Charcoal burner designates an occupation almost become extinct in the meantime in Germany, whose task was it to make of wood charcoal.

In particular for the iron smelting, in addition, for the glass production and for the processing of precious metals high temperatures are necessary. In areas without natural coal occurrences charcoal was therefore needed. Whole forests were cleared for it.

Since the antiquity is well-known the Meilerverkohlung. Here Holzscheite are set into conical heaps (Meiler) around stakes, a fire pit filled with brushwood and splinters is put on and an atmospheric pressure cover from grass, Moos and earth is created. Over the fire pit the Meiler was ignited, so that at a temperature between 300 "°C and "°C the carbonization process inserted 350. 6 to 8 days - with large Meilern also several weeks - the process, while the charcoal burner had to pay attention to it lasted, to let come up by regulation of the wind course (by perforating and relocking of small holes) nor the Meiler neither expires in bright flames.

Charcoal burners led a meager, lonely life. Because of the constant obligation to hold the Meiler on the correct temperature can be assumed fear conditions, lack of sleep and fire scars to the career profile belonged.

Still to in 20. Charcoal burners in remote areas, as e.g. in the resin and in the forest, used century Hillebillen so mentioned (sounding beech wood boards) as alarm and information instrument. Of these times reminds this very day the name of a in the resin, which is called "„Hillebille "“.

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Related links

• http://www.ewoelm.de/fbgwest/meiler.htm

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