To prevent the cracking, perhaps consider wrapping the wood with steel wire or mechanics wire and bind it tight, it may help because when some jewlers use these for soldering, they wrap and bind the block around the perimeter to prevent it from splitting while they are soldering so it would make sense that it would help for the same problem while manufacturing the blocks, but I'm not 100% sure on this, anyway, thank you for this informative money saving video
That's extremely useful! Trying to patina copper by heating it and quenching it in boiling water and I need a charcoal block. There's a hardwood floor shop in Springfield Missouri and they throw their scraps out in the yard so I figured mostly that's Walnut and some cedar I'm not sure what else but it's free and now the charcoal is too I'm going to use that hardwood for that. If it ain't free chances are it's going to be awhile before I can make it happen so I'm getting better every day at doing things myself. Makes me shake my head the things I used to pay for!
Very good knowledge, thanks for sharing. We have pecan (in the hickory family) and oak. Black walnut grows around here some too. No birch tho, too far south.
Wow! Thanks so much! I’m gonna get started making some of my own in my fireplace for soldering. This is so helpful and it will save me time and money :)
Оборачивать в фольгу не обязательно. Можно обрезки древесины плотно установить в жестяные банки от консервов и засыпать их чистым, мелким кварцевым песком слоем около 2 см.
I have no clue about what kind of wood to use but I would imagine all natural, untreated wood is best; however, if you are using treated lumber be sure to have good ventilation because you'll be burning the chemicals used in the treatment process. Thanks for this awesome video. I was looking for a cheap way to get these. Too bad I don't do bonfires anymore. I could've made these using it since I don't have a fireplace. Thanks again!
I think maybe the moisture content has something to do with the cracks. You may be better off if your wood is dryer before you start. I would try drier wood and wetter wood and see what produces less cracks.
That's a good idea. Set some aside and let it age a year or so before trying it, as all our wood in the lumberyards these days is fast kiln-dried, so still has a lot of moisture in it. Thanks for the suggestion! :-) Tina
We have almost the same woodstove but mine is in the barn ive not used it yet the door needs repaired. Do u feel urs is pretty efficient at heating well and holding good coals?
Hi Andria! es, I love our stove. Because it is so plain and simple, there is very little to fiddle with. Have to remember to close the damper but that is it! I open the damper for just a few minutes when lighting it or when we need a burst of heat, then close it, and it draws very steady. Once I get a nice bed of coals, it keeps all our main rooms warm with no fan and no hot spots or cold spots. It burns very efficiently - I use only a couple of logs (small 5" diameter or split ones) at a time , and only have to add logs a few times a day. I like to use one big log to smolder overnight, otherwise I get up and add a couple logs about 2 am. :-) Tina
Hi Brenda! Thanks in part to your great advice, my bees are doing well. I took 3 frames out (2 from one and one from the other) in October, just because after two years I was determined to have some honey LOL. The one hive had goldenrod honey, which tastes like caramel. Oh my how delicious! The frames were very heavy and I got about 20 lbs of honey & wax. Gave honeycomb to everyone for Christmas! What a joy! I now use in-hive feeders, and put the robbing screens on, and that all seems to have kept robber bees away. I opened them up about 2 weeks ago and fed them "just because" but they had lots of honey. We've had only a couple of cold spells - one of our warm winters - it may snow Easter week in April, and we may have blizzards next year LOL. All best wishes for a great season for you :-) Tina
Hi Dominique, it wouldn't be safe to use a regular oven - it won't get hot enough, but even if it did it would be dangerous because (1) ovens do not have a chimney to vent outside (vent hoods just remove a few odors, they won't vent smoke outside), and (2) ovens aren't designed to have the extreme heat of coals in them. But it should work to use a BBQ that uses charcoal or wood. Those type are made to have wood fires and a big base of hot coals in them, so it should work the same as in my woodstove. Even a fire pit would work, provided someone can keep an eye on it. It could also be done in a burn barrel, like is used to burn trash in the country. I don't know whether it would be safe to do it on a propane grill or not, so you would need to find someone who knows more about them than me to ask. :-) Tina
To prevent the cracking, perhaps consider wrapping the wood with steel wire or mechanics wire and bind it tight, it may help because when some jewlers use these for soldering, they wrap and bind the block around the perimeter to prevent it from splitting while they are soldering so it would make sense that it would help for the same problem while manufacturing the blocks, but I'm not 100% sure on this, anyway, thank you for this informative money saving video
Thanks. This was very helpful. Way way better than paying 45$ Canadian dollars on Amazon.
That's extremely useful! Trying to patina copper by heating it and quenching it in boiling water and I need a charcoal block. There's a hardwood floor shop in Springfield Missouri and they throw their scraps out in the yard so I figured mostly that's Walnut and some cedar I'm not sure what else but it's free and now the charcoal is too I'm going to use that hardwood for that. If it ain't free chances are it's going to be awhile before I can make it happen so I'm getting better every day at doing things myself. Makes me shake my head the things I used to pay for!
I make my own charcoal blocks, the best wood is nice, dry hard woods, birch, walnut, basswood
Very good knowledge, thanks for sharing. We have pecan (in the hickory family) and oak. Black walnut grows around here some too. No birch tho,
too far south.
Here in Brazil is almost impossible to find this ready to buy. I’ll try to make this for sure.
Oh great, I hope it works well for you! :-)
5 years later and you’re still helping. Than you for posting. Have you found anything more that helps with the cracking? Or any other discoveries?
Wow! Thanks so much! I’m gonna get started making some of my own in my fireplace for soldering. This is so helpful and it will save me time and money :)
I'm glad it was helpful to you :-) Tina
Thank you So much for doing this and sharing with us! So helpful! - Martia Bennett Rachman
This is a great idea.
Looks like you'll survive for another day, giant cookie tin.
Оборачивать в фольгу не обязательно. Можно обрезки древесины плотно установить в жестяные банки от консервов и засыпать их чистым, мелким кварцевым песком слоем около 2 см.
I have no clue about what kind of wood to use but I would imagine all natural, untreated wood is best; however, if you are using treated lumber be sure to have good ventilation because you'll be burning the chemicals used in the treatment process. Thanks for this awesome video. I was looking for a cheap way to get these. Too bad I don't do bonfires anymore. I could've made these using it since I don't have a fireplace. Thanks again!
I think maybe the moisture content has something to do with the cracks. You may be better off if your wood is dryer before you start. I would try drier wood and wetter wood and see what produces less cracks.
That's a good idea. Set some aside and let it age a year or so before trying it, as all our wood in the lumberyards these days is fast kiln-dried, so still has a lot of moisture in it. Thanks for the suggestion! :-) Tina
We have almost the same woodstove but mine is in the barn ive not used it yet the door needs repaired. Do u feel urs is pretty efficient at heating well and holding good coals?
Hi Andria! es, I love our stove. Because it is so plain and simple, there is very little to fiddle with. Have to remember to close the damper but that is it! I open the damper for just a few minutes when lighting it or when we need a burst of heat, then close it, and it draws very steady. Once I get a nice bed of coals, it keeps all our main rooms warm with no fan and no hot spots or cold spots. It burns very efficiently - I use only a couple of logs (small 5" diameter or split ones) at a time , and only have to add logs a few times a day. I like to use one big log to smolder overnight, otherwise I get up and add a couple logs about 2 am. :-) Tina
Love your videos! I learn something from each one! How're your bees doing? Mine are starting to ramp up here in western Kansas...
Hi Brenda! Thanks in part to your great advice, my bees are doing well. I took 3 frames out (2 from one and one from the other) in October, just because after two years I was determined to have some honey LOL. The one hive had goldenrod honey, which tastes like caramel. Oh my how delicious! The frames were very heavy and I got about 20 lbs of honey & wax. Gave honeycomb to everyone for Christmas! What a joy! I now use in-hive feeders, and put the robbing screens on, and that all seems to have kept robber bees away. I opened them up about 2 weeks ago and fed them "just because" but they had lots of honey. We've had only a couple of cold spells - one of our warm winters - it may snow Easter week in April, and we may have blizzards next year LOL. All best wishes for a great season for you :-) Tina
Thanks for this fabulous video! If I don’t have a wood burning stove, can I use a BBQ???? Or a regular oven?
Hi Dominique, it wouldn't be safe to use a regular oven - it won't get hot enough, but even if it did it would be dangerous because (1) ovens do not have a chimney to vent outside (vent hoods just remove a few odors, they won't vent smoke outside), and (2) ovens aren't designed to have the extreme heat of coals in them.
But it should work to use a BBQ that uses charcoal or wood. Those type are made to have wood fires and a big base of hot coals in them, so it should work the same as in my woodstove. Even a fire pit would work, provided someone can keep an eye on it. It could also be done in a burn barrel, like is used to burn trash in the country. I don't know whether it would be safe to do it on a propane grill or not, so you would need to find someone who knows more about them than me to ask. :-) Tina