Charcoal

Charcoal is made by burning wood with very little oxygen. When I clean the ashes from my woodstove there are chunks of charcoal in with the ash. I sift the ash through a 1/2" mesh and save the larger chunks of charcoal. When I start a new fire I spread some of the charcoal in the bottom of my woodstove; when I light the paper and kindling the charcoal catches fire and glows. Charcoal is useful for grilling food, and I think also for creating high heat for use in metal working. I am not sure if softwoods will make charcoal or not; I use hardwood.

Offered by Wendy.