Charcoal production: Difference between revisions
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In nineteenth century Pennsylvania, charcoal was produced primarily to fuel [[iron production]]. Charcoal is the result of the destructive distillation of wood to yield a fuel that is primarily carbon. | In nineteenth century Pennsylvania, charcoal was produced primarily to fuel [[iron production]]. Charcoal is the result of the destructive distillation of wood to yield a fuel that is primarily carbon. In the 19th century, when iron production was at its peak, the demand for charcoal as fuel for furnaces had an impact on forests. As a result, the charcoal industry was one of the first to think about sustainability and forestry. | ||
==Types of Wood== | ==Types of Wood== | ||
Generally, hard woods produced the best charcoal. Trees like oak, hickory, chestnut, and elm were greatly preferred to softer woods, like gum and poplar. | |||
==Making the Hearth== | ==Making the Hearth== | ||
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==Removing the Charcoal== | ==Removing the Charcoal== | ||
==Sustainability== | |||
The need for charcoal in the iron industry created a significant demand for wood. Several early proponents of sustainable forestry were involved in the making of charcoal, like Bernhard E. Fernow, the manager of the Lehigh Furnace from 1879 to 1883. He advocated for coppicing of wood and protection from fire and cattle grazing to speed up regrowth of forest used for charcoal. | |||
==Charcoal v. Coal== | ==Charcoal v. Coal== | ||
The transition to coal as the primary fuel for furnaces began around 1840, but in 1859 around three quarters of furnaces in America (particularly in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York) still primarily used charcoal. Charcoal remained a source of fuel in some places until 1945. | |||
Charcoal tended to produce a higher quality of iron than coal. Iron made from charcoal had a "fine grain" compared to iron made by coal, and maintained a better cutting edge. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 22:11, 4 September 2018
In nineteenth century Pennsylvania, charcoal was produced primarily to fuel iron production. Charcoal is the result of the destructive distillation of wood to yield a fuel that is primarily carbon. In the 19th century, when iron production was at its peak, the demand for charcoal as fuel for furnaces had an impact on forests. As a result, the charcoal industry was one of the first to think about sustainability and forestry.
Types of Wood
Generally, hard woods produced the best charcoal. Trees like oak, hickory, chestnut, and elm were greatly preferred to softer woods, like gum and poplar.
Making the Hearth
Piling the Wood
Covering the Wood
Igniting the Wood
Ending the Burn
Removing the Charcoal
Sustainability
The need for charcoal in the iron industry created a significant demand for wood. Several early proponents of sustainable forestry were involved in the making of charcoal, like Bernhard E. Fernow, the manager of the Lehigh Furnace from 1879 to 1883. He advocated for coppicing of wood and protection from fire and cattle grazing to speed up regrowth of forest used for charcoal.
Charcoal v. Coal
The transition to coal as the primary fuel for furnaces began around 1840, but in 1859 around three quarters of furnaces in America (particularly in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York) still primarily used charcoal. Charcoal remained a source of fuel in some places until 1945.
Charcoal tended to produce a higher quality of iron than coal. Iron made from charcoal had a "fine grain" compared to iron made by coal, and maintained a better cutting edge.
References
- "Agriculture andrRural economy – Charcoal → ." The Encyclopedia of Diderot & d'Alembert Collaborative Translation Project. Ann Arbor: Michigan Publishing, University of Michigan Library, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.did2222.0001.346 (accessed [fill in today's date in the form April 18, 2009 and remove square brackets]). Originally published as "Agriculture et économie rustique – Charbon de bois," Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, vol. 1 (plates) (Paris, 1762).
- Straka, Thomas J., and Wayne C. Ramer. 2010. “History on the Road: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.” Forest History Today Spring/Fall: 58–62.
- Jones, Claude A. 1976. “Making Charcoal at Jacobsburg.” In Slate Belt Bicentennial Heritage, edited by Marjorie May, Maryann Repsher, Robert R. Saltern, Gordon E. Wilson, and Albert M. Toth, 32–33. Heritage Committee of the Slate Belt Bicentennial Commission.
- Wagner, Van. 2008. Fire the Pit- Charcoal Production in Pennsylvania. 4 vols. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxW7g3IwD1k ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVE_7hMLMZU ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88FbebFElaY ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghj2p9rrUmM.