Water would also be sprinkled over the turf to stop it drying out and catching fire. The entire burn would take 5 days.
From memory - more recent readers should feel free to correct me.
It seems they dug a large hole and set a fire in it. The wood to be made into charcoal was then stacked into the firepit above the level of the ground and banked up with strips of turf so that the entire thing looked like a "plum pudding" 15 feet across.
This was then minded, day and night. Any wisps of smoke coming out the top had more turf added to block the opening. Water would also be sprinkled over the turf to stop it drying out and catching fire. The entire burn would take 5 days.
#5
lord_dranack
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Posted 18 January 2006 - 01:58 AM
Of course- now you mention it, that is the traditional method of manufacture.
I was reading a book on napoleonic naval warfare which mentioned that before 1800 they made black powder using traditional charcoal. Around 1800 they introduced cylinder charcoal- cooked in a metal cylinder- and found it much more powerful. Much less could be used, conserving nitre.
I was reading a book on napoleonic naval warfare which mentioned that before 1800 they made black powder using traditional charcoal. Around 1800 they introduced cylinder charcoal- cooked in a metal cylinder- and found it much more powerful. Much less could be used, conserving nitre.
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