How to Make Charcoal on a Campfire: Easy DIY Bushcraft
How to Make Charcoal on a Campfire: Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve ever sat by a fire and wondered how people in the past created charcoal, the good news is you can try it yourself. Learning how to make charcoal on a campfire is simple, safe with supervision, and a brilliant way to combine bushcraft, science, and creativity. In this complete guide, you’ll discover exactly what you need, the steps to follow, and how to use your homemade charcoal for fun activities like cave drawings.
Why Learn to Make Charcoal Outdoors?
Charcoal has been used for thousands of years as fuel, for cooking, and for art. Making your own charcoal outdoors is an excellent bushcraft activity for kids and adults alike. It teaches fire safety, wood selection, and science — plus you’ll end up with natural charcoal sticks perfect for drawing.
What You Need to Make Charcoal on a Campfire
Before starting, gather these items:
* A clean metal tin with a lid (an old biscuit tin, sweet tin, or Altoids tin)
* Dry sticks or twigs (around the thickness of a pencil)
* Hammer and nail (to make holes in the tin)
* Fireproof gloves or tongs (for safe handling)
* A campfire with hot embers
Step 1: Choose the Right Wood
Not all sticks are safe to use. When making charcoal outdoors, avoid poisonous or resinous woods such as:
Yew
Elder
Ivy
Instead, choose hardwoods that burn cleanly: hazel, oak, willow, or ash. Cut your sticks to fit inside your tin — pencil-length works best.
Step 2: Prepare the Tin
1. Use the hammer and nail to punch 2–3 small holes in the lid of your tin. These holes allow gases to escape while the wood heats.
2. Fill the tin with your cut sticks and close the lid securely.
Step 3: Heat the Tin in the Fire
Place the tin directly into the hot embers of your campfire.
Watch closely: flames will flicker from the nail holes as gases burn off. This is a key part of the charcoal-making process.
Once the flames stop, the wood inside has transformed into charcoal.
Step 4: Remove charcoal tin and Cool
Using fireproof gloves or tongs, lift the tin out of the fire. Do not open it yet — the charcoal must cool inside the sealed tin to prevent it from reigniting. Cooling usually takes at least an hour.
Step 5: Use Your Charcoal
When cool, open the tin to reveal your homemade charcoal sticks. They should be lightweight, black, and slightly fragile. You can now use them for:
* Cave drawings on rocks or paper
* Art projects at forest school or camp
* Exploring textures and mark-making in nature
Safety Notes
* Always supervise children when making charcoal on a campfire
* Use protective gloves and tools to handle tins and hot materials
* Only make charcoal on a safe, established fire site
Learning how to make charcoal on a campfire is more than a survival skill — it’s an outdoor adventure that connects history, science, and creativity. With just a tin, a few sticks, and a campfire, you can create something useful and fun for storytelling and art.
So next time you’re outdoors, try this simple DIY charcoal-making method and enjoy creating your own natural art supplies.