Peter Aitken wrote:
> "Edwin Pawlowski" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>"Peter Aitken" > wrote in message
>>
>>>Except that charcoal is not made from coal - it's made from wood.
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>Peter Aitken
>>
>>Wood is just one of many ingredients of charcoal briquetts. See this
>>information from Garry Howard and Kingsford.
>>
>>I got this back in response to my request for information from Kingsford
>>about their charcoal. It looks like a form letter. It does confirm the use
>>of anthracite coal, mineral charcoal (whatever that is), sodium nitrate,
>>limestone, and borax. Plus it's made from "waste wood". Waste from what I
>>wonder. I think I'm going to stick with the lump charcoal. At least I know
>>it started out as a hunk of wood. It's also interesting that Kingsford is
>>now owned by Clorox.
>>
>
>
> Yikes! I too will stick to the lump charcoal from now on. Waste wood indeed!
>
>
Waste wood is generally stumps, large limbs, tops of the trees, the
"waste" that has no value other than to chip it up leave it on the land.
Instead the charcoal companies buy it and, ta da!, make charcoal out of
it. The minerals Kingsford is referring to is what holds the briquettes
together. The charcoal makers grind the charcoal up, sweep up the dust,
etc, then combine it with the other chemicals, etc to bind it and shape
it into the briquettes. I've watched the manufacture of charcoal on a
couple of occasions but wasn't aware that some put antracite coal into
their mix and I have no idea what mineral charcoal is either.

George, who is often curious enough to visit a factory to see what and
how they make things. You should visit a whiskey distillery, ain't
nothing like the sight of your favorite tipple being made.