A Manual of Pyrotechny; or, A Familiar System of Recreative Fire-works

by G. W. Mortimer

Charcoal.

4. Charcoal is also a considerable ingredient in our compositions, but is of a much more simple nature than that of the foregoing ones. It may generally be procured at the hardware shops, or at foundries, or it may be easily prepared, for which put a quantity of small pieces of wood, such as beech or alder, into a large earthen or iron pot, filling up the vacuities, and covering the top with sand; then placing the pot in the middle of a strong fire, and keeping it at a red heat for two or three hours, as the sand excludes the air, the wood is thus reduced to charcoal without the possibility of its being consumed; and when the pot is cold, the charcoal is to be taken out and kept for use in some very dry place. Small quantities should only be made at a time, as it is always best newly prepared.