Things You'll Need
Barbecue grill or metal fire pit
Kitchen scale
Charcoal briquettes
Distilled water
White vinegar
Glass jar
Glass bowl
Wire brush or metal whisk
According to UKAgriculture.com, people have been making and using charcoal since about 3,500 BC because it burns cleanly and efficiently. Charcoal has many uses, from smelting copper to making ink. Although ink is cheap and universally available today, you can make your own ink out of charcoal to experience one way people used to make it. Plus, you can use the ink after you've made it.
Step 1
Burn a handful of charcoal briquettes in a barbecue grill or metal fire pit until they turn to ash. Wait until the ash has cooled completely. Use a kitchen scale to measure 1 oz. of charcoal ash. Place 1 oz. of charcoal ash in the glass bowl.
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Step 2
Measure out 1 oz. of distilled water and add it to the bowl containing the charcoal ash.
Step 3
Stir the charcoal mixture with a wire brush or metal whisk. As the water and ash combine, the mixture will become very dark. Continue to mix it until the clumps of ash disappear. Be careful to not splash the ink because it will stain your clothing or counter top.
Step 4
Add one drop of white vinegar to the mixture and carefully stir it in. The vinegar adds stability to the ink and makes it more permanent once it has dried on paper.
Step 5
Pour the ink into a glass jar that has a tight-fitting lid. The ink will last longer if it isn't exposed to too much light. Keep your glass jar in a dark place, or you can wrap paper around the jar and tape it to hold it on tight.
Tip
Wear an apron while making the ink so you don't risk ruining your clothing. Shake your ink before using it to break up any clumps that form while it sits in the jar.
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