Charcoal fingers can now be a thing of the past…

Most people can relate to the joy of using charcoal for creative pursuits but what may stick out in some people’s minds is the terrible mess it left on their fingers afterwards. This blog entry hopes to solve that issue with a method of creating your very own charcoal pencil out in the woods with very minimal preparation. This activity is popular with both children and adults alike as it allows people to see a transformation take place before them before being able to use the result themselves. When this activity is coupled with the fascinating science behind it, it can become a valuable experience for all involved.

Here is a list of what you will need to create your charcoal pencil, the first three items you can scavenge in the woods but the others will need to be brought:

• A fire
• Small willow or hazel sticks
• Small Elder wood sticks
• Potato peelers or knives
• Tent pegs
• An old metal paint or sweet tin
• Ensure the lid is tight fitting and create a hole in its centre approximately one cm in diameter

First off you must remove all the bark from the willow or hazel sticks, this can either be done with a potato peeler or a knife. I find a knife to be quicker and easier but a potato peeler is far more suitable for younger explorers. Whilst this is going on, and it may take some time, an adult should start a controlled fire ensuring it can hold the weight of a full tin of sticks.

Once the sticks are bare and the fire is roaring, cut the sticks so they can fit into your metal tin and ensure you put as many in as you can so you can refill your charcoal pencil later! Then carefully place the tin on top of the fire.

The process taking place inside the tin takes at least 45 minutes to complete, which provides ample time for you to regale your companions with the science behind the changes and how sticks become charcoal.

As the bare wood becomes heated slowly within the tin it becomes drier, water within the wood is evaporated. As the wood becomes hotter the compounds of it begin to change and the process of gassification takes place. During this process, organic materials convert into gasses such as carbon dioxide.

The reason that the wood does not simply burst into flames is due to the lack of oxygen present, the hole in the lid of the tin acting only as a way for the gasses being exuded by the smouldering wood to escape. Eventually the vast majority of organic compounds previously found within the wood would have been burned away, leaving behind almost pure carbon in the form of charcoal.

Once the tin is taken out of the fire and left to cool, the elder wood sticks can be partially hollowed out by using a tent peg. Then simply insert a cooled piece of charcoal and cut to size and voila, your very own charcoal pencil is ready to be used!