Making birch bark tar

Birch bark tar can be extracted in slightly different ways using modern tins. Here I use a funnel made of aluminum but as you can see some of the tar leaked through the joint. I will make a new jointless funnel to fit this tin. This same method of dry distillation can be used with fat wood to extract pine tar.
Make sure seal it properly with soil, between the tin, funnel and grund, to get it air tight. But dont fill up with soil to high on the sides of the tin, keep it at ground level.
The tar can be used on wood and natural cordage to make it more resistant. It can be used as one of the ingredients to make youre leather boots waterproof. Mixed with fish oil it has been used as an insect repellent. It has very strong antiseptic properties and was used in a liniment mixture by Russian soildiers during WW2.
If slowly heated it will thicken to an asphaltic state. This has been used for many tens of thousands of years to fasten arrow and spear points among other things. It was used to saturate the flesh side of bark tanned hides i Russia therefore the name Russian oil is sometimes used.
Hope you enjoy.
Until next time, stay safe cheers.

[@humanclothesline]

i heard an archeologist once say that at that point (many years ago) that archaeologists did not yet know how birch tar was made in prehistoric times.
this is a very interesting piece of experiecial archeology, which might offer some interesting insight. i guess it would also beg the question of vessels and especially funnel type fragments being found. the funnel type fragments would probably be difficult to identify given the nature of natural pottery preservation in the ground.
definitely cool thought food

[@jrrarglblarg9241]

My understanding is that archaeologists have identified that birch bark tar glue was used to attach stones to sticks used to hunt mammoths with, but have not found any archaeology of the specific technique used. Obviously, the Neandertals didn’t have paint tins used in this experiment, or the terra-cotta flower pots used in the academic experiment I’ve read about, but they were using leather, bone, or wood in a sophisticated manner.

[@KettleCamping]

I really enjoy watching your videos! You have great skills Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Cheers 👍

[@mattiasnorberg]

Thanks a lot🙏 I'm glad to hear you like them😊

[@RostislavSramek]

Very good video, thank you from Czech Republic 👍🍀

[@mattiasnorberg]

Thanks a lot😊

[@aarond9563]

As a perfume lover this is wild to me!

[@begumshman2250]

Thank you

[@mattiasnorberg]

You're welcome😊

[@20p65s]

Good work. How about a video on how to prepare that tinder fungus.

[@susanp.collins7834]

You sure are packing that bucket!

[@StaminatorBlader]

ancient duck tape

[@christophe7747]

Magnifique 👏👏👏👏

[@mattiasnorberg]

🙏😊

[@NEWCOOKINGUSA]

Nice like 👍

[@mattiasnorberg]

Thanks😊

[@Ulumj08]

😮😮😮coool

[@RuneLding-oh6cg]

Hei Mattias! Kjempe kul video. Skal teste det når jeg lommer hjem til Nord-Norge om et par dager. Bare lurer på en ting. Hva er det du bruker på flinten til å få glo? Er det furubark?

[@mattiasnorberg]

Tack så mycket😊 Det är fnöskticka som kokats i vatten och aska.

[@Ricklerok]

what is tar used for? great job in your very interesting video

[@mattiasnorberg]

If heated it becomes thicker and can be used for attaching arrow points or sealing a bark container etcetera.

[@max_fjellstorm]

I use it together with linseed oil to maintain my axe handles

[@StaminatorBlader]

for pouring atop the heads of invaders hehe

[@jeffg4686]

Can you do this in an oven indoors, or is there concerns of carbon monoxide?

[@mattiasnorberg]

I don't know, maybe it will smell a lot?

[@jeffg4686]

@@mattiasnorberg - thanks, no worries

[@fartking1114]

Hey, I've heard that birch tar is widely used in perfume industry

[@mattiasnorberg]

Yes thats one of the things it's used for.

[@susanp.collins7834]

You've lost most of it...