Birch-tar

Birch-tar or birch-pitch is a substance (liquid when heated) derived from the dry distillation of the wood of the birch.

Compounds

It is compounded of guaiacol, phenols, cresol, xylenol, and creosol.

Uses

Birch-tar was used widely as an adhesive as early as the late Paleolithic or early Mesolithic era. It has also been used as a disinfectant, in leather dressing, and in medicine.

Ends of fletching of arrows were fastened on with birch-tar in Mesolithic.

Birch-tar and raw-hide lashings were used to fix the blade of axes in Mesolithic.

Birch tar oil is an effective repellent of gastropods.[1] The repellent effect of sole birch tar oil last about two weeks.[1] The repellent effect of birch tar oil mixed with Vaseline applied on fences lasts up to several months.[1]

Birch tar oil is also used in perfumery as a base note to impart leather and wintergreen notes.

References

  1. ^ a b c Lindqvist I., Lindqvist B., Tiilikkala K., Hagner M., Penttinen O.-P., Pasanen T. & Setälä H. (2010). "Birch tar oil is an effective mollusc repellent: field and laboratory experiments using Arianta arbustorum (Gastropoda: Helicidae) and Arion lusitanicus (Gastropoda: Arionidae)". Agricultural and Food Science 19(1): 1-12. doi:10.2137/145960610791015050.

Ray Mears video demonstration of birch oil preparation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-fxF-1j9qM

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIQiWHAueiM&feature=related

A non-video demonstration will be found at:

http://www.jonsbushcraft.com/birchtar.htm