Birch bark tar can be extracted in slightly different ways using modern tins. Here I use a funnel made of aluminum but as you can see some of the tar leaked through the joint. I will make a new jointless funnel to fit this tin. This same method of dry distillation can be used with fat wood to extract pine tar.
Make sure seal it properly with soil, between the tin, funnel and grund, to get it air tight. But dont fill up with soil to high on the sides of the tin, keep it at ground level.
The tar can be used on wood and natural cordage to make it more resistant. It can be used as one of the ingredients to make youre leather boots waterproof. Mixed with fish oil it has been used as an insect repellent. It has very strong antiseptic properties and was used in a liniment mixture by Russian soildiers during WW2.
If slowly heated it will thicken to an asphaltic state. This has been used for many tens of thousands of years to fasten arrow and spear points among other things. It was used to saturate the flesh side of bark tanned hides i Russia therefore the name Russian oil is sometimes used.
Hope you enjoy.
Until next time, stay safe cheers.
