Birch Oil

[EdS]

My first posting so not sure the best place for this one.

I got loads of Silver Birch to play with and was wondering if anyone had distiller the oil form the bark. If so how did you do it?

Seem to recall it way on Ray's programme about Russia a few month ago (missed the repeat).

 

[Kev P]

I knew I'd put a posting about birch oil on the site somewher :-? I finally tracked it down;-
http://www.bushcraftuk.co.uk/community/viewtopic.php?p=1363&highlight=#1363
Hope it helps.

 

[EdS]

Cheers.

Seem to recall that it was easy in principle - still plenty of scope for it to go pear shaped though.

 

[bushboy1]

its easy

first get a metal container and fill it with rolled up bark
then pierce a hole in the tin
next dig a small hole and put another tin in it
then put your other tin on top of it
put a lid on top of the one on top
light a fire on it and wait for it to burn out
and there you go...

you might want better advise

 

[hiho]

6 years too late...

 

[John Fenna]

Its never too late for Birch Oil!

 

[Toddy]

Is that not Birch *tar* though?

cheers,
Toddy

 

[w00dsmoke]

Yeagh u r right Toddy

I made it after we met at L Tay and by eck it takes alot of bark to get very little! Very usefull to have that knowledge.

You know after R M's northern wilderness on the squak box; the lovely ornamental paper birches at Luss have been stripped of their bark in the same style as those birches that were stripped to make the tooth patterns RM was shown except they went too deep...:vio:
WS

 

[Toddy]

Sometimes I don't think we teach it often enough, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

Loch Lomond side has too many people in too small an area far too often as it is. Damage like that is becoming ever more obvious.
There's a temptation to say that programmes and books like RM's need disclaimers, but where do you stop/ draw the line ?

cheers,
M

 

[EdS]

6 years to teh day - it seems.

Oh and I've still got loads of silver birch.

 

[davek]

6 years to teh day - it seems.

Oh and I've still got loads of silver birch.

Better'n starting a new one to me. No use re-inventing the wheel.

 

[bushboy1]

its ok m8 i got bored and went to the last page and decided to add to 1