"Fire the Pit" Charcoal making in Pennsylvania Part 3 of 4

Making charcoal in Pennsylvania. Charcoal was the fuel in many iron furnaces until the conversion to coal. By Van Wagner 2008.

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[morav]

can you use a soft wood like pine or spruce or poplar?

[vanwags]

you can indeed but for iron making hardwoods were best (oak, chestnut, etc)

[sutrar]

0:40 After a few days thorough exposure to the tarry earthy smoke, most insects will make a huge detour around you whatever your blood is - that is as long as you don't wash yourself :)

[inventiondude123]

cool great gob at this

[vanwags]

No. I've had it rain hard on burning pits and no problem. the dirt on top acts like a roof.

[bowyer10]

frustrating, sometimes

[bigjunior2]

can you charcoal  big round logs about a feet and a half thick/wide?